Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent support and advice on defence and security institution building has his Department given to the Libyan government (a) bilaterally and (b) with international partners.

In the period until July of this year, the Ministry of Defence's Defence Advisory and Training Team (DATT) based in Tripoli provided support for the defence and security aspects of the UK's £62.5 million Security, Justice and Defence programme. The DATT provided specialist advice on Defence Reform, Disarmament, and Border Security, working with the Libyan Land forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Security Force and Training Directorates. DATT support included programmes on strategic communication, developing explosive ordnance disposal schools, creation of a joint operational planning capability, and naval training. In the UK, eight Libyan Navy officers completed a Maritime Communications Course at the Maritime Warfare School in July 2014. In early August we withdrew the DATT following the deterioration in the security situation in Tripoli. We are closely monitoring the situation and remain committed to providing support to the Libyan Government and to the efforts of the UK and US political envoys to bring about a political settlement.