Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department uses criteria to decide whether an international deployment of the armed forces is (a) combat and (b) non-combat.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
All deployments and situations are different, because of this it would be very difficult to create a defined list of criteria to cover every scenario. Missions can also change over time, for example a deployment to provide humanitarian aid could escalate to civil unrest and the military need to be able to quickly and flexibly respond to those situations.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2018 to Question 167831 and with reference to paragraph 87 of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee’s report of 6 August 2019 entitled The Role of Parliament in the UK Constitution: Authorising the Use of Military Force, how his Department determines whether an international deployment of the armed forces falls (a) above and (b) below the conflict threshold.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Whilst the term 'conflict threshold' was used during the oral evidence session for the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee to explain the difference between combat operations and wider military activity, it is not a formal term that the Ministry of Defence uses to define different operations. Broadly speaking there is a difference between military activity overseas which happens every day for a whole range of purposes, and military combat operations which are much rarer. Given the varying nature of military operations we do not believe it would be possible to establish a strict 'conflict threshold' definition, instead emerging military activity is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria his Department use to determine whether an international deployment of the Armed Forces is designated combat or non-combat.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
There is no official definition of combat and non-combat operations or a set list of criteria. Each operation is considered in the round to determine its nature.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make funds available to enable cadet adult instructors to attend Stonewall train-the-trainers courses to enable detachment commanders to identify a need to find assistance for cadets identifying to them as being LGBT.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) sponsored Cadet Forces are inclusive organisations which help young people achieve their potential by offering a range of challenging and exciting activities based on the values and ethos of the Armed Forces.
We are committed to equality of opportunity for young people and adults alike, recognising diversity within our membership and regarding it as one of our greatest strengths. As an example of our commitment, specific Gender Identity guidance has been produced for all MOD Cadet Forces which is also signposted during safeguarding training for Cadet Force adult volunteers.
The MOD has no current plans to fund Stonewall train-the-trainers courses for Cadet Force adult volunteers.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will undertake a review of access to information on the Special Forces by Parliament to enable effective scrutiny of those forces.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Given the sensitivity of their activities, oversight of Special Forces is exercised through the Prime Minister and Defence Ministers. We have no plans to change the current arrangements.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much additional funding his Department has allocated to the Special Forces since the publication of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review; and if he will make a statement on the delivery of that funding.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
It is long-standing Departmental policy not to comment on specific details of Special Forces capability.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether officials in the operations directorate responsible for conducting searches for media reporting of violations of international humanitarian law by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen search Arabic-language press and social media; and whether those reports are included in the Ministry of Defence Database.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Officials in the Ministry of Defence's Operations Directorate work with a network of staff in wider Defence teams, other government departments, and staff in our Embassies to identify reports of potential international humanitarian law violations from a broad range of English and Arabic language press and social media sources. This network includes staff with Arabic language skills.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many officials in the operations directorate conduct searches for media reporting of violations of international humanitarian law by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen; and how many of those staff have a working knowledge of Arabic.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Officials in the Ministry of Defence's Operations Directorate work with a network of staff in wider Defence teams, other government departments, and staff in our Embassies to identify reports of potential international humanitarian law violations from a broad range of English and Arabic language press and social media sources. This network includes staff with Arabic language skills.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his most recent assessment is of the level of Arabic-language proficiency in his Department.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) regularly reviews its requirements for linguists and trains its personnel accordingly. The level of Arabic language proficiency in the MOD is sufficient to meet current Defence needs.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Government's policy is on (a) including within Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions 1949 prohibition of the targeting of individuals based on actual or perceived sexual orientation and (b) whether the consequences under international law of targeting individuals on the ground of sexual orientation are the same as targeting on the grounds of race, colour, religion or faith, sex and birth or wealth.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Government does not target individuals based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation. Common Article 3 prohibits adverse distinction founded on race, colour religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.