Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review financial support for ex-service personnel resident in Northern Ireland who suffer from disabilities as a consequence of injuries incurred during their service.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
War Pension Scheme and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (Guaranteed Income Payment) payments are uprated to protect against rising prices. In line with other public sector schemes, payments through the Armed Forces pensions and compensation schemes have increased with reference to the consumer price index and the Ministry of Defence has no plans to review this policy.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the removal of toxic waste left after conflict, in particular in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Ministry of Defence has a legal obligation to comply with UK and EU legislation on environmental protection. A policy statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon) in August 2014, 'Health, Safety and Environmental Protection in Defence' (HS&EP), states that "overseas we apply our UK arrangements where reasonably practicable and, in addition, respond to host nations' relevant HS&EP expectations." This policy statement can be accessed at the gov.uk website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/secretary-of-states-policy-statement-on-safety-health-environmental-protection-and-sustainable-development
UK forces overseas operate under NATO regulations and therefore must also comply with 'STANAG 7141 - Joint NATO Doctrine for Environmental Protection During NATO-led Military Activities', which sets out the environmental planning guidelines for military activities.
Following withdrawal from both the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, clean up of hazardous materials was carried out as far as practicable in accordance with relevant legislation.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage co-operation in training between the armed forces of the United Kingdom and those of the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
On 19 January 2015, the Secretary of State for Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ireland designed to increase the level of Defence engagement between our Armed Forces; it includes provision for co-operation on training.
A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding is attached.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent joint training in peace-keeping methods has taken place involving the armed forces of the United Kingdom and those of the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
At present the UK and the Irish Defence Force cooperate in a limted number of activities, including the UK's support to the EU training mission in Mali and the UK's efforts to counter Ebola in Sierra Leone. However, the Memorandum of Understanding signed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and his Irish counterpart on 19 January 2015 contains provisions for greater co-operation in training, as a result of which we hope to see UK/Irish training expanded in the future, including in the area of peacekeeping.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of allegations that information on alleged torture by United Kingdom forces in Northern Ireland was withheld from the European Court of Human Rights by the United Kingdom Government in 1971.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
The request will now be considered by the Court in line with the arrangements laid down in its rules of procedure. In accordance with those rules, if it does not decide to refuse the request the Court will refer it to the United Kingdom and invite written comments within a time-limit set by the Court.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to review pensions currently paid to former members of the Ulster Defence Regiment.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
There are no plans to review pensions currently paid to former members of the Ulster Defence Regiment.