Asked by: Lord Green of Deddington (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government with what countries they have (1) bilateral return and readmission agreements, and (2) agreed Memoranda of Understanding for the return of migrants found to be illegally in the UK.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Bilaterally outside of the EU, the UK has a range of returns arrangements with receiving countries including bilateral MoU, formal readmission agreements and informal operational arrangements which provide the basis for administrative removal and deportation of own country nationals.
Formal immigration returns arrangements are in place with following countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, China, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Iraq, Kuwait, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Korea, South Sudan, Switzerland, Vietnam.
As an EU Member State, the UK participated in 14 of the 18 EU Readmission Agreements. These were with: Pakistan, Georgia, Serbia, Albania, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Macao and Hong Kong.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish details of the overseas (a) exercises and (b) deployments undertaken by the British Army in (i) 2019, (ii) 2020 and (iii) 2021.
Answered by James Heappey
The below tables show the overseas exercises in which the British Army have deployed on during the period 2019 – 2021, including those that are ongoing. Please note that the tables below do not include sub-unit training that takes place outside of the United Kingdom. Activity in 2020 is significantly lower due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Exercise Name | Location | Duration (incl dates) | Purpose | |
2019 | ||||
ASKARI STORM 1/19 | Kenya | 28-Jan-19 | 08-Mar-19 | Combined Arms Battlegroup exercise |
DYNAMIC FRONT | Germany | 12-Feb-19 | 12-Mar-19 | Live Fire Exercise/Command Post Exercise. NATO, US and other nations conducting joint fires and interoperability training |
ULCHI FREEDOM GUARDIAN | Republic of Korea | 25-Feb-19 | 12-Mar-19 | Command Post Exercise |
KHANJAR EDGE 19 | Oman | 01-Mar-19 | 15-Mar-19 | Combined Arms Battlegroup exercise |
ASKARI STORM 2/19 | Kenya | 04-Mar-19 | 12-Apr-19 | Combined Arms Battlegroup exercise |
CITADEL GUIBERT 19 | France | 04-Mar-19 | 29-Mar-19 | To train and evaluate France and US Divisions |
AUSTERE CHALLENGE (JVAC19) | Germany | 13-Mar-19 | 22-Mar-19 | Divisional Level Training exercise with US European Command (USEUCOM) |
OF6 TEG SOR (JVAC 19) | Germany | 13-Mar-19 | 22-Mar-19 | Combined Arms Battlegroup training |
WARFIGHTER 19.4 | USA | 28-Mar-19 | 15-Apr-19 | Command Post Exercise (CPX) to train and develop bilateral interop of UK Division into a US Corps. |
JOINT WARFIGHTER ASSESSMENT | USA | 22-Apr-19 | 10-May-19 | US Force development and interoperability activity. |
PRAIRIE STORM 1/19 | Canada | 28-Apr-19 | 03-Jun-19 | Combined Arms Battlegroup training |
Ex ASKARI SPEAR 3/19 | Kenya | 20-May-19 | 07-Jul-19 | Specialised Infantry combined arms sub-unit exercise in preparation to deploy on operations. |
SWIFT RESPONSE | Romania | 08-Jun-19 | 26-Jun-2019 | Command Post Exercise / LIVE USEUCOM multi-national Airborne interoperability exercise |
PRAIRIE STORM 2/19 | Canada | 28-Jun-19 | 05-Aug-19 | Combined Arms Battlegroup training |
ASKARI STORM 4&5/19 | Kenya | 23-Sep-19 | 01-Nov-19 | Combined Arms Battlegroup exercise |
TRACTABLE | Europe | 25-Sep-19 | 30-Nov-19 | Lead Armoured Task Force deployment test |
CITADEL BONUS 19 | Poland | 27-Nov-19 | 13-Dec-19 | Interoperability exercise |
Ex Name | Location | Duration (incl dates) | Purpose | |
2020 | ||||
ASKARI STORM 1/20 | Kenya | 27-Jan-20 | 17-Mar-20 | Combined Arms Battlegroup exercise |
MAYAN WARRIOR 19-2 (now 20-1) | Belize | 03-Feb-20 | 01-Mar-20 | Jungle training |
ASKARI SPEAR 2/20 | Kenya | 05-Mar-20 | 24-Apr-20 | Specialised Infantry combined arms exercise |
Ex Name | Location | Duration (incl dates) | Purpose |
| ||||||
2021 |
| |||||||||
TALLINN DAWN 3/20 | Germany | 11-Jan-21 | 14-Feb-21 | Mission Specific training |
| |||||
MAYAN SPEAR 21 | Belize | 09-Jan-21 | 10-Mar-21 | Specialised Infantry combined arms exercise |
| |||||
ASKARI STORM 1-21 | Kenya | 08-Feb-21 | 28-Mar-21 | Combined Arms Battlegroup exercise |
| |||||
DEFENDER 21 | Various | 01-Mar-21 | 14-Jun-21 | US led multi-national exercise |
| |||||
SWIFT RESPONSE 21 | Estonia | 01-Mar-21 | 14-Mar-21 | Command Post Exercise / LIVE USEUCOM multi-national Airborne interoperability exercise. |
| |||||
Warfighter 21-4 | USA | 13-Mar-21 | 23-Apr-20 | Command Post Exercise (CPX) to train and develop bilateral interop of UK Division into a US Corps. |
| |||||
NOBLE JUMP DEPLOY EX | Romania | 10-May-21 | 18-Jun-21 | UK commitment dependant on NATO Response Force commitment. |
| |||||
| ASKARI SPEAR 21-2 | Kenya | 14-Jun-21 | 01-Aug-21 | Specialised Infantry combined arms sub-unit exercise in preparation to deploy on operations | |||||
The table below shows the British Army’s overseas operational deployments during the period 2019 – present day:
