Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in what specialisms the Armed Forces are providing training to Iraqi Security Forces in Iraq.
Answered by James Heappey
UK training is focused on enhancing the capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces in order to ensure the enduring defeat of Daesh. This includes training on policy and strategy, planning, cyber security, human rights and women's empowerment.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Global Coalition Against Daesh in reducing the threat from terrorists in (a) Iraq and (b) Syria.
Answered by James Heappey
As a leading member of the Global Coalition, the UK will continue to provide military support to the Iraqi Security Forces and regional partners in order tackle the threat of terrorism from Daesh, including to the UK. This remains a priority for the international community.
Since 2014, the Coalition has helped liberate over 110,000 square kilometres of former Daesh territory and continues to provide essential support to the Iraqi Security Forces and Kurdish Security Forces at the request of the Iraqi Government. The Coalition also delivers essential aid to liberated communities, and the UK leads on the Coalition’s mission for countering Daesh propaganda.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance his Department has provided to the Kurdish people to help tackle terrorist groups affecting those people.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK continues to support the Kurdish people at multiple levels to combat the Daesh threat in Iraq and Syria.
In Iraq, the Kurdish Peshmerga have played a leading role in the Global Coalition's successful campaign against Daesh. As a key partner, the UK has trained more than 9,100 Peshmerga fighters and supplied them with technical and military support to enhance their capacity and capability to tackle the threat from Daesh. Furthermore, the UK has gifted over 2,000 tonnes of lethal and non-lethal aid to Kurdish and Iraqi security forces (ammunition, body armour, first aid equipment etc) to support them in their fight against Daesh.
Whilst in Syria, the UK has consistently provided tactical support and funding through the Global Coalition to assist the Syrian Democratic Forces in their efforts to prevent the resurgence of Daesh in the region.
Asked by: Jack Lopresti (Conservative - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on the continuation of the role of British forces in training and equipping Iraqi security forces and Kurdish security forces in the event that the US Administration withdraws its forces from the Kurdistan region in Iraq.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The UK has a persistent partnership with Iraq. We are committed to supporting the Iraqi Security Forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga in countering the threat from Daesh. Together with Iraq, we have a shared aim of ensuring Daesh's enduring defeat, in addition to a long-term commitment to stabilisation of the country. Our efforts to support a stable and prosperous Iraq are vital to UK national security.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Department for International Development's press release entitled UK aid removing Daesh explosives and helping Iraqis return home, published in January 2019, what personnel deployment is part of the extra £5 million allocated by the Government to assist with clearing Daesh explosives in Iraq.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
The extra £5 million allocated by the Department for International Development in January to demining is all going to the UN Mine Action Service, who will work with contractors to clear explosive devices in Iraq. This work is humanitarian in nature, with the focus being on the removal of mines from hospitals, schools and people's homes. No military personnel are therefore deployed to this task. However, UK forces are training the Iraqi Security Forces in countering improvised explosive devices (IED) in a military context. This training increases the capabilities of the Iraqi forces to deal with the ongoing threat the country faces from Daesh IEDs.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the provision of any military supplies agreed by the Government as suitable for the Kurdistan Regional Government has not been allowed by the federal Government of Iraq since June 2014; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mike Penning
The Ministry of Defence is not aware of any occasion since June 2014 when military supplies gifted by the UK Government for use by Kurdistan Regional Government Peshmerga forces in the fight against Daesh have not been allowed by the Government of Iraq.
The UK Government has trained more than 7,300 Peshmerga fighters in Infantry skills, Counter-IED, engineering and combat first aid and they are playing an invaluable role in defeating Daesh.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the Government is providing to (a) Iraq, (b) Afghanistan and (c) Nigeria to ensure the protection of minority Shi'a Muslims in those countries.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Iraq
The only way of safeguarding minority communities in Iraq is by defeating Daesh and establishing a lasting peace. The UK Government is committed to this. We have a comprehensive strategy for defeating Daesh and continue to support the Government of Iraq in its efforts to build a more inclusive society. Since June 2014, the UK has committed £169.5 million in humanitarian assistance to the crisis in Iraq. This includes access to clean water, food, medicines and other life-saving assistance for the most vulnerable. All UK funded aid is distributed on the basis of need, irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity to ensure that civilians are not discriminated against. We prioritise reaching the most vulnerable people across Iraq, including Shia Muslims and others who have suffered from such violence.
Nigeria
It is important that all Nigerians enjoy the right to freedom of religious belief and assembly, and that the security forces act within the law. UK military training and assistance to the Armed Forces of Nigeria has consistently emphasised the importance of adherence to internationally recognised Rules of Engagement, as well as the importance of International Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. We continue to work with the Nigerian Government, NGOs and civil society to improve the security situation and human rights for all the people of Nigeria.
Afghanistan
The UK is working closely with the Afghan Government as it seeks to overcome the legacy of conflict and become a more prosperous and stable state for all Afghans without discrimination. We currently have 450 military personnel in Afghanistan serving in a non-combat role, advising and assisting the Afghanistan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) as part of the NATO Resolute Mission. In addition to military support, we recently pledged £750m in development aid at the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan for the period 2017-2020, this is expected to deliver improved health systems, boost education opportunities and assist with steps to tackle corruption.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in relation to humanitarian assistance provided to Iraq, a record is kept to track what support is given to religious minorities; what priority is being given to such groups in the plans for the reconstruction of the country; and what consideration is taken of the needs of such groups in military planning in theatres of war such as Mosul.
Answered by Lord Bates
All UK-funded humanitarian aid is distributed on the basis of need irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity. The organisations through which we channel this in Iraq do not identify or record beneficiaries by their religion. In our dialogue with the Government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the United Nations, UK Ministers and officials frequently raise the importance of ensuring that minorities are protected from harm, and that their needs are taken into account when planning for stabilisation and reconstruction, including in Mosul.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how the UK is supporting the Iraqi government in its preparations to restore inclusive governance in Mosul after that city is removed from the control of IS.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We are supporting the Iraqi government in its efforts to unite Mosul's communities against Daesh and extremism, rebuild public trust in the Iraqi state and deliver the services and opportunities which all Maslawis want and deserve. Our goal is to liberate Mosul, in a way that protects civilians, minimises the humanitarian impact, and limits longer-term conflict by supporting political reconciliation.
The UK has pledged £9.25m to the UN's Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation, which is supporting the Iraqi government to stabilise areas recently liberated from Daesh and has so far helped 775,000 people return to their homes by re-establishing security, basic services and inclusive local governance. The Development Secretary announced a further £40 million in humanitarian assistance for Iraq at the UN General Assembly on 21 September, specifically to support the response to Mosul.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department is giving to women soldiers in Iraq through (a) training and (b) provision of body armour.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The UK has trained female soldiers from the Iraqi Security Forces in infantry skills, combat first aid and explosive hazard awareness as part of the wider Coalition programme to build security force capacity in Iraq. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced to the House on 2 September 2014 (Column 16WS), the UK has also gifted non-lethal equipment to the Peshmerga including enhanced combat body armour suitable for both men and women.