Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2015 to Question 207, whether Explosive Risk Management Ltd was contracted to provide counter-IED training in Iraq in 2014; whether a counter-IED course was provided to Kurdish Peshmerga in 2014; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Explosive Risk Management Ltd was contracted to deliver C-IED training in Iraq in 2014. Through these training services, a four week course was delivered to the Peshmerga in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in 2014. A similar course was due to be delivered in southern Iraq, but was withdrawn prematurely due to security issues.
This contract was not included in my previous answer of 5 June 2015 to Question number 207 as the service was for training not security.
Asked by: Ian C. Lucas (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what operations UK forces have served alongside the forces of other European counties in the last five years; and which countries participated in each operation.
Answered by Mark Francois
The following list includes significant operations carried out by the Ministry of Defence since 2010. Defence carries out a wide variety of operations, including many operations involving only a few personnel or which have a short duration. It is not possible within reasonable time and cost constraints to list all operations irrespective of size or duration. The list does not include the following standing commitments, which can also cover a range of operational activity:
Task |
Continuous At-sea Deterrence |
Counter-terrorist policing of UK airspace |
NATO air policing mission within Europe |
Military support to national EOD capability in the UK |
Standing maritime patrol tasks, including UK and Overseas Territories |
Military support to Search and Rescue Operations |
The list includes any EU states involved in operations under a common command and control structure. However, non-EU member states in Europe have also made important contributions alongside the UK. For example, Norway has served alongside the UK on several major recent operations, including in Afghanistan Syria and the response to the Ebola Crisis in Sierra Leone. An overview of operations each year can be found in the MOD’s Annual Report and Accounts.
Activity | EU States |
Operations in Afghanistan, including as a contributor to the International Security Assistance Force and Resolute Support Mission | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden |
Operations in Iraq, including subsequent training of Iraqi forces until 2011 under Op TELIC | Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain |
Support to UN Stabilisation mission in Sudan and South Sudan | Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden |
UK support to EU NAVFOR under counter-piracy Op ATALANTA off the coast of Somalia | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia |
Support to UN Stabilisation mission MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo | Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Sweden |
NATO counter-piracy operation OCEAN SHIELD | Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain |
Humanitarian aid mission response to floods in Pakistan | NA |
Military support in severe cold weather in the UK | NA |
Transport of UK nationals following disruption of air travel by ash cloud from volcanic eruption in Iceland | NA |
Haiti natural disaster relief | NA |
Military operations in Libya including support to NATO Op UNIFIED PROTECTOR | Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, The Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden |
Military support to evacuation of British Eligible Personnel from Libya, 2011 | NA |
Military support to security for the 2012 London Olympics | NA |
Support to removal and destruction of Syrian chemical weapons |
Denmark, Germany |
Humanitarian aid response to natural disaster in the Philippines | NA |
Support to French military operations and subsequent support to EU Training Mission (EUTM) and UN stabilisation mission (MINUSMA) in Mali | EUTM: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain |
Military support to security for G8 Summit | NA |
Military support in response to East Coast flooding | NA |
Military support to Dept of Communities and Local Government resilience plans to cover fire fighter industrial action | NA |
Air campaign against ISIL and associated training missions in Iraq and Syria | Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain |
Search for missing airliner MH370 in the Indian Ocean | NA |
Military operation to support Nigeria in response to Boko Haram abductions of female students | France |
Military support to evacuation of British Eligible Personnel from Libya, 2014 | Malta (for basing) |
UK response to Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone | Denmark, Ireland, The Netherlands |
Military support in response to winter flooding in the UK | NA |
Military support to security for Commonwealth Games in Glasgow | NA |
Military support to security for NATO summit in Wales | NA |
Support to EU Op ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden |
Baltic Air Policing | Denmark, Poland, France |
Military support to Department of Health resilience plans to cover ambulance driver industrial action | NA |
Support to French and subsequently EUFORCAR in the Central African Republic | Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden |
Defence presence in the Gulf, including maritime security operations in the Gulf and counter-piracy operations | The UK operates within the Combined Maritime Force, whose EU members are: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain |
Stabilisation support in East Africa, including counter-piracy, counter-narcotics, counter terrorism; and capacity building for counter-terrorism, border security, aviation security | EUTM Somalia: Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden |
Support to UNFICYP mission in Cyprus | Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia |
NATO maritime policing of Mediterranean under Op ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR | Although this task is supported by NATO members, the UK has primarily operated with France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain |
Asked by: Ian C. Lucas (Labour - Wrexham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what operations have involved the deployment of UK armed forces personnel since 2010.
