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106255

registered interest
date	04/11/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Libya
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Libyan armed forces personnel have been (a) arrested and (b) charged with any crimes during their time training at Camp Bassingbourn; and what crime was involved in each case.
tabling member constituency	Moray
tabling member printed	Angus Robertson
uin	213338
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2014 answer text <p>Prior to the start of General Purpose Force training on 11 June 2014, the UK had several discussions with the Libyan government about the selection and vetting of the Libyan trainees. These conversations also included representations from the United States and Italy.</p><p> </p><p>The Libyan government provided trainee candidates who had been through Libyan vetting and selection processes. These candidates were then subject to additional UK vetting in Libya, to ensure that those selected met Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and Home Office requirements on security, immigration, medical, physical, literacy and numeracy criteria; in addition, the selected cohort comprised a suitable geographic representation of Libya. Home Office visa processes included checks against UK criminal databases and a visa declaration by all trainees which confirmed that they held no criminal convictions or charges in the UK or elsewhere.</p><p> </p><p>We are not aware that any of those candidates who passed UK screening had criminal convictions or faced charges at that time in the UK or elsewhere.</p><p> </p><p>During the course of training the Libyan General Purpose Force (GPF) we are aware of sixteen individuals being arrested. Of these five have been remanded in custody while facing the following criminal charges:</p><p> </p><p>Three counts of sexual assault, one count of theft of a pedal cycle and one count of exposure.</p><p> </p><p>Three counts of sexual assault and one count of theft of a pedal cycle.</p><p> </p><p>Two counts of sexual assault, one count of theft of a pedal cycle and one count of using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm/distress against a police officer.</p><p> </p><p>One count of rape.</p><p> </p><p>One count of rape.</p><p> </p><p>All other trainees at Bassingbourn have been returned to Libya.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A team has been set up to produce for the Defence Secretary before Christmas an objective report into the GPF training. It is led by a MOD senior civil servant who was not involved in the original work, supported by a senior civil servant loaned from another Government Department to provide an additional element of independence and challenge.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois grouped question UIN 213410 213412 213588 214129 question first answered 18/12/2014 16:33:08 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois previous answer version 29882 answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
tabling member	1433 label Biography information for Angus Robertson

106256

registered interest
date	04/11/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Libya
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Libyan soldiers training in the UK have withdrawn from the training programme voluntarily; and how soon after withdrawing from the programme each such soldier returned to Libya.
tabling member constituency	Wrexham
tabling member printed	Ian Lucas
uin	213340
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2014 answer text <p>One hundred Libyan personnel withdrew from training. Of these, fewer than ten were asked by the UK to leave. All personnel who ceased training early to return to Libya left the UK in accordance with timescales agreed with the Libyan Government.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois grouped question UIN 213589 question first answered 18/12/2014 16:31:56 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois previous answer version 29883 answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
tabling member	1470 label Biography information for Ian C. Lucas

106413

registered interest
date	04/11/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Libya
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Libyan soldiers previously in receipt of UK military training at Bassingbourn have been withdrawn; and how many such people are (a) facing criminal charges and (b) have received convictions (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	213412
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2014 answer text <p>Prior to the start of General Purpose Force training on 11 June 2014, the UK had several discussions with the Libyan government about the selection and vetting of the Libyan trainees. These conversations also included representations from the United States and Italy.</p><p> </p><p>The Libyan government provided trainee candidates who had been through Libyan vetting and selection processes. These candidates were then subject to additional UK vetting in Libya, to ensure that those selected met Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and Home Office requirements on security, immigration, medical, physical, literacy and numeracy criteria; in addition, the selected cohort comprised a suitable geographic representation of Libya. Home Office visa processes included checks against UK criminal databases and a visa declaration by all trainees which confirmed that they held no criminal convictions or charges in the UK or elsewhere.</p><p> </p><p>We are not aware that any of those candidates who passed UK screening had criminal convictions or faced charges at that time in the UK or elsewhere.</p><p> </p><p>During the course of training the Libyan General Purpose Force (GPF) we are aware of sixteen individuals being arrested. Of these five have been remanded in custody while facing the following criminal charges:</p><p> </p><p>Three counts of sexual assault, one count of theft of a pedal cycle and one count of exposure.</p><p> </p><p>Three counts of sexual assault and one count of theft of a pedal cycle.</p><p> </p><p>Two counts of sexual assault, one count of theft of a pedal cycle and one count of using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm/distress against a police officer.</p><p> </p><p>One count of rape.</p><p> </p><p>One count of rape.</p><p> </p><p>All other trainees at Bassingbourn have been returned to Libya.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A team has been set up to produce for the Defence Secretary before Christmas an objective report into the GPF training. It is led by a MOD senior civil servant who was not involved in the original work, supported by a senior civil servant loaned from another Government Department to provide an additional element of independence and challenge.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois grouped question UIN 213338 213410 213588 214129 question first answered 18/12/2014 16:33:08 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois previous answer version 29885 answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

