Oral Answers to Questions

Louise Haigh Excerpts

Monday 27th June 2016 Commons Chamber

[Craig Whittaker (Calder Valley) (Con)]

3. What recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on progress in the campaign against Daesh.

[Louise Haigh (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab)]

14. What recent assessment he has made of the progress of the international campaign to defeat ISIS/Daesh.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon)]

The next meeting of coalition Defence Ministers will take place on 20 July. The campaign against Daesh is making progress. With coalition support, Iraqi forces now hold Ramadi and Hit, are engaged in clearing Daesh from Fallujah and have begun preparatory operations for retaking Mosul. The Syrian democratic forces are currently conducting operations around Manbij.

--- Later in debate ---

[Michael Fallon]

I am pleased to confirm that the United Kingdom is playing a significant role in the coalition. The RAF has undertaken more strikes in Iraq and, since December, in Syria than any coalition nation apart from the United States. We now have more than 1,100 service personnel supporting operations in the region, and that is making a real difference to the momentum of the campaign.

[Louise Haigh]

What assistance are the Government providing to the Jordanian authorities in the light of the recent deterioration in security there, and especially in the light of the recent suicide attack that killed six soldiers outside a refugee camp?

[Michael Fallon]

We have a very strong defence relationship with Jordan that includes work on training forces together. We will obviously continue to keep that under review, not least because of the pressure on the Jordanian-Syrian border.