Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need for a military-to-military channel of communication between the United States of America and Iran, particularly in relation to naval incidents in the Persian Gulf.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The UK continues to seek a de-escalation of tensions in the Gulf, and urges restraint from all parties. Specific channels of communication are a matter for the US and Iran.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the maritime incident involving Iranian vessels and United States naval forces on 15 April in the Arabian Gulf; and what discussions they have had with the governments of Iran and the United States, in particular with regard to each of those governments’ differing versions of events.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
We are aware of an interaction between US and Iranian vessels in the international waters of the northern Gulf on 15 April. Reports of IRGC harassment are concerning. It is important that all mariners uphold the highest standards of conduct at sea, and that states are able to safely undertake legitimate naval activity in International Waters. We are regularly in contact with US and some Iranian counterparts to discuss bilateral issues and to urge de-escalation on all sides.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current situation in Mali and the wider Sahel region; what discussions they have had with the government of the United States about the number of US troops in West Africa further to reports that that government is considering a full or partial withdrawal; and what assessment they have made of the impact of any such withdrawal on the operational ability of UK military personnel in that region.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Her Majesty's Government is concerned about the security situation in Mali and the spread of insecurity across the region. We remain in close contact with our key partners, including the US and France, to share assessments and coordinate activity. No decisions on the status of US forces in West Africa have been formally communicated by the US Government to HMG. We assess that any possible withdrawal of US forces will have a minimal impact on our deployed forces, but we will keep this under close review.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made as to whether the government of the United States' drone strike on 3 January constituted defensive action under international law.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
Article 51 of the UN Charter recognises that all States have an inherent right of self-defence. It is for the United States to say how the criteria for self-defence are met. The Government of the United States has now set out its case for self-defence in a letter to the UN Security Council dated 8 January.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the United States about the plans, outlined by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 9 July, to create a multinational military coalition to safeguard the waters around Iran and Yemen; and what assessment they have made of the practicality of those proposals.
Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The UK is part of ongoing conversations with international allies including the US on how best we can ensure maritime security in the Gulf and protect freedom of navigation. Work to assess the practicality of any proposals continues in parallel with the ongoing conversations with our partners.
Freedom of navigation is in every nation's interest. It is therefore unacceptable to illegally seize a ship going about legitimate business in an internationally recognised shipping lane.
We continue to work for stability in the region with the international community and uphold the international rules that protect us all.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the overall cohesion and effectiveness of NATO of the decision by the government of the United States, announced by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment on 17 July, to remove Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet programme.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
We are disappointed that Turkey has chosen to acquire the Russian S-400 air defence system. We will continue to discuss our concerns with Turkey as a valued NATO Ally and we remain committed to our strategic partnership. Our officials are in on going discussions with the F-35 Joint Programme Office and F-35 partners on the impact of Turkey's suspension from the F-35 programme.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Renata Dwan, Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, warned on 21 May that the risk of nuclear weapons being used is at its highest since World War Two, and that the world should take this threat more seriously.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Today's security climate is challenging, with the threats faced by the United Kingdom increasing in scale, diversity and complexity. However, Her Majesty's Government does not believe that the risk of nuclear war is greater today than it was during the Cold War.
While the operation of an independent, minimum, credible nuclear deterrent continues to be necessary to protect the United Kingdom from the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, the UK has taken a number of unilateral actions that build confidence and reduce international tensions. Our negative security assurances, as set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, are designed to give Non-Nuclear Weapons States in compliance with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty confidence that nuclear weapons will not be used against them. Further, since 1994, UK Trident missiles have not been targeted at any State; our Vanguard class submarines are at several days' notice to fire; only the Prime Minister has the authority to launch nuclear weapons maintaining political control at all times; and the UK has been transparent about its nuclear capability, including missile and warhead numbers.
The Government is committed to the long-term goal of a world without nuclear weapons and continues to work internationally, within the framework of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, towards achieving the conditions in which all nuclear weapons possessor states are willing to relinquish their nuclear weapons.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what methods they use to estimate the numbers of civilian deaths resulting from the use of remote-controlled drones in counter-terrorist operations either directly by the UK or by their allies in (1) Yemen, (2) Pakistan, and (3) North Africa; and what figures are available for such casualties.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The United Kingdom has not conducted airstrikes from any platform, either manned or unmanned, in counter-terrorism operations in Yemen, Pakistan or North Africa. We do not comment on the operations of other countries.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether UK forces have been involved in any direct military action in Yemen in the last six months.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The UK provides information, advice and assistance to Saudi Arabia to respond to the threat of strategic weapons fired by the Houthis into Saudi Arabia. We are not and have never been a member of the Saudi-led Coalition. Our assistance is clearly limited to addressing this specific threat. UK military personnel in Saudi Arabia remain under UK command and control.