Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which foreign heads of state have attended passing out parades at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the last 12 months.
Answered by James Heappey
It is routine for a foreign Head of State to be invited to represent the Sovereign at one of the three Sovereign's Parades held annually. Additionally, Cadets are able to invite family members to attend their Commissioning Parade.
In the previous 12 months, two foreign Heads of State have attended Commissioning Parades at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as parents:
HM The Sultan of Oman (July 2022)
HE Mr Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda (August 2022)
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer given on 11 June 20220 to Question 135700, on Army: Training, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of building and improving the Army's physical urban training environments to include (a) high rise buildings, (b) multi-story car parks and (c) other features found in modern cities, to allow the Armed Forces to train in a realistic urban physical context that represents the modern operating environment.
Answered by James Heappey
Between both the Army's Collective Training Establishment Transition Programme (CTETP) and the Collective Training Transformation Programme (CTTP), the Army is continuing to invest in urban training environments for use in physical training exercises, which includes the infrastructure that the right hon. Member describes.
Together these investments will represent a step change in collective training capability that better prepares the Army in challenging, realistic, multi-domain and world-leading physical urban environments. These funded enhancements include instrumentation and the development of subterranean and multi-storey capabilities, delivered together across our current urban training facilities.
In 2021, the Secretary of State for Defence approved the procurement for the first elements of a Mobile Urban Training Facilities capability, for use in Oman. This is one part of the proposed development of a Combined Regional Joint Training and Experimentation Centre being developed near Duqm. Additionally, the Army will also use the Bundeswehr's urban training facility at Altmark, Germany, for Army collective training from 2023.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department's personnel are deployed around the world; and in which locations those people are stationed.
Answered by James Heappey
The following table details the number of personnel deployed overseas on operations and their location. The numbers change depending on operational requirements, but are accurate at the time of answering the hon. Member's question.
Location | Number of UK military deployed | Number of civilians deployed | Total number of military and civilians deployed |
Egypt | 2 | 0 | 2 |
HMS Montrose | 180 | 2 | 182 |
HMS Penzance | 41 | 0 | 41 |
HMS Chiddingfold | 45 | 0 | 45 |
RFACardigan Bay | 0 | 0 | 0 |
HMS Middleton | 45 | 0 | 45 |
HMS Bangor | 36 | 0 | 36 |
HMS Trent | 61 | 0 | 61 |
HMS Spey | 46 | 0 | 46 |
HMS Tamar | 75 | 0 | 75 |
AbuDhabi (British Embassy) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Bahrain | 188 | 2 | 190 |
Cyprus | 214 | 6 | 220 |
Oman | 18 | 0 | 18 |
Qatar | 132 | 0 | 132 |
UAE | 110 | 0 | 110 |
USA | 23 | 1 | 24 |
Baghdad(British Embassy) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Iraq | 189 | 3 | 192 |
Jordan | 12 | 0 | 12 |
Kuwait | 51 | 3 | 54 |
TelAviv(British Embassy) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Saudi Arabia | 24 | 0 |
|
Azerbaijan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pakistan(British High Commission) | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Pakistan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Gibraltar | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Mali | 464 | 5 | 469 |
Democratic Republic of Congo | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Kenya | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Somalia | 69 | 0 | 69 |
Djibouti | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Tunisia(British Embassy) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Chad | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Nigeria | 27 | 0 | 27 |
South Sudan | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Estonia | 1,372 | 14 | 1,386 |
Germany | 81 | 2 | 83 |
Latvia | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Lithuania | 89 | 0 | 89 |
Poland | 414 | 3 | 417 |
Bosnia | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Kosovo | 41 | 0 | 41 |
Ukraine | 97 | 0 | 97 |
Romania | 197 | 1 | 198 |
Bulgaria | 2 | 0 | 2 |
North Macedonia | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Slovakia | 43 | 0 | 43 |
Finland | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Sweden | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Japan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Indonesia | 8 | 0 | 8 |
Kuala Lumpur | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Lebanon (British Embassy) | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Ghana | 25 | 0 | 25 |
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made, as penholders for Yemen in the UN Security Council, in improving accountability in Yemen and the prospects for peace.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK continues to use its role as penholder to support UN-led efforts towards peace in Yemen. Most recently, on 28 February the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2624, which reiterated calls for a nationwide ceasefire and for all parties to participate constructively in UN-led consultations. Resolution 2624 listed the Houthi movement under the UN arms embargo for the first time and renewed the mandate of the UN Panel of Experts. In January the former Minister for the Middle East hosted the UN Special Envoy for Yemen in London and also convened discussions amongst the UN, US, Oman, Saudi Arabia and UAE to coordinate efforts to drive forward political dialogue in Yemen.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the long-term military posture and stability of Asia and the Pacific.