Answered by Mark Francois
The following list includes significant operations carried out by the Ministry of Defence since 2010. Defence carries out a wide variety of operations, including many operations involving only a few personnel or which have a short duration. It is not possible within reasonable time and cost constraints to list all operations irrespective of size or duration. The list does not include the following standing commitments, which can also cover a range of operational activity:
Task |
Continuous At-sea Deterrence |
Counter-terrorist policing of UK airspace |
NATO air policing mission within Europe |
Military support to national EOD capability in the UK |
Standing maritime patrol tasks, including UK and Overseas Territories |
Military support to Search and Rescue Operations |
The list includes any EU states involved in operations under a common command and control structure. However, non-EU member states in Europe have also made important contributions alongside the UK. For example, Norway has served alongside the UK on several major recent operations, including in Afghanistan Syria and the response to the Ebola Crisis in Sierra Leone. An overview of operations each year can be found in the MOD’s Annual Report and Accounts.
Activity | EU States |
Operations in Afghanistan, including as a contributor to the International Security Assistance Force and Resolute Support Mission | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden |
Operations in Iraq, including subsequent training of Iraqi forces until 2011 under Op TELIC | Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain |
Support to UN Stabilisation mission in Sudan and South Sudan | Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden |
UK support to EU NAVFOR under counter-piracy Op ATALANTA off the coast of Somalia | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia |
Support to UN Stabilisation mission MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo | Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Sweden |
NATO counter-piracy operation OCEAN SHIELD | Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain |
Humanitarian aid mission response to floods in Pakistan | NA |
Military support in severe cold weather in the UK | NA |
Transport of UK nationals following disruption of air travel by ash cloud from volcanic eruption in Iceland | NA |
Haiti natural disaster relief | NA |
Military operations in Libya including support to NATO Op UNIFIED PROTECTOR | Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, The Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden |
Military support to evacuation of British Eligible Personnel from Libya, 2011 | NA |
Military support to security for the 2012 London Olympics | NA |
Support to removal and destruction of Syrian chemical weapons |
Denmark, Germany |
Humanitarian aid response to natural disaster in the Philippines | NA |
Support to French military operations and subsequent support to EU Training Mission (EUTM) and UN stabilisation mission (MINUSMA) in Mali | EUTM: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain |
Military support to security for G8 Summit | NA |
Military support in response to East Coast flooding | NA |
Military support to Dept of Communities and Local Government resilience plans to cover fire fighter industrial action | NA |
Air campaign against ISIL and associated training missions in Iraq and Syria | Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain |
Search for missing airliner MH370 in the Indian Ocean | NA |
Military operation to support Nigeria in response to Boko Haram abductions of female students | France |
Military support to evacuation of British Eligible Personnel from Libya, 2014 | Malta (for basing) |
UK response to Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone | Denmark, Ireland, The Netherlands |
Military support in response to winter flooding in the UK | NA |
Military support to security for Commonwealth Games in Glasgow | NA |
Military support to security for NATO summit in Wales | NA |
Support to EU Op ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden |
Baltic Air Policing | Denmark, Poland, France |
Military support to Department of Health resilience plans to cover ambulance driver industrial action | NA |
Support to French and subsequently EUFORCAR in the Central African Republic | Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden |
Defence presence in the Gulf, including maritime security operations in the Gulf and counter-piracy operations | The UK operates within the Combined Maritime Force, whose EU members are: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain |
Stabilisation support in East Africa, including counter-piracy, counter-narcotics, counter terrorism; and capacity building for counter-terrorism, border security, aviation security | EUTM Somalia: Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden |
Support to UNFICYP mission in Cyprus | Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia |
NATO maritime policing of Mediterranean under Op ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR | Although this task is supported by NATO members, the UK has primarily operated with France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain |
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking in conjunction with its international partners to defeat ISIS.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We are part of a Global Coalition with over sixty members committed to defeating ISIL. We are supporting inclusive governance in Iraq and Syria, jointly leading the coalition’s efforts to counter ISIL’s narrative, working to disrupt its access to finance and foreign fighters, and providing military support to Iraqi forces fighting ISIL. The UK is also providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by ISIL’s brutality and will contribute to the Syrian Opposition Train and Equip Programme. We are providing £800 million worth of humanitarian aid in response to the crisis in Syria, which is the largest UK response to a humanitarian crisis.
