Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many incidents of British soldiers paying for sex in Kenya have been (a) investigated and (b) proven since the introduction of JSP 769: Zero tolerance to sexual exploitation and abuse in July 2022.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
There have been three investigations since July 2022 related to Service personnel's suspected engagement in transactional sex in Kenya. Each of which resulted in "no case to answer".
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 2023 to Question 3978 on Israel: Military Aid, to which Israeli authorities information from the RAF surveillance flights over Gaza announced on 2 December 2023 has been passed.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The unarmed UK surveillance aircraft are employed for the sole purpose of hostage rescue. Information relating to hostage rescue is passed to the Israeli authorities which provide the best chance of locating hostages.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the purpose was of each RAF-operated flight to Israel since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The purpose of the RAF operated flights have included aircraft used to transport Ministers and senior officials conducting diplomatic engagements with Israel.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the (a) International Court of Justice and (b) International Criminal Court has requested that his Department provide it with evidence gathered as part of Royal Air Force surveillance flights over Gaza.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
No.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Air Force surveillance flights have been flown over Gaza since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
We will not comment on detailed intelligence matters.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether RAF Shadow R1 flights over Gaza have recorded evidence of mass graves at (a) Nasser and (b) Al-Shifa Hospital.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The unarmed UK reconnaissance aircraft are employed solely for the purpose of locating the remaining hostages.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has shared information gathered by RAF Shadow R1 flights over Gaza with the International Criminal Court.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The unarmed UK reconnaissance aircraft are employed solely for the purpose of locating the remaining hostages.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what military aid the UK has provided to Israel since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Since 7 October 2023 the UK Government has provided non-lethal aid including medical aid.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK has a (a) treaty and (b) other agreement with Israel to defend it from external attacks.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK does not have a treaty or other agreement with Israel to defend it from external attacks.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel are stationed in Israel; and what their (a) locations and (b) responsibilities are.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK has a number of Armed Forces personnel across the Middle East, working closely with partners to carry out defence engagement and to uphold regional stability. I cannot go into specifics for operational security purposes.