Answered by James Heappey
Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine has profound global implications, including for the Asia Pacific Region. The flagrant violation of international law and of the UN Charter it represents resonate around the world. That is why 141 nations, including many in the Asia Pacific Region, condemned Russia's action in the United Nations General Assembly.
We believe that most countries in the Asia Pacific region are deeply concerned by Russia's actions, and its implications for broader stability including in their region. It is too early to draw any conclusions on their military posture. We are continuing with the Defence contribution to the Government's Indo-Pacific Tilt including through our deployment of the Littoral Response Group (South), our relationships with Kenya and Oman projecting into the Western Indian Ocean, our growing partnerships with India, Japan and Republic of Korea, and our deployments of the Offshore Patrol Vessels HMS SPEY and HMS TAMAR.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Labour - Denton and Reddish)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2021 to Question 71288, whether the Government has encouraged the Omani Government to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel in bilateral meetings.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The United Kingdom warmly welcomed the normalisation agreements between Israel and Arab partners Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Sudan. The Foreign Secretary made clear her commitment to the Abraham Accords at both the recent UK-Israel Strategic Dialogue on 29 November, and subsequently at the Gulf Cooperation Council-United Kingdom Foreign Ministers' Meeting on 20 December. The UK is working with regional partners to ensure the Abraham Accords are an enduring success, and continue to encourage other countries who have not yet normalised to do so.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has held recent discussions with her counterparts in Oman in order to seek their best endeavours in trying to persuade the Houthis to agree to a ceasefire in their military advance towards Marib.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
UK Ministers engage regularly with their regional counterparts to encourage progress towards both a political solution and an end to the humanitarian suffering in Yemen. We welcome Oman's diplomatic efforts. The Foreign Secretary and I discussed Yemen with Omani Foreign Minister Sayd Badr and wider GCC Foreign Ministers in December 2021.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with what countries the carrier strike group has had (a) engagements and (b) military exercises to date; and what those engagements and military exercises were.
Answered by James Heappey
The table below sets out the countries and/or overseas territories that the UK Carrier Strike Group has interacted with during the 2021 deployment. This also includes activity undertaken by our Integrated Partners, the Netherlands and United States.
Country/ Overseas Territory | Engagement | Military Exercise |
Australia | N/A | Passing Exercise (PASSEX), air interaction, Exercise BERSAMA GOLD. (Five Powers Defence Arrangements Exercise hosted by Malaysia with participants from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK.) Maritime Partnership Exercise (with US and Japan). Press Release |
Bahrain | Participation in the CDS-led Dragon Group. Press Release | N/A |
Bangladesh | Port Visit to Chattogram. Press Release | PASSEX with the Bangladeshi Navy, training with Bangladesh Special Forces. Press Release |
British Indian Ocean Territory | Port Visit to Diego Garcia. | N/A |
Brunei | Port Visit to Bandar Seri Begawan. | N/A |
Cambodia | Virtual Defence Engagement. | N/A |
Canada | N/A | Exercise PACIFIC CROWN (Pacific Ocean) South China Sea navigation in company. |
Cyprus | Port Visit to Limassol and Larnaca. | N/A |
Djibouti | Port Visit to Djibouti and support to Allied Appreciation Fly Past. Press Release | N/A |
Egypt | Port Visit to Alexandria, Defence Engagement. | N/A |
France | N/A | Exercises Atlantic Trident (North Atlantic) and Gallic Strike (Mediterranean). Press Release |
Georgia | Port Visit to Batumi. | At sea PASSEX with the Georgian Navy. |
Gibraltar | Port Visit and hosted reception at sea. | N/A |
Greece | Port Visit to Piraeus and Souda. | N/A |
Guam | Port visit to Guam. | N/A |
India | Port Visit to Goa and Mumbai. Defence Engagement | Maritime Participation Exercise in the Indian Ocean. Press Release Exercise Konkan Shakti. Press Release |
Indonesia | Port visit to Jakarta and Virtual Defence Engagement. | At sea PASSEX with the Indonesian Navy. |
Iraq | Participation in the CDS-led Dragon Group. | N/A |
Israel | Port Visit to Haifa. | Exercise Falcon Strike and Exercise Tri-Lightning (both in the Mediterranean). |
Italy | Port Visit to Augusta, Messina and Taranto. Defence Engagement, including a trilateral meeting between the UK, Italy and Turkey which was hosted by the Secretary of State for Defence. Press Release Co Host – North Atlantic Council Defence Engagement. | Exercise Falcon Strike, transit in western Mediterranean. Press Release Cross Deck of F35 between ITS CAVOUR and HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH. Press Release |
