Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of providing Ukraine with depleted uranium shells on radiation levels.
Answered by James Heappey
Depleted uranium rounds obviously have a high impact upon those in the target armoured vehicle. Beyond that the effects are limited, primarily to the remains of the targeted vehicle and some potential heavy metal contamination localised around the impact zone. Radiation from depleted uranium is not discernible from natural background radiation at impact sites.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the clauses in the Fleet Solid Support manufacturing contract that relate to UK content, jobs and investment before that contract is signed.
Answered by Alex Chalk
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 January 2023 to Question number 128601 to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey).
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help secure orders for the UK's shipbuilding supply chain.
Answered by Alex Chalk
The National Shipbuilding Office regularly engages with UK shipbuilding supply chain companies to understand their issues and works with project teams across Government to maximise opportunities wherever possible. In Defence, the Royal Navy fleet provides a range of opportunities for the UK shipbuilding supply chain, for example in advanced technology, navigation and weapons systems.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 September 2021 to Question 51826 on Refugees: Afghanistan, how many dependants of Afghan nationals were evacuated from Afghanistan during Operation Pitting.
Answered by James Heappey
During Operation Pitting around 5,000 Afghan nationals were evacuated from Afghanistan under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP). This includes approximately 1,200 principals. The remainder were family members.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 September 2021 to Question 51826 on Refugees: Afghanistan, how many dependants of British nationals were evacuated from Afghanistan during Operation Pitting.
Answered by James Heappey
During Operation Pitting around 8,000 British Nationals and their families were evacuated. Records do not distinguish between British Nationals and dependants of British Nationals.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has been made of the number of Afghan nationals called forward for evacuation but unable to board flights who will be offered a place under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.
Answered by James Heappey
Regrettably we were not able to evacuate all individuals eligible for the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) prior to the conclusion of Operation Pitting on 28 August. Of the 311 ARAP eligible individuals who were not evacuated, 245 remain in Afghanistan and the MOD's commitment to them endures.
There will be no requirement to consider these individuals for the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) as the MOD is continuing to facilitate relocation to the UK for these individuals under the ARAP scheme.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) British nationals and (b) Afghan nationals were called forward or authorised for evacuation as part of Operation Pitting but did not evacuate Afghanistan.
Answered by James Heappey
Throughout Operation Pitting, supporting British Nationals and their immediate family to leave Afghanistan was one of our highest priorities. We helped over 8,000 to do so. We aimed to support all British Nationals so there was not the same "call forward" process as there was for Afghan nationals. We are aware that not all were able to leave so are encouraging any British Nationals remaining in Afghanistan to confirm their presence with us via the online form in order to receive important updates, alongside our regularly updated Travel Advice.
Additionally, under Operation Pitting 311 families eligible for relocation under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) were called forward but were not evacuated from Afghanistan, the vast majority of whom were Afghan nationals. Our efforts to contact and support these individuals and their dependants continue, and we are making every effort to assist them to reach the UK.
Our immediate focus is on ensuring safe passage for anyone remaining in Afghanistan who is eligible to come to the UK and wishes to leave. We continue to work closely with the Qatari authorities to facilitate the evacuation of British nationals from Kabul. Rapid Deployment Teams have been sent to Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to reinforce our Embassy staff to process arrivals from Afghanistan. Teams have also deployed to Qatar and UAE to assist our operations there and we are providing consular support to British nationals who were evacuated by other allies, including via US airbases in Europe.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of correspondence sent by hon. Members to his Department received a substantive response within the service standard in each month of (a) 2018, (b) 2019 and (c) 2020.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The Government recognises the great importance of the effective and timely handling of correspondence.
The Cabinet Office is currently compiling data on the timeliness of responses to Hon. and Rt Hon. Members from Government Departments and Agencies. This data will be released, and made available to Members, in due course.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what investigations have been conducted by his Department with regard to information leaks over the Overseas Operations Bill.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The Ministry of Defence takes unauthorised disclosures, including leaks or unsanctioned briefs very seriously. As has been the practice of successive administrations, the Government does not comment on leaks or on investigations into such unauthorised disclosures.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department plans to take in response to reports of information leaks on the Overseas Operations Bill.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The Ministry of Defence takes unauthorised disclosures, including leaks or unsanctioned briefs very seriously. As has been the practice of successive administrations, the Government does not comment on leaks or on investigations into such unauthorised disclosures.