Asked by: Baroness Clark of Kilwinning (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the direct military aid his Department provided to Kurdish forces in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
Answered by Mark Francois
To date in 2014, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has undertaken the following military assistance to units in Iraq: airstrikes, and accompanying surveillance, which have been critical to supporting the Iraqi security forces, including Kurdish Peshmerga; donated military equipment (such as rations and sleeping bags); and gifted 40 heavy machine guns and almost half a million rounds of ammunition. In addition, the UK has delivered weapons and ammunition from other coalition countries to Northern Iraq. Finally, UK personnel have been conducting training on the UK-gifted heavy machine guns near Erbil. Earlier in the year counter-improvised explosive device training was conducted by a private company, sponsored by three UK Government Departments, including the MOD.
No assistance has been given to Syrian Kurdish forces.
Asked by: Jim Murphy (Labour - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure aid packages are dropped over and are received by the civilians most in need in northern Iraq.
Answered by Justine Greening
The Department for International Development used the expertise and experience of the UK Military, and worked with other international partners including the US, to ensure aid packages reached civilians most in need in Northern Iraq.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of ISIL on Christian communities in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon; and what plans there are to protect such communities.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The humanitarian reports from Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the region are deeply concerning. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated armed groups continue to commit atrocities against Muslims, Christians, Yezidis, Turkmen and other communities throughout the areas under their control. We condemn any and all abuses of human rights, including those against Christians.
We are working closely with our international partners, including in the region, to try to assist and protect civilians - including Christians - from ISIL through a long-term, comprehensive strategy to degrade and defeat this terrorist organisation.
This strategy is being delivered by a large international coalition, where UK actions complement, and are coordinated with, those of other actors. It has security, political and humanitarian dimensions. For example, in Iraq, we are carrying out airstrikes against ISIL and are providing military assistance to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces so that they can restore control over the areas taken by ISIL. In Syria, we support military action by the US and five Arab states against ISIL; we are supporting the Syrian moderate opposition, who are fighting ISIL; and we continue to work for a political transition: when it comes to tackling ISIL, Assad is part of the problem, not part of the solution. In Lebanon, we continue to press for the election of a President, strengthen municipalities and support the Lebanese Armed Forces reassert state authority in their border regions On the humanitarian front, we continue to provide swift and substantial assistance to those who have fled areas controlled by ISIL, including air drops to deliver aid to those trapped by ISIL. On the diplomatic front, at the Human Rights Council in September we, alongside our international partners, secured a resolution strongly condemning ISIL and stressing the need for accountability.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the safety of Christian and Yezidi refugees in the Kurdish region in Iraq and the likelihood of an IS-led genocide against them.
Answered by Baroness Northover
The UK Government is using all the resources at its disposal to push back and ultimately seek to destroy ISIL. This includes providing military assistance to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces fighting ISIL so that they can restore control over the areas taken by ISIL, deploying a specialist team of Army trainers into Erbil, to provide Iraqi forces with training, and the RAF carrying out surveillance flights to provide greater situational awareness. The UK will continue to closely monitor the situation in the Kurdish and wider regions of Iraq.
In addition, DFID has provided £23m of UK Aid to Iraq, £17.5 million of which is funding NGOs, the UN and the Red Cross who continue to provide support to displaced people, including carrying out protection activities. All UK funded aid is distributed on the basis of need to ensure civilians are not discriminated against. Our aid is reaching displaced people across Iraq, including in the Kurdish region, to which many Christians and Yazidis have fled.
The Secretary of State for DFID visited Iraq in August and urged the then Designate, now confirmed in post, Iraqi Prime Minister, Haida al-Abadi, to ensure that his government protects all minorities in Iraq, promotes human rights and asserts the rule of law. The UK has also helped to secure a UN Human Rights Council Resolution mandating the UN urgently to investigate and report on ISIL abuses.
Asked by: Hugh Bayley (Labour - York Central)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the implications of UK military action in Iraq for UK humanitarian aid to the victims of the conflict in Syria; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Justine Greening
DFID has not received any reports of any impact on UK aid operations inside Syria resulting from UK military action in Iraq. We continue to closely monitor the situation with our partners on the ground, and to receive regular reports from them.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - North Tyneside)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make representations to his counterpart in the federal government in Iraq on allowing inspections of aid and arms shipments to be made by their officials in the international airports of the Kurdistan region in Iraq.
Answered by Mark Francois
The Government of Iraq inspects consignments of UK-delivered weapons, ammunition and other military equipment and supplies arriving into the country from abroad in Baghdad prior to their onward internal movement to the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The Ministry of Defence does not have any plans to make representations to the Government of Iraq on the matter.