Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the implications of the US nuclear posture review for UK nuclear weapons and deterrence policy.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The UK welcomes the US Nuclear Posture Review which is largely a continuation of their current policy and posture. We remain confident we have a credible and capable nuclear deterrent.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the two new low-yield nuclear weapons, submarine-launched cruise missile and submarine-launched ballistic missile, contained within the US nuclear posture review; and what are the implications of the introduction of those weapons for NATO security and strategic stability with Russia.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The US Nuclear Posture Review reflects the worsening security situation in the world. It seeks to ensure a credible and capable deterrence against the threats we face. The review also makes clear that the US decision to modify a small number of existing warheads to provide a low yield option and, in the longer term, to pursue a new sea-launched cruise missile, are intended to enhance deterrence and to counter perception of an exploitable gap in US capabilities. NATO will remain a nuclear alliance for as long as nuclear weapons exist.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of (1) the effect of the US nuclear posture review plans to "strengthen the integration of nuclear and non-nuclear military planning", and (2) how those plans will affect UK nuclear planning with NATO.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The UK welcomes the recent US Nuclear Posture Review which is largely a continuation of current policy, whilst recognising the reality of the changed security environment since the last review in 2010. Crucially, it reaffirms the continued US commitment to Euro-Atlantic security through NATO. The US review does not affect the UK's continued nuclear deterrent commitment to NATO, nor does it impact on our support to NATO's planning processes.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relationship between morale and overstretched resources in the armed services; and what steps they intend to take to remedy this situation.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The management of morale in the Armed Forces is a high priority for Defence. The Department seeks to measure morale in a robust, consistent and scientific manner, through forums such as the Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey. Morale is influenced by many variables and the Department has made no specific assessment of a relationship with resourcing.
We have launched the Armed Forces Families Strategy and the Armed Forces Covenant to improve the Service Offer and lived experience of Service personnel.
We are also developing a number of other initiatives under the Armed Forces People Programme which is focused on modernising the employment offer for Service personnel to allow us to attract and retain the right mix of people and skills.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government what action they will take to strengthen UN peacekeeping, including support for the rapid response capacity; and what role they envisage for the Royal Marines and SAS in this respect.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The UK is providing a leading voice on strengthening UN peacekeeping including through its permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
In September 2016, we hosted the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in London, with 74 nations and international organisations, and launched the UN reform agenda based on the '3Ps': better mission planning, increasing the number of meaningful pledges of troops and equipment, and improving the performance on the ground. It was a major peacekeeping conference, which secured 30 new pledges of troops and equipment, including for rapid response, and a reform-focused communiqué signed by 63 countries. The UK continues to drive forward this reform agenda with senior UN officials, Member States, and the UN Security Council.
We are working closely with the Canadian hosts of the 2017 Defence Ministerial, which will maintain a focus on strengthening UN peacekeeping through reform, matching UN capability needs with pledges, innovation in training, protecting the vulnerable, and improved early warning mechanisms. The UK also seeks to strengthen UN peacekeeping through deploying our own troops on UN peacekeeping missions, and by using our operational experience to inform UN reform policy discussions in New York.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government what is their policy on the development of autonomy in weapons systems; and what action they are taking to build consensus for international action to control the development and deployment of lethal autonomous weapons systems.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Current UK policy is that the operation of weapon systems will always be under human control and that no planned offensive systems are to have the capability to prosecute targets without the involvement of a human. The UK considers the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) the right forum in which to discuss lethal autonomous weapons systems. The UK is a proactive State Party to the CCW and participates fully in discussions within the CCW.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they are introducing to ensure that the use of armed drones for counter-terrorism is capable of being subject to parliamentary scrutiny and accountability.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Government is not introducing arrangements specifically for armed Remotely Piloted Air Systems, above and beyond the existing parliamentary scrutiny and accountability for any use of force. Using force is subject to the same rigorous scrutiny, regardless of the weapons platform employed.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to introduce a clear and coherent policy on the use of armed drones for counter-terrorism purposes, both within and outside areas of armed conflict.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The UK's policy on using force overseas is clear. It will always be in line with international law and UK law, and bounded by UK rules of engagement, targeting directives and operational directives. The same law, policy and rigorous targeting process are adhered to whether the weapons platform is an armed Remotely Piloted Air System or a piloted aircraft. We have, and we will, exercise an inherent right to self-defence against both armed attacks and imminent threats of armed attack, in accordance with international law.