Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the safety of civilians in Mosul.

The Government continues to work closely with partners and allies supporting the Iraqi-led campaign to drive out Daesh from Mosul, stressing the requirement to protect civilians and minimise suffering. The UK has recently committed £90 million of humanitarian assistance for Iraq with a particular focus on Mosul, taking its total commitment to £169.5 million since June 2014. A substantial element of this new assistance is supporting partners responding to the situation in Mosul. Regarding the UK's contribution to the coalition air campaign, the Ministry of Defence takes all feasible precautions to minimise the risk of civilian casualties through strict targeting procedures, as we do when conducting any form of military operation.