Japan | Port visits to Sasebo, Yokosuka, Funakoshi. Reception and capability demonstration. | Exercise PACIFIC CROWN (Pacific Ocean), quad carrier exercise (with two carriers from the USA, one from Japan and HMS Queen Elizabeth), South China Sea navigation in company. Maritime Partnership Exercise (with US and Australia). Passing Exercise in Indian Ocean. Press Release Press Release |
Jordan | Port Visit to Aqaba and participation in the CDS-led Dragon Group. | 16 Air Assault Brigade Joint Theatre Entry Exercise. Press Release |
Kenya | Port Visit to Mombasa. Defence Engagement supported by the Minister for the Armed Forces. | Exercise with Kenyan Armed Forces. Press Release |
Kuwait | Participation in the CDS-led Dragon Group. | N/A |
Malaysia | N/A | PASSEX, Exercise BERSAMA GOLD. |
Malta | Port Visit to Valletta. | N/A |
Montenegro | Port visit to Bar, Reception and Capability Demonstration. Defence Engagement, including an event led by Minister of State (Lords). Press Release Press Release | N/A |
Netherlands | Integrated Partner. | Integrated Partner. |
New Zealand | Not Applicable. | South China Sea Transit in company, Exercise BERSAMA GOLD. |
Oman | Port Visit to Duqm and Muscat which included Defence Engagement led by the Secretary of State for Defence. Press Release Participation in the CDS-led Dragon Group. | Exercise KHANJAR OMAN and Maritime exercises with the Omani military. Press Release |
Pakistan | Port Visit to Karachi. | Bilateral training exercise with the Pakistani Navy. |
Portugal | Port Visit to Lisbon. | N/A |
Qatar | Participation in the CDS-led Dragon Group. | N/A |
Republic of Korea | Defence Engagement - at sea reception and capability demonstration. | Search and rescue exercise. Press Release |
Romania | Port Visit to Constanta. | N/A |
Saudi Arabia | Port Visit to Jeddah and Participation in the CDS-led Dragon Group. | At sea PASSEX with the Royal Saudi Navy. |
Singapore | Port visit to Sembawang. Reception and capability demonstration. | PASSEX including some limited air exercising, participation in Exercise BERSAMA GOLD. Press Release Press Release |
Spain | Port Visit to Alicante, Cartagena, Palma, Barcelona, La Coruna, and Rota. | F-35B Participation in Tactical Leadership programme (TLP). |
Sri Lanka | Port Visit to Colombo. | Search and Rescue Exercise with the Sri Lankan Navy. |
Thailand | Virtual Defence Engagement. | Co-ordinated maritime manoeuvres. Press Release |
Turkey | Port Visit to Istanbul, with Defence Engagement, including a trilateral meeting between the UK, Italy and Turkey which was hosted by the Secretary of State for Defence. Press Release Press Release | N/A |
United Arab Emirates | Participation in the CDS-led Dragon Group. | Air support to Advanced Training and Leadership Course (ATLC). |
Ukraine | Port Visit to Odessa, with Defence Engagement led by the Minister for Defence Procurement. Press Release | At sea PASSEX with the Ukrainian Navy. |
United States of America | Integrated Partner. | Further to being an Integrated Partner, the Carrier Strike Group interacted with additional US assets in dual, tri and quad carrier exercises. Press Release Press Release |
Vietnam | Port Visit to Da Nang and virtual Defence Engagement. | At sea PASSEX with the Vietnamese Navy. |
NATO* | At-sea NATO Ambassadorial visit, hosted by the Minister for Defence Procurement, and capability demonstrations. Press Release | Exercise Steadfast Defender (North Atlantic), Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 - Operation Sea Guardian (Mediterranean). Press Release Press Release |
*Whilst not a country, assets from the UK Carrier Strike Group also participated in NATO-led military exercises and engagements.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to remarks made by Baroness Goldie on 25 November (HL Deb, col 1057), how many regional hubs for army deployment and training are being created; where they are being created; and when they will be operational.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Land Regional Hubs will be established as part of the wider Defence Global Hub concept that will support the delivery of regional Military Strategic Objectives. The Army will capitalise on our pre-existing network of overseas bases in Oman, Kenya, Brunei, Belize and Germany, integrating with and augmenting the existing global network for Defence.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Secretary of State for Defence of 25 November 2021, Official Report, column 483, if he will publish a list of his planned network of regional hubs.
Answered by James Heappey
Land Regional Hubs will be established as part of the wider Defence Global Hub concept that will support the delivery of regional Military Strategic Objectives. The Army will capitalise on our pre-existing network of overseas bases in Oman, Kenya, Brunei, Belize and Germany, integrating with and augmenting the existing global network for Defence.