Operation | Location | Dates | Purpose |
CABRIT | Estonia and Poland | Jan 2019 – Present | The UK contribution to NATO enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic states and Poland |
ELGIN | Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo | Jan 2019 – Present | Support to NATO and EUFOR (until the end of the EU transition period on 31 Dec 2020) |
FIRIC | Falkland Islands | Jan 2019 - Present | The British Army’s contribution to British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) through the provision of the Falkland Islands Roulement Infantry Company (FIRIC). |
ORBITAL | Ukraine | Jan 2019 – Present | Capacity Building of the Ukrainian Armed Forces |
NEWCOMBE | Mali | Dec 2020 -Present | UK contribution to United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). |
SHADER | Iraq | Jan 2019 - Present | UK contribution to operations against Daesh. |
TRENTON | South Sudan | Jan 2019- Mar 2020 | UK contribution to the United Nations Mission to South Sudan (UNMISS). |
TORAL | Afghanistan | Jan 2019 - Present | UK contribution to NATO Operation RESOLUTE SUPPORT. |
TOSCA | Cyprus | Jan 2019 - Present | UK contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). |
Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will list the countries and territories (a) invited by UK Defence and Security Exports to attend Security and Policing 2021 and (b) that attended Security and Policing 2020.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The countries, territories and organisations invited to attend Security and Policing 2021 are listed below. Those annotated with a * are the countries, territories and organisations that attended.
Algeria *
Argentina
Australia *
Austria *
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belgium *
Brazil
Bulgaria *
Canada *
Croatia *
Czech Republic *
Denmark *
Egypt *
Finland *
France
Germany
Ghana *
Greece *
Hungary *
India *
Indonesia
Iraq
Italy *
Japan *
Kenya *
Latvia *
Lithuania
Luxembourg *
Malaysia *
Mexico
Morocco *
NATO
Netherlands *
New Zealand *
Nigeria *
Norway *
Oman *
Pakistan *
Peru *
Poland *
Portugal *
Qatar
Romania *
Saudi Arabia *
Singapore *
South Africa *
South Korea *
Sweden *
Switzerland *
Taiwan *
Thailand
Trinidad & Tobago
Turkey
Ukraine *
UN *
USA *
Vietnam *
The list of countries, territories and organisations that attended Security and Policing 2020 were:
Australia
Belgium
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Colombia
Czech Republic
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Italy
Japan
Luxembourg
Morocco
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Saudi Arabia
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Trinidad & Tobago
Turkey
UAE
Ukraine
United Nations (UN)
United States
Uzbekistan
The full list of countries, territories and organisations invited and those that attended Security and Policing 2020 can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/security-and-policing-2020
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the UK's immigration returns agreements with (a) Afghanistan, (b) Algeria, (c) Angola, (d) Azerbaijan, (e) China, (f) Djibouti, (g) Democratic Republic of Congo, (h) Guinea, (i) Iraq, (j) Kuwait, (k) Nigeria, (l) Sierra Leone, (m) Somalia, (n) South Korea, (o) South Sudan, (p) Switzerland and (q) Vietnam.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
We have good longstanding migration relationships with many countries including through formal returns and readmission agreements with the countries listed in the question. The content of such agreements varies in scope. Some of the agreements are published on Gov.UK or are in the public domain. However, some agreements are not published so as to preserve good international relations or for operational reasons.
Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the UK's immigration returns agreements with (a) Afghanistan, (b) Algeria, (c) Angola, (d) Azerbaijan, (e) China, (f) Djibouti, (g) Democratic Republic of Congo, (h) Guinea, (i) Iraq, (j) Kuwait, (k) Nigeria, (l) Sierra Leone, (m) Somalia, (n) South Korea, (o) South Sudan, (p) Switzerland and (q) Vietnam cover the return of (i) nationals and residents of the country listed and (ii) nationals of third countries.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
We have good longstanding migration relationships with many countries including through formal returns and readmission agreements with the countries listed in the question. The content of such agreements varies in scope. Some of the agreements are published on Gov.UK or are in the public domain. However, some agreements are not published so as to preserve good international relations or for operational reasons.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what use they have made of the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre's civil emergency response mechanism as a means of sourcing personal protective equipment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and whether they have made any requests for assistance to the Centre.
