Gerald Howarth: As set out in the Chicago Summit Declaration on Defence Capabilities http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-2233ABBD-2F923365/natolive/of ficial_texts_87594.htm NATO endorsed a number of multinational capability projects under the Smart Defence banner, declared an interim Ballistic Missile Defence capability, launched an initiative to improve Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, and...
Gerald Howarth: There are around 40 members of the armed forces based in British Indian Ocean Territory; there are no civilian officials.
Gerald Howarth: The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has not had any recent discussions on the future of the British Indian Ocean Territory, but he and other Defence Ministers have regular discussions with their US counterparts about a range of subjects which are of interest to both our mutual defence and security interests.
Gerald Howarth: Available records show that commercial exploitation levy (CEL) income is as detailed in the following table: Financial year Amount (£ million) 2005-06 14.5 2006-07 16 2007-08 12.5 2008-09 22 2009-10 34.5 2010-11 15 2011-12 18.5 Details prior to 2005 are not held centrally and are therefore unavailable.
Gerald Howarth: The United Kingdom's financial contribution to NATO common funds for each of the years in question is set out in Table 1. National cost shares are calculated using an agreed formula which reflects the relative economic strength of the Allies and these are shown in Table 2. Details of the Alliance's overall expenditure for each of the years in question are shown in Table 3. These contributions...
Gerald Howarth: We currently estimate the net additional cost of Operation ELLAMY at £199 million.
Gerald Howarth: The Ministry of Defence plans to continue its close engagement with the Somaliland Army and Coastguard, building capacity in Somaliland's institutions as a priority. The UK will continue to play a major role in the growing international efforts to bring peace and stability to all areas of Somalia and the Horn of Africa region.
Gerald Howarth: There are no NATO education or training institutes located in the UK.
Gerald Howarth: UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation (UKTI DSO), led by Lord Green, has overall responsibility within Government for trade promotion. However, UKTI DSO works very closely with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) whose contribution can be critical to the success of an industry-led export campaign. A wide variety of support is provided from across the Department. Records on how many...
Gerald Howarth: Ministers and officials within the Ministry of Defence, have regular discussions with NATO on a range of issues including both the UK's and NATO's post 2014 role in Afghanistan. By the end of 2014, UK forces will not be serving in Afghanistan in a combat role as a result of which the number of British troops will be substantially reduced from their current force levels. However, we are clear...
Gerald Howarth: When undertaking counter terrorism training, capacity building overseas, or providing military assistance using Conflict Pool funding, the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance Human Rights Guidance is applied. This is to be extended to all overseas military assistance as soon as is practical. The guidance includes the requirement carefully to consider and mitigate a range of human rights...
Gerald Howarth: The Minister for the Armed Forces, my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey), intends to write soon to the Council of Europe's Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population about its investigation into the loss of lives at sea off Libya.
Gerald Howarth: holding answer 30 April 2012 Work by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on depleted uranium(DU) in UK munitions is described in a report entitled “MOD DU Research programme; Radiochemical analysis task summary customer report, Dstl/CR23587 V 1.0” dated 20 May 2007. The report concludes that the presence of such nuclides is of no significance as their combined radiation dose adds less than...
Gerald Howarth: Under the Military Assistance to the Civil Authorities (MACA) arrangements, the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has requested assistance from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for contingency planning in the event of the disruption of fuel supplies within Great Britain as a result of potential industrial action by commercial fuel tanker drivers. Additional costs incurred by the...
Gerald Howarth: holding answer 30 April 2012 There are a number of steps the Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes to ensure that foreign armed forces with whom it co-operates observe international human rights conventions. Prior to deployment, UK military personnel are trained in how to respond in the event that troops they are mentoring or partnering act in a manner which appears to them to be inconsistent with...
Gerald Howarth: As part of our enduring commitment to Afghanistan, the UK will lead coalition support at the new Afghan National Army Officer Academy. At its peak, approximately 120 coalition troops will work at the academy providing leadership training to the officer cadets. The UK expects to provide roughly three-quarters of this manpower. In addition to this, there will be a number of personnel working in...
Gerald Howarth: Based on the analysis undertaken prior to the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, which the US Marine Corps and Italy plan to acquire, would be able to land and take off from a Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier operating STOVL.
Gerald Howarth: All personnel deploying on operations receive pre-deployment training, which includes cultural orientation. This is delivered either through individual or collective training. Pre-deployment training will also include refresher training on the Law of Armed Conflict and the Geneva Convention. This training is vital to assisting our troops' ability to engage with and work alongside local...
Gerald Howarth: It remains our intention that the Royal Marines should be equipped with an amphibious landing capability, including protected mobility, as set out in the strategic defence and security review. We have taken no decision to withdraw the Viking armoured vehicle from service, and there is presently no other vehicle in the armed forces’ inventory which offers the equivalent level of protection...
Gerald Howarth: Susanna Mason was appointed Director Exports and Commercial Strategy on 1 January 2012 to co-ordinate the Department's export effort in support of UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (DSO).