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Written Question
Yemen: Unmanned Air Vehicles
Tuesday 16th April 2019

Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the UK's involvement in drone activities in the Yemen following the ruling of the Higher Administrative Court in Münster in the case of bin Ali Jaber vs Germany.

Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

Any use of force by the UK complies fully with UK domestic and applicable international law.

We are aware of the ruling by the German Higher Administrative Court on 19 March 2019 that Germany has a responsibility for ensuring that United States (US) operations conducted from German territory accord with international law. The Court also held that a lower Court had correctly deemed the case inadmissible, on the grounds that it could not be proved that the plaintiff's father was killed by a US drone strike on the day in question in 2012. The Court also stated that it could not be proved that the German government had knowledge of the use of Ramstein for drone strikes in 2012.


Written Question
Special Forces
Thursday 22nd December 2016

Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether consideration is being given to the establishment of a parliamentary committee to oversee special forces operations in a closed and confidential setting.

Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

It is a longstanding position that Her Majesty's Government does not comment on Special Forces related activity.

I refer my noble Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Sir Michael Fallon) to Question 41980 on 11 July 2016.


Written Question
Special Forces
Wednesday 21st December 2016

Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether UK special forces have adopted new rules of engagement as a result of concerns about prosecution for war crimes.

Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

It is a long-standing Government policy not to comment on specific Rules of Engagement. However, UK Forces will always operate in accordance with UK law and with the UK's interpretation of international law.


Written Question
Islamic State: British Nationals Abroad
Tuesday 20th December 2016

Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the event that British nationals involved with Islamic State in Iraq or Syria are captured by British forces in those countries, they will be handed over to local authorities.

Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

British forces in Iraq are operating in a training and advisory capacity only. As such they are not expected to come into contact with British nationals involved with Daesh. In the unlikely event that this was to occur they would revert to the Ministry of Defence who would provide advice on a case by case basis.


Written Question
Military Aid
Thursday 1st December 2016

Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government in which countries UK armed forces are providing training to (1) security forces, (2) armed forces, or (3) other armed groups.

Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

UK Armed Forces are providing training to Armed Forces or security forces in the current Financial Year in the countries listed below. The types of training provided cover a broad spectrum of subject matter including English language training, medical training, the conduct of disaster relief, and peacekeeping operations. The lists indicate the primary recipients of the training. In some cases training provided predominantly for members of the Armed Forces may also include participants from the security forces. Training may also sometimes be provided in the countries indicated to members of the Armed Forces of third party states, for example where one location is used to run a regional course with participants from several nations, or where training is provided to international peacekeeping forces in that country.

Armed Forces

Afghanistan

Albania

Armenia

Anguilla

Antigua and Barbuda

Azerbaijan

Bahamas

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Barbados

Belize

Bermuda

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Brazil

British Virgin Islands

Brunei

Burma

Cayman Islands

Chile

China

Colombia

Czech Republic

Cyprus

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Dominican Republic

Dominica

Egypt

Estonia

Ethiopia

Fiji

Georgia

Grenada

Guatemala

Guyana

India

Indonesia

Iraq

Japan

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Latvia

Lebanon

Lithuania

Macedonia

Malawi

Malaysia

Mali

Mauritania

Mongolia

Montenegro

Morocco

Nepal

Nigeria

Oman

Pakistan

Papua New Guinea

Philippines

Poland

Qatar

Rwanda

Saudi Arabia

Serbia

Sierra Leone

Singapore

Somalia

South Africa

Sri Lanka

Sudan

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Thailand

Tunisia

Uganda

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United States of America

Uzbekistan

Vietnam

Zambia

Security Forces

Gabon

Iraq

Kenya

Kosovo

Malta

Pakistan

Rwanda

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Africa

Uganda


Written Question
Middle East: Military Aid
Wednesday 23rd November 2016

Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government to which groups in Iraq and Syria UK armed forces are providing training.

Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

In Iraq, UK military personnel are training Iraqi Security forces (including Kurdish Peshmerga). UK forces are also participating in a US-led Train and Equip programme to train selected members of vetted moderate Syrian opposition forces at locations outside Syria.


Written Question
Iraq: Islamic State
Wednesday 23rd November 2016

Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether British special forces operating in Iraq have been issued with a list containing the names of British citizens fighting for so-called Islamic State, whom they have been ordered to kill or capture.

Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

The Government has a long-standing policy not to comment on the activities of our Special Forces.