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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.