Oral Answers to Questions

Neil Gray Excerpts

Monday 7th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

10. What recent assessment he has made of progress in the military campaign against Daesh.

[Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)]

16. What progress has been made in the military campaign against Daesh.

--- Later in debate ---

[Sir Michael Fallon]

Yes. The Iraqi security forces, including the peshmerga, are playing the primary role in the fight against Daesh in Iraq, but the support and training provided by the global coalition, including the United Kingdom, has been a key contributor to their success. This fight will not end with the liberation of Mosul, nor will United Kingdom support.

[Neil Gray]

What discussions has the Defence Secretary had with his counterpart in Turkey to ensure that the Turkish military and Turkish-backed militia are not working against the overall aims of the international coalition during the recapture of Mosul and, above all, that they are ensuring the protection of civilians and the provision of humanitarian aid?

[Sir Michael Fallon]

I last met my Turkish counterpart a couple of weeks ago at the NATO Defence Ministerial. Key to the success of this campaign is that all the various parties involved in what is a complex situation in northern Iraq respect the sensitivities of the very complex make-up of the individual towns and villages. That applies to the encirclement and the liberation, but it will also of course apply to what we call the “day after”—the day after liberation—when we have to restore local administration and essential services.