Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to use current pension rights as a baseline for the new arrangements following the privatisation of the Sovereign Base Area's Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation, or to apply the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations to the Sovereign Base Area as they apply in the UK.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation (DFRMO) is not being privatised. Elements of the Defence Fire and Rescue capability are already delivered by contractors at a number of Defence's fire stations. The Defence Fire and Rescue Project is examining the provision of this capability worldwide to assess whether there are alternative ways to deliver the capability at improved value for money, including the extension of contractor involvement, whilst ensuring continued protection of key military activities. The process is currently at the stage where final approvals to award a contract are being sought.
Details of the Bidders' proposals for Cyprus are commercially sensitive but all employees' rights and employer responsibilities, including pension provision for the DFRMO Locally Employed Civilians in Cyprus, have been considered throughout the competition. Members of the Defence Fire and Rescue Service and their trade union representatives have been consulted at all stages of the project.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the pension rights of those employed at the Sovereign Base Area's Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation of the proposed privatisation of that organisation; and whether there are any precedents for the proposed privatisation.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation (DFRMO) is not being privatised. Elements of the Defence Fire and Rescue capability are already delivered by contractors at a number of Defence's fire stations. The Defence Fire and Rescue Project is examining the provision of this capability worldwide to assess whether there are alternative ways to deliver the capability at improved value for money, including the extension of contractor involvement, whilst ensuring continued protection of key military activities. The process is currently at the stage where final approvals to award a contract are being sought.
Details of the Bidders' proposals for Cyprus are commercially sensitive but all employees' rights and employer responsibilities, including pension provision for the DFRMO Locally Employed Civilians in Cyprus, have been considered throughout the competition. Members of the Defence Fire and Rescue Service and their trade union representatives have been consulted at all stages of the project.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the process for downgrading airspace from controlled to uncontrolled.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for overseeing the design of UK airspace.
The process to request the CAA to approve a proposal for an airspace change is set out in its relevant guidance document, CAP 1616, which came into effect on 2nd January 2018.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase domestic and foreign policy cooperation between the UK and the Sultanate of Oman.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Oman enjoy a broad and exceptionally close relationship. Oman is a longstanding friend and ally in the Gulf, with shared interests across diplomatic, economic , defence and security matters. We are working more closely than ever across a number of fields including on economic, defence and counter-terrorism matters. Later this year, Exercise Saif Sareea 3 will take place in Oman – the largest UK-Omani military exercise for 16 years. Oman is also an important partner in regional affairs. My Rt Hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary (the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Mr Johnson) has visited Oman twice in the last four months to underline our commitment to the bilateral relationship and to take forward our regional cooperation.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the motion passed in the Parliament of South Africa on 1 March to confiscate land without compensation from white farmers.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We welcome the South African Government's assurance that 'the process of land distribution would be orderly, within South African laws and taking into consideration both the social and economic impact.' We further welcome President Ramaphosa's commitment that land reform will be carried out 'without negatively affecting economic growth, agricultural production and food security' and his assurance that he would 'not allow any smash and grab interventions'.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the level of UK aid to the Republic of Iraq was last increased.
Answered by Lord Bates
The Prime Minister announced a further £20million in humanitarian support and £30million in stabilisation support to the Republic of Iraq during her visit to Baghdad in November 2017. Additionally, at the recent Kuwait Conference for Reconstruction the Minister for the Middle East pledged £1.5 million of new funding for the repair of housing in Mosul through the UN’s Funding Facility for Stabilisation which brings the total number of houses that UK funds will repair to 2,000. The Minister also pledged £8 million of new funding, delivered through UNICEF, to improve the water networks and sanitation facilities for 600,000 people, and to deliver better sanitation in health facilities and schools.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their proposals for future investment in the Royal Navy base in Gibraltar.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Ministry of Defence continually reassesses the Royal Navy's mission in the Strait of Gibraltar, and the assets and people required to deliver it, to ensure that the UK Government's responsibilities can be carried out effectively and can meet evolving threats and future needs. The Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron will continue to challenge all incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The base infrastructure and the Gibraltar Squadron will continue to be modernised in line with the rest of the Royal Navy.
We have interpreted visits to be those ships proceeding alongside in Gibraltar. Records show that, over the period 1 September 2017 to 1 March 2018, there were 15 occasions where Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships visited Gibraltar, in addition to the Gibraltar Squadron that is permanently stationed there.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Royal Navy visits to Gibraltar have taken place in the last six months.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Ministry of Defence continually reassesses the Royal Navy's mission in the Strait of Gibraltar, and the assets and people required to deliver it, to ensure that the UK Government's responsibilities can be carried out effectively and can meet evolving threats and future needs. The Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron will continue to challenge all incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The base infrastructure and the Gibraltar Squadron will continue to be modernised in line with the rest of the Royal Navy.
We have interpreted visits to be those ships proceeding alongside in Gibraltar. Records show that, over the period 1 September 2017 to 1 March 2018, there were 15 occasions where Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships visited Gibraltar, in addition to the Gibraltar Squadron that is permanently stationed there.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the future presence and activity of the Royal Navy in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Ministry of Defence continually reassesses the Royal Navy's mission in the Strait of Gibraltar, and the assets and people required to deliver it, to ensure that the UK Government's responsibilities can be carried out effectively and can meet evolving threats and future needs. The Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron will continue to challenge all incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The base infrastructure and the Gibraltar Squadron will continue to be modernised in line with the rest of the Royal Navy.
We have interpreted visits to be those ships proceeding alongside in Gibraltar. Records show that, over the period 1 September 2017 to 1 March 2018, there were 15 occasions where Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships visited Gibraltar, in addition to the Gibraltar Squadron that is permanently stationed there.
Asked by: Lord Northbrook (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the human rights record of Cameroon and the impact, if any, this is having on anglophone Cameroon.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Cameroon is a State Party to major human rights instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It has, however, signed but not ratified a number of significant instruments.
In recent years Cameroon's far north has been blighted by Boko Haram and this has led to the introduction of strict anti-terror laws. Human rights non-governmental organisations report that the Government of Cameroon is using this legislation to arrest and detain Anglophone separatists. Our High Commissioner in Yaoundé met President Biya on 21 December 2017 and emphasised the Government of Cameroon's legal obligations in respect of human rights.