Answered by Lord Bethell
To date, seven allied and nine partner nations have requested international assistance through the NATO Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC). In chronological order of requesting, these are: Ukraine, Spain, Montenegro, Italy, Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Colombia, Slovenia, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Tunisia and Iraq. Many of these requests were for personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical equipment. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs also asked for airlift support. The United Kingdom has not requested assistance through the EADRCC but we have responded to a small number of requests, including from Ukraine, Georgia, North Macedonia and Moldova, where PPE and medical equipment has been supplied. In these cases, equipment has been procured locally in the country concerned and within the constraints of our domestic response.
As part of the COVID-19 PPE team seconded to work with the Cabinet Office on PPE procurement, teams from Defence Equipment and Support have been using the NATO Support and Procurement Agency framework to order PPE for the National Health Service.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what use they have made of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency in attempting to procure personal protective equipment for the NHS.
Answered by Lord Bethell
To date, seven allied and nine partner nations have requested international assistance through the NATO Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC). In chronological order of requesting, these are: Ukraine, Spain, Montenegro, Italy, Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Colombia, Slovenia, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Tunisia and Iraq. Many of these requests were for personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical equipment. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs also asked for airlift support. The United Kingdom has not requested assistance through the EADRCC but we have responded to a small number of requests, including from Ukraine, Georgia, North Macedonia and Moldova, where PPE and medical equipment has been supplied. In these cases, equipment has been procured locally in the country concerned and within the constraints of our domestic response.
As part of the COVID-19 PPE team seconded to work with the Cabinet Office on PPE procurement, teams from Defence Equipment and Support have been using the NATO Support and Procurement Agency framework to order PPE for the National Health Service.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many migrants have crossed the English Channel to enter the UK in (a) January, (b) February and (c) March 2020; and what the countries of origin were for those migrants.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The data showing the number of migrants intercepted crossing the English Channel to enter the UK for the months of January, February and March is shown in the table below, including the claimed nationalities for those migrants:
(a) January 2020 – 94; (b) February 2020 – 182 and (c) March 2020 – 187. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By nationality: | Jan | Feb | March |
Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 53 | 109 | 104 |
Iraq | 16 | 40 | 63 |
Syria Arab Republic | 16 | 18 | 13 |
Afghanistan | 5 | 3 | 5 |
Kuwait Bidoun |
|
| 1 |
Yemen |
| 5 | 1 |
Pakistan | 4 | 1 |
|
Mali |
| 2 |
|
Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) |
| 1 |
|
Senegal |
| 1 |
|
Egypt |
| 1 |
|
Guinea |
| 1 |
|
Grand Total | 94 | 182 | 187 |
The total number of migrants for the April period cannot yet be released as the figures have not passed through a data quality check and cannot be assured. The figures will be published at a later date, once they have been
verified.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of illegal migrants who have crossed the English Channel to enter the UK since 1 April 2020.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The data showing the number of migrants intercepted crossing the English Channel to enter the UK for the months of January, February and March is shown in the table below, including the claimed nationalities for those migrants:
(a) January 2020 – 94; (b) February 2020 – 182 and (c) March 2020 – 187. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By nationality: | Jan | Feb | March |
Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 53 | 109 | 104 |
Iraq | 16 | 40 | 63 |
Syria Arab Republic | 16 | 18 | 13 |
Afghanistan | 5 | 3 | 5 |
Kuwait Bidoun |
|
| 1 |
Yemen |
| 5 | 1 |
Pakistan | 4 | 1 |
|
Mali |
| 2 |
|
Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) |
| 1 |
|
Senegal |
| 1 |
|
Egypt |
| 1 |
|
Guinea |
| 1 |
|
Grand Total | 94 | 182 | 187 |
The total number of migrants for the April period cannot yet be released as the figures have not passed through a data quality check and cannot be assured. The figures will be published at a later date, once they have been
verified.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many fresh asylum applications were submitted in 2019 by individuals who had previously been refused asylum in the UK.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Home Office records indicate that a total of 6,273 further submissions were lodged on protection grounds between 01/01/2019 and 30/09/2019, by individuals who had previously been refused asylum in the UK.
Home Office records indicate that the five most common nationalities of asylum applicants lodging further submissions on protection grounds between 01/01/2019 and 30/09/2019, and the volume of applications submitted by these nationalities, are:
Nationality | Number of applications |
Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 985 |
Pakistan | 704 |
Iraq | 680 |
Bangladesh | 510 |
Afghanistan | 433 |
Total | 3,312 |
|
|
When people who have previously been refused asylum in the UK wish to make representations in support of a fresh asylum applications these are recorded as Further Submissions. Only where those submissions have been considered and it has been decided not to grant any leave is it considered whether the Further Submissions amount to a fresh asylum application.
The above data relates to main applicants who lodged Further Submissions between 01/01/2019 and 30/09/2019 which is the latest reportable period in line with immigration statistics. The data is a count of the number of Further Submissions lodged. Some people may have lodged more than one submission during the period.