Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support is being offered to Ukraine to help counter any military action by Russia.
Answered by James Heappey
Defence has a longstanding relationship with our Ukrainian counterparts and continues to provide support in many areas including security assistance and defence reform. Since 2015, the UK has helped build the resilience and capacity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine through Operation ORBITAL which has trained around 22,000 Ukrainian troops.
We have significant concerns about Russia's aggressive pattern of military build-ups on Ukraine's border and in illegally-annexed Crimea. We remain clear that Russia's threatening and destabilising behaviour is unacceptable and continue to monitor events on the ground closely.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken in response to the Government's Afghanistan email data breach.
Answered by James Heappey
Following the data breach which occurred on 20 September 2021 the Defence Secretary instigated an investigation into data handling within the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) team. A thorough review of processes has been undertaken and changes made to prevent a recurrence.
All ARAP eligible individuals whose details were involved have been contacted and provided with additional security advice. We are not aware that anyone has come to harm as a result of this breach. We continue to do everything we can to support the relocation to the UK of all ARAP-eligible families.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will ensure that all Gurkhas who retired from the Army before 1997 are given a full army pension.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
All Gurkhas who retired from the Army before 1 July 1997 qualified for an immediate pension under the 1948 Gurkha Pension Scheme (GPS) after only 15 years' service. In contrast, before 1975, British soldiers who served less than 22 years received no pension. This means Gurkhas were receiving pension payments for over 25 years before most British soldiers of the same rank and length of service qualified for any payments.
For most Gurkha veterans the 1948 GPS provides a pension at least as good, and in many cases better, than that given to their British counterparts with identical periods of service. Our view is that the 1948 GPS is a very fair scheme.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of the Afghan nationals who supported the British armed forces during the conflict and requested to be relocated have now been supported in leaving Afghanistan.
Answered by James Heappey
Under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), around 7,000 Afghans who worked in support of the UK defence and security mission were found eligible and relocated to the UK. This is the vast majority of those found eligible for the scheme prior to OP PITTING.
Regrettably, 311 eligible ARAP applicants were not evacuated from Afghanistan as part of Operation PITTING, however 46 of these individuals have since made their way to a third country or the UK by other means.
The ARAP scheme remains open and we continue to receive and assess applications. From the conclusion of Operation PITTING on 28 August up to 14 August, a further 40 Afghan nationals have been found eligible for the scheme. All those eligible for the scheme will be supported to come to the UK.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the duties of the Royal Navy Fisheries Protection squadron.
Answered by James Heappey
At the end of the EU Exit Transition Period, the Royal Navy (RN) increased the availability of assets to ensure readiness to react to any increased demand from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to deal with illegal fishing or non-compliance. The RN Overseas Patrol Squadron remains ready to assist the MMO as required in Marine Enforcement duties.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long his Department plans for the RAF to continue to be deployed in Afghanistan after military troops are withdrawn.
Answered by James Heappey
RAF assets have all now been withdrawn from Afghanistan.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance his Department has provided to the Kurdish people to help tackle terrorist groups affecting those people.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK continues to support the Kurdish people at multiple levels to combat the Daesh threat in Iraq and Syria.
In Iraq, the Kurdish Peshmerga have played a leading role in the Global Coalition's successful campaign against Daesh. As a key partner, the UK has trained more than 9,100 Peshmerga fighters and supplied them with technical and military support to enhance their capacity and capability to tackle the threat from Daesh. Furthermore, the UK has gifted over 2,000 tonnes of lethal and non-lethal aid to Kurdish and Iraqi security forces (ammunition, body armour, first aid equipment etc) to support them in their fight against Daesh.
Whilst in Syria, the UK has consistently provided tactical support and funding through the Global Coalition to assist the Syrian Democratic Forces in their efforts to prevent the resurgence of Daesh in the region.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what additional mental health support his Department plans to provide for armed forces personnel returning from Afghanistan.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the Mental Health and Wellbeing of our Armed Forces personnel. All Armed Forces personnel are supported by dedicated medical services, including mental health support; this includes those who served in Afghanistan. The MOD works with the single Services, Defence Medical Services, the NHS, and other stakeholders to promote mental fitness, prevent ill-health, and reduce stigma. The MOD provides a 24-hour mental health helpline delivered by Combat Stress. Togetherall allows Armed Forces personnel access to its 24-hour staffed digital forum and the Samaritans provide crisis support to anyone struggling to cope with mental ill-health. The Veterans Gateway is available for those who want a choice over non-MOD assistance. The NHS is also available via their 111 helpline.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on retaining military personnel in Afghanistan.
Answered by James Heappey
Ministers and senior officials have frequent contact with their US counterparts on a range of issues. On 15 June 2021, the Defence Secretary met with his counterparts from the US, France and Germany. Leaders discussed a range of issues and agreed on the importance of an orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan. More recently, the Defence Secretary discussed Afghanistan with Secretary Austin on his visit to the US on 13 July 2021. We will continue engaging with our Allies and partners as Afghanistan transitions to a new phase, following the withdrawal of NATO troops.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps is he taking to ensure that all armed forces personnel are fully covid-19 vaccinated.
Answered by James Heappey
Armed Forces personnel will receive their vaccination in line with the national programme as set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
For those on active operations overseas, 95% of eligible personnel have received a first dose, and 61% their second.
All eligible personnel, at home or abroad, will have been offered at least their first vaccine dose by 19 July, in line with the national programme. As the vaccination programme in the UK accelerates, we are working to ensure that no Service personnel are disadvantaged by their service overseas.