Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Goldie on 16 January (HL Deb, col 861), on how many occasions UK personnel embedded in partner forces were given permission for "unagreed operations" in (1) 2016, (2) 2017, and (3) 2018.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The Department does not hold these details centrally and they could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The parameters of an embeds duties are agreed before deployment. Should the host nation wish to change these after deployment the embed will seek further clearance from the MOD. As such, there are no 'unagreed operations' undertaken by UK Armed Forces embedded in our allies' Armed Forces. The reply given during the debate of 16 January was to assure the noble Lords that checks and balances are in place to protect our personnel and to ensure that they remain compliant with UK law and any policy restrictions we may place upon them.
Asked by: Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Ministry of Defence was informed of the operation to target Abdul Reza Shahlai in Yemen on 3 January before the failed strike took place; and if so, whether it provided any material support to that action.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
We do not comment on our allies' operational decisions.
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 - Shadow 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 - Shadow 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 - Shadow 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 - Shadow 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.