Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, (a) what methodology the Ministry of Defence uses to calculate casualty damage estimates for UK lethal strikes and (b) whether that methodology is the same as that used to assess strikes in which the UK has provided assistance.

The UK Ministry of Defence, along with many other strategic partners and nations, has adopted a Collateral Damage Estimation (CDE) policy and standard methodology to demonstrate due diligence and compliance with the Law of Armed Conflict. In line with the UK Manual of the Law of Armed Conflict, in the conduct of military operations, constant care shall be taken to spare the civilian population, civilians and civilian objects. The UK expects all nations to operate in accordance with applicable international law and UK assistance would not be provided to those who do not.