Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish on his Department's website (a) corroborated information on deaths of (i) ISIS fighters and (ii) civilians as a result of airstrikes on Syrian locations and (b) other information in a daily battle assessment for each day from 2 December 2015.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Information on RAF airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, and their outcome, is already published on the gov.uk website and is regularly updated. We know of no civilian casualties caused by RAF airstrikes against Daesh in Iraq or Syria.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost is of each (a) Paveway IV bomb and (b) Brimstone missile procured by the RAF; and how many such weapons are in the RAF stockpile.
Answered by Philip Dunne
I am withholding details of costs for in-service Paveway IV bombs and Brimstone missiles as disclosure would prejudice commercial interests. I am also withholding details of the number of bombs and missiles held by the RAF as disclosure would or would likely prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our Armed Forces and allies.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assurances he sought from his French counterpart that, in providing British surveillance assistance to the French bombing of identified ISIS operational buildings in Raqqa following the ISIS-inspired terrorist attacks in Paris, the French military avoided any civilians being killed as collateral damage from the bombings.
Answered by Michael Fallon
France is operating alongside the UK as part of the international Coalition against Daesh. All Coalition air operations are planned in accordance with international law and every precaution is taken to minimise collateral damage and civilian casualties.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is planned that RAF pilots will rely upon information provided by personnel on the ground to identify and attack targets territory in Syria occupied by ISIS.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The information used to identify and strike targets is derived from a number of different sources and assessed rigorously for compliance with UK rules of engagement, UK law and international law. It is not our practice to comment in detail on how specific operational targets are derived, as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 4.75 of the National Security and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, which (a) government departments and (b) commercial partners will be represented on the new delivery body for nuclear submarine procurement and support; and to which government department that body will report.
Answered by Philip Dunne
Options for the composition of the new organisation will be developed and assessed for a decision in 2016. The Ministry of Defence will remain in control of the Successor submarine programme.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 4.75 of the National Security and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, by what date the new team sponsoring the defence nuclear enterprise is scheduled to be established.
Answered by Philip Dunne
We expect to announce further details of the new organisation in 2016.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK sought permission from the government of Syria to deploy manned and unmanned surveillance aircraft over Syria before he made his Statement to the House on 21 October 2014.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
No. This activity is conducted as part of the international counter-ISIL/Da'esh Coalition in the self-defence of the UK and the collective self-defence of Iraq, under article 51 of the UN Charter, against the direct threat from ISIL's heartland in Syria.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the most recent review of the emergency response arrangements for a radiation emergency involving the nuclear warhead convoy was completed.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The Ministry of Defence emergency response arrangements are subject to a continuous process of review through a regular series of exercises which test the effectiveness of the response. The most recent exercise took place on 12 November 2015.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to publish the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's Annual Report for 2014-15.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The Defence Safety Authority Annual Assurance Report (AAR) 2014-15 was published on 1 December 2015. This was informed, in part, by the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's AAR for 2014-15 which is expected to be published in early 2016.
Asked by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 4.66 of the National Security Strategy and the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, what criteria he has for determining the minimum amount of destructive power needed to deter any aggressor.
Answered by Michael Fallon
The Government continually conducts assessments to ensure that the UK maintains a minimum, credible nuclear deterrent capability.