Asked by: Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (Scottish National Party - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding from the public purse was for charities which support veterans in Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The Ministry of Defence holds information on grants made to units and charities undertaking projects with, for, and including veterans in Scotland from Legacy Funds, the Covenant Fund and the Aged Veterans Fund for the years 2012-13 to 2016-17, as broken down below.
Financial Year | £30 million Community Covenant Grant Scheme | £35 million Armed Forces Libor Fund | Aged Veteran's Fund | Covenant Fund | Veterans Accommodation Fund | Grand Total |
2012-13 | £5,171,422 | £240,236 |
|
|
| £5,411,658 |
2013-14 | £975,587 | £204,000 |
|
|
| £1,179,587 |
2014-15 | £967,869 | £110,000 |
|
| £1,101,190 | £2,179,059 |
2015-16 |
|
|
| £1,139,118 |
| £1,139,118 |
2016-17 |
|
| £3,981,756 | £692,982 |
| £4,674,738 |
Total | £7,114,878 | £554,236 | £3,981,756 | £1,832,100 | £1,101,190 | £14,584,160 |
Asked by: Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (Scottish National Party - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the role is of UK military liaison officers with responsibility for liaison with the Saudi Arabian military; and what role those military liaison officers have in the selection of targets relating to operations in Yemen.
Answered by Michael Fallon
We have deployed a small number of military personnel as liaison officers in Saudi Headquarters to provide the UK with greater insight into Saudi processes and operations.
These liaison officers are not involved in carrying out strikes, directing or conducting operations in Yemen or selecting targets, and are not involved in Saudi target decision-making.
All UK Service personnel remain under UK command and control.
Asked by: Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (Scottish National Party - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reports the Government has received on the existence of evidence of the use of banned weapons by Russian forces in Syria; and what representations he has made to the Russian government on that matter.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
I am aware of media reports on Russia's use of incendiary weapons and cluster munitions over the past few weeks, which would constitute a further example of indiscriminate military action in Syria. Incendiary weapons were reported to have been used against civilian areas in Aleppo on 25 June and around the town of Saraqeb in Idlib province on 26 June, causing suffering to the civilian population.
The UK has always been clear that the use of any weapon without regard for the fundamental legal principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in attack is illegal and must be condemned. We can see no justification for the way in which these weapons are reported to have been used and call on the Regime and the Russian Government to comply with their obligations under International Humanitarian Law.
Asked by: Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (Scottish National Party - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of Government spending on Syria has been spent on (a) military action and (b) the provision of humanitarian aid.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
It is not possible to separately identify the costs of military action in Syria. However, from August 2014, the net additional costs of counter-Daesh activity in Iraq and Syria have been £280 million. Since February 2012, the UK has pledged over £2.3 billion in response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
Asked by: Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (Scottish National Party - Ochil and South Perthshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many missions have been flown by UK military forces in Syria to provide direct humanitarian aid to civilians; where those missions took place; what aid was supplied; and what the cost was of those missions.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
UK military forces have not flown any missions to provide humanitarian aid in Syria. The UN has not requested the use of air drops, which are not currently the best way of getting help to those in need.
The UN, Red Cross and Syrian Arab Red Crescent have successfully delivered aid by road to Madaya, Foah and Kefraya. The UN and non-governmental organisation partners are best placed to deliver humanitarian aid and have the mandate, expertise and capacity to assess needs and deliver an appropriate, timely response.