106414

registered interest
date	04/11/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Libya
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) criminal convictions and (b) criminal charges are held by members of the Libyan armed forces receiving training in the UK.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	213410
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2014 answer text <p>Prior to the start of General Purpose Force training on 11 June 2014, the UK had several discussions with the Libyan government about the selection and vetting of the Libyan trainees. These conversations also included representations from the United States and Italy.</p><p> </p><p>The Libyan government provided trainee candidates who had been through Libyan vetting and selection processes. These candidates were then subject to additional UK vetting in Libya, to ensure that those selected met Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and Home Office requirements on security, immigration, medical, physical, literacy and numeracy criteria; in addition, the selected cohort comprised a suitable geographic representation of Libya. Home Office visa processes included checks against UK criminal databases and a visa declaration by all trainees which confirmed that they held no criminal convictions or charges in the UK or elsewhere.</p><p> </p><p>We are not aware that any of those candidates who passed UK screening had criminal convictions or faced charges at that time in the UK or elsewhere.</p><p> </p><p>During the course of training the Libyan General Purpose Force (GPF) we are aware of sixteen individuals being arrested. Of these five have been remanded in custody while facing the following criminal charges:</p><p> </p><p>Three counts of sexual assault, one count of theft of a pedal cycle and one count of exposure.</p><p> </p><p>Three counts of sexual assault and one count of theft of a pedal cycle.</p><p> </p><p>Two counts of sexual assault, one count of theft of a pedal cycle and one count of using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm/distress against a police officer.</p><p> </p><p>One count of rape.</p><p> </p><p>One count of rape.</p><p> </p><p>All other trainees at Bassingbourn have been returned to Libya.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A team has been set up to produce for the Defence Secretary before Christmas an objective report into the GPF training. It is led by a MOD senior civil servant who was not involved in the original work, supported by a senior civil servant loaned from another Government Department to provide an additional element of independence and challenge.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois grouped question UIN 213338 213412 213588 214129 question first answered 18/12/2014 16:33:09 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois previous answer version 29888 answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

105876

registered interest
date	03/11/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent representations he has received from the Afghan government on the use of the Royal Air Force to provide close air support for the Afghan National Security forces.
tabling member constituency	Moray
tabling member printed	Angus Robertson
uin	213144
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2014 answer text <p>To date, the Afghanistan Government has made no formal representations to the Secretary of State on the use of the Royal Air Force to provide close air support to the Afghan National Security Forces.</p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois grouped question UIN 217756 218556 question first answered 17/12/2014 17:35:53 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois previous answer version 29876 answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
tabling member	1433 label Biography information for Angus Robertson

92157

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British service personnel are serving in (a) Afghanistan and (b) other countries.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	209788
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2014 answer text <p>Around 600 UK Armed Forces personnel are currently deployed on operations in Afghanistan and around a further 2,930 are deployed on operations in other countries. Information on the stationed location of all UK Regular Forces is available at <a title="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/376061/QLS_Quarterly_Location_Statistics__October_2014.pdf#page=4" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/376061/QLS_Quarterly_Location_Statistics__October_2014.pdf#page=4" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/376061/QLS_Quarterly_Location_Statistics__October_2014.pdf#page=4</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><ol type="1"><li>‘UK Armed Forces personnel’ includes UK Regular Forces, Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service personnel and mobilised reservists.</li><li>‘Other countries’ excludes deployments in the UK, Afghanistan and personnel on board Naval Vessels.</li><li>Data for personnel deployed on operations only includes personnel who are deployed to an overseas location with an assigned country code. Personnel on overseas training exercises are excluded.</li></ol><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois question first answered 18/12/2014 16:31:20 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois previous answer version 22766 answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

92166

registered interest
date	26/09/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Iraq
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether forward air controllers are directing airstrikes in Iraq.
tabling member constituency	Moray
tabling member printed	Angus Robertson
uin	209773
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2014 answer text <p>UK personnel in Iraq perform a number of roles. This includes supporting UK and coalition airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq. Iraqi security forces are able to communicate with coalition aircraft through coalition HQs including the Iraqi Joint Operating Centre in Baghdad. Coalition aircraft in Iraq either engage in dynamic targeting, for example responding to Iraqi forces under fire, or in deliberate targeting, when for example attacking previously identified ISIL positions prior to an advance by Iraqi security forces.</p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois question first answered 17/12/2014 17:36:36 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois previous answer version 22755 answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
tabling member	1433 label Biography information for Angus Robertson

90029

registered interest
date	01/09/2014
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Afghanistan
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions UK forces have used a US Air Force Reaper Remotely Piloted Air System in Afghanistan in each year; and whether each such use was due to serviceability issues with RAF Reaper Remotely Piloted Air Systems.
tabling member constituency	Moray
tabling member printed	Angus Robertson
uin	207734
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/11/2014 answer text <p><strong>The Rt Hon Mark Francois: </strong></p><p> </p><p>The number of sorties in which RAF crews have utilised a USAF Reaper to undertake a UK Sortie in Afghanistan for each year between 2008 and 2014 is given in the following table.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Number of United Kingdom Sorties utilising a USAF Air Vehicle</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>64</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>180</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>56</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-January to August Inclusive</p></td><td><p>192</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>For the majority of occasions this was due to short term unserviceability or routine scheduled servicing of a UK Reaper. The increased usage in 2012 was due to an increase in ISAF tasking, coinciding with a period of reduced UK airframe availability. This resulted in reduced resilience to cover short-term unserviceabilities from within the UK Reaper force. The increased usage in 2014 was due to further increased ISAF tasking utilising the crews from the UK Additional Reaper Capability. The additional UK aircrews and ISAF requirement to start the new task lines were in place prior to the additional UK airframes being prepared for operations in theatre. Consequently, while the new UK airframes were temporarily unavailable for tasking, the additional ISAF task lines with UK crews were flown utilising USAF aircraft.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois question first answered 25/11/2014 17:00:19 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois previous answer version 18968 answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
tabling member	1433 label Biography information for Angus Robertson