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 December to Question 3979 on Israel: Disclosure of Information, whether information not related to hostage rescue will be passed to authorities not involved with hostage rescue.
Answered by James Heappey
As a matter of long-standing policy, the Government does not comment on the specific detail of 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 the UK military need to clear (a) RAF flights and (b) US Air Force flights taking off from RAF Akrotiri with central government in Cyprus.
Answered by James Heappey
As referenced in my answer to Question 3985, the Ministry of Defence routinely engages with the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) on matters relating to the Sovereign Base Areas. This includes where appropriate, informing the RoC of flights into and from RAF Akrotiri, although there is no formal requirement to do so.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on the use of military vehicles by UK allies (a) in general and (b) at RAF Akrotiri.
Answered by James Heappey
Ministry of Defence Policy permits the use of military vehicles by UK allies in accordance with local law and agreements in place. Policy and Regulatory requirements must be met such as, entitlement, the appropriate licence, are trained and are familiar with the vehicle.
The UK support our allies based forward at RAF Akrotiri; however, they do not use any UK Military Vehicles during Operations or Exercises. For this activity, our Allies utilise vehicles which they own, or lease.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether personnel from his Department have been on the ground in Gaza in any capacity since 7 October 2023.
Answered by James Heappey
No Defence personnel have been on the ground in Gaza in any capacity since 7 October 2023.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the US military notifies UK authorities of the cargo contained in US Air Force flights (a) landing and (b) departing from RAF Akrotiri.
Answered by James Heappey
We engage closely with international partners and allies to ensure all parties' use of UK bases are in line with required safety processes and protocols.
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 4 December 2023 to Question 4277 on Israel: Military Aid, if he will list the (a) type and (b) quantity of medical supplies that have been provided to Israel since 7 October 2023.
Answered by James Heappey
In line with our approach of providing life-saving medical supplies in response to requests from other governments around the world, the UK has provided to Israel:
· 40 defibrillators
· 70 pieces of equipment for warming blood when it is being transfused into a patient
· Boxes for carrying blood supplies
· Intraosseous needles and drivers (emergency equipment for administering a blood transfusion to someone in extremis)
· Supplies for treating bleeding wounds, limb trauma and open chest wounds, for example from gunshots
· Warming blankets
· Syringe drivers (for administering intravenous medications)
· 100 suction units (top-end medical kit for clearing a patient's airway from fluids)
· 130 units of Lyoplas (freeze dried plasma that can be reconstituted with water and used as a blood product transfusion)
· Equipment for intubating patients (putting an airway into their lungs)
· 100 pelvic binders (equipment for stabilising a fractured pelvis)
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any components for military equipment have been provided to Israel since 7 October 2023.
Answered by James Heappey
As confirmed in Parliament on 4 December 2023, the UK Government has provided no military equipment to Israel since 7 October 2023.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Major Kevin McCool was posted to (a) the High Commission in Nairobi or (b) a military base in Kenya.
Answered by James Heappey
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the tragic death of Major Kevin McCool last week, who passed away on Wednesday 29 November whilst off-duty in Kenya.
Major Kevin McCool was posted to the British High Commission in Nairobi, where he was based during his time in Kenya.
The Secretary of State for Defence joined Maj McCool’s colleagues in paying tribute to him as an ‘exceptional soldier, who was loved and respected in equal measure’ and ‘who served his country with distinction.’
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has undertaken an Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessment for providing (a) assistance and (b) arms to Israel since 7 October 2023.
Answered by James Heappey
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 November 2023, to Question 3678.
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 1 December 2023 to Question 3359 on Israel: RAF Akrotiri, what military actions Allies inform the Government of; and what actions by Allies the Government informs Parliament of.
Answered by James Heappey
It is standard practice for the UK to routinely authorise requests for limited numbers of allies and partners to access the UK’s air bases. While the Ministry of Defence does not offer comment on Allies’ operations, all parties’ use of UK bases must be in line with international law obligations.