Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his Polish counterpart on increasing the number of UK troops on rotational deployment to the Suwalki gap.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
I hold regular discussions with partners and Allies, including Poland. Our Light Cavalry Squadron in Orzysz is part of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence (eFP), which is a defensive but combat capable force that strengthens the Alliance's deterrence and defence posture. eFP will remain for as long as is necessary.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans the UK has to increase military assistance to Jordan for (a) training and (b) equipment.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
Jordan remains our largest military capacity building programme in the region. Importantly, we work with the Jordanian Armed Forces to identify areas of support. As a consequence, we deliver significant levels of training and equipment each year designed to help the Jordanian Armed Forces mitigate the risks of contagion from conflict in Iraq and Syria. Jordan is one of our closest regional allies and we plan to continue our level of support for as long as Jordan needs it and continues to face these security challenges.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has received representations from the Government of Poland on displaying a Supermarine Spitfire in Poland to commemorate the Polish contribution to the Battle of Britain.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence has not been approached by the Government of Poland in relation to displaying a Supermarine Spitfire in Poland.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance the Government is providing to the Egyptian military to fight ISIS on the Sinai Peninsula.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
To assist the Egyptian military in its fight against Daesh Sinai, the UK has delivered training packages focused on Countering Improvised Explosive Devices and Close Protection. The UK also puts Egyptian officers through UK initial officer training as well as courses focused on command and strategy, pitched at a more senior military level.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to send troops to Kuwait; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The UK has a Defence Section in the Embassy in Kuwait and has, for many years, advised and developed Kuwait's Armed Forces through a British Military Mission permanently based in Kuwait. In addition, we have been supporting the counter-Daesh coalition with troops based in Kuwait. The partnership with Kuwait also includes joint exercising with Kuwait's military institutions and Armed Forces. There are on going discussions between the UK and Kuwaiti governments, without commitment, to consider options for future deployments.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from which Department's budget the cost of funding disaster relief efforts provided by the Royal Navy following Hurricane Irma will come.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 November 2017 to Question 115053 to the hon. Member for Warley (Mr Spellar).
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from which Department's budget the cost of funding disaster relief efforts provided by the Royal Navy following Hurricane Irma will come.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 November 2017 to Question 115053 to the hon. Member for Warley (Mr Spellar).
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what specific areas of co-operation will be covered by the UK's defence co-operation treaty with Poland announced in the joint communiqué issued in December 2016.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Treaty will provide a framework for defence cooperation that includes a range of areas where we may wish to work together, such as training, exercises, sharing information and defence industry.
The text for the Treaty is still under negotiation and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment in further detail.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the added value a bilateral defence co-operation treaty with Poland will bring to existing NATO guarantees between the UK and Poland.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The UK and Poland have a strong bilateral relationship; we have approximately 150 UK troops deployed to Poland on a persistent basis as part of enhanced Forward Presence. We are both important members of NATO. The UK/Poland bilateral Defence Cooperation Treaty will provide a framework for collaboration that is complementary to our work in NATO but in no way supersedes it. We have other bilateral treaties with NATO Allies, such as France, which work in a similar manner.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Government plans to sign the defence co-operation treaty with Poland announced in the joint communiqué issued in December 2016.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The plan is for the UK/Poland Bilateral Defence Cooperation Treaty to be signed by the end of this calendar year, at the next PM-led Inter-Governmental Consultations.