Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

100034

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support the formulation of United Nations guidance on the application of human rights law to drone use.
	tabling member printed	Lord Judd
	uin	HL2240
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>The Government believes that international law on the use of military force is absolutely clear. There must be a lawful basis for such force to be used and activities must be conducted in accordance with the law of war or international humanitarian law. This is as true when considering the possible use of remotely piloted aircraft systems as it is with any other military asset or weapon. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems are a relatively new military asset, and their use, whether armed or unarmed, will continue to evolve. However, the existing international legal framework is clear and robust; and, as with any other weapons system, it is fully capable of governing their use. We do not need to rewrite the laws of war in order to be confident that, when used in such lawful circumstances, remotely piloted aircraft systems operate in the same legal environment as other military means. We have set this position out previously including at the UN Human Rights Council in response to the report of the Special Rapporteur.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 28/10/2014 16:39:08 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	1660 label Biography information for Lord Judd

91826

	registered interest
	date	26/09/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what permissions and licences are required to operate drones for commercial or leisure use.
	tabling member printed	Lord Berkeley
	uin	HL1884
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2014 answer text <p>The safe operation of civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in the UK is governed by the requirements of the Air Navigation Order 2009 (ANO). RPAS with an operating mass of more than 20 kg are subject to regulation as manned aircraft.</p><p> </p><p>Those with an operating mass of 20kg or less (referred to as ‘small unmanned aircraft’) are exempt from the majority of the regulations that normally apply to manned aircraft. However, their use is specifically covered by two articles within the ANO, which legislate for the ‘general’ flying aspects and the flight of those equipped for surveillance (articles 166 and 167). Article 138 concerning ‘endangering the safety of any person or property’ also remains applicable.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer question first answered 13/10/2014 12:21:00 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
	tabling member	3526 label Biography information for Lord Berkeley

100133

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the unit cost is of the (a) Hermes 450 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and (b) Watchkeeper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
	tabling member constituency	Moray
	tabling member printed	Angus Robertson
	uin	211342
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2014 answer text <p>The Hermes 450 Unmanned Air System was procured by the Ministry of Defence from Thales UK as a service provision in response to an Urgent Operational Requirement. The Department has therefore never owned the equipment and does not have access to the unit cost. <br><br>Watchkeeper is a system delivering an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capability and comprising a number of elements including air vehicles, ground control stations, data terminals, ground equipment and sensors, as well as infrastructure and training facilities. Delivery of the complete Watchkeeper system is enabled by the Demonstration, Manufacture and In-Service Support contract with the prime contractor, Thales UK. As a contract for delivering the entire system, it does not lend itself to the individual identification of the unit cost of a Watchkeeper aircraft.</p> answering member constituency Ludlow answering member printed Mr Philip Dunne question first answered 28/10/2014 16:54:53 answering member 1542 label Biography information for Philip Dunne
	tabling member	1433 label Biography information for Angus Robertson

57722

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will carry out an independent qualitative assessment of the psychological and workplace stresses on the operators of remotely piloted air systems.
	tabling member constituency	West Bromwich East
	tabling member printed	Mr Tom Watson
	uin	198644
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence currently has no plans to undertake an independent qualitative assessment of the psychological and workplace stresses on the operators of remotely piloted air systems.<br><br>The health and wellbeing of all of our Armed Forces personnel is of the utmost importance. We are mindful of the pressure and stresses that service personnel may be subjected to when supporting enduring intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. These personnel are carefully monitored and where appropriate have access to the highest levels of military physical and mental health care. Looking after our people is one of the critical roles for our front-line commanders and they keenly focus on the well-being of their people.</p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois question first answered 12/06/2014 15:14:24 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
	tabling member	1463 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest

58177

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 474W, on unmanned air vehicles: guided weapons, if he will take steps to receive parliamentary approval before the deployment of the armed forces to the redeployment of armed drones abroad.
	tabling member constituency	West Bromwich East
	tabling member printed	Mr Tom Watson
	uin	198710
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2014 answer text <p>There is no intention for Parliamentary approval to be sought before decisions on deployment or redeployment of individual items of equipment are made, though the Ministry of Defence may of course notify Parliament of significant deployments, as it does at present.</p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois question first answered 23/06/2014 15:38:52 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
	tabling member	1463 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest

58242

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the integration of remotely piloted aircraft systems into UK civil airspace.
	tabling member constituency	Sleaford and North Hykeham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Phillips
	uin	199031
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Department for Transport leads on policy for the operation of civil remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) in the UK. We are working with international Governments, regulators and the industry – including the European Commission and International Civil Aviation Organization – on the development of regulation for the safe integration of RPAS into UK and European airspace.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK Civil Aviation Authority and the European Aviation Safety Agency have a statutory responsibility to deal with the detailed Regulation.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Department for Transport currently chairs the cross-Government Working Group on RPAS and sits on the Autonomous Systems Technology Related Airborne Evaluation &amp; Assessment Steering Board, which both seek to enable the safe and routine use of RPAS in all classes of airspace without the need for restrictive or specialised conditions of operation. This will be achieved through the coordinated development and demonstration of key technologies and operating procedures.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 12/06/2014 11:06:54 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	4054 label Biography information for Stephen Phillips

58292

	registered interest
	date	05/06/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to introduce maritime remotely-piloted air systems; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Nicholas Soames
	uin	199377
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p>The Royal Navy has introduced the ScanEagle Unmanned Air System, delivering an intimate and assured persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance for equipped ships. ScanEagle was brought into service as an Urgent Operational Requirement; we are currently reviewing options for a follow-on maritime capability in the future.</p> answering member constituency Ludlow answering member printed Mr Philip Dunne question first answered 16/06/2014 16:56:21 answering member 1542 label Biography information for Philip Dunne
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

58355

	registered interest
	date	05/06/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicle; and how much his Department has spent on the assessment process to date.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Moor View
	tabling member printed	Alison Seabeck
	uin	199414
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p>Among other options, the potential utility of systems representative of the MQ-4C Triton in addressing the UK's potential wide area maritime surveillance requirement is currently under review. This activity is supported by the Air Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Optimisation Study (AIOS), which will provide support for potential decisions in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review. Disaggregating the cost of the MQ-4C Triton analysis from the rest of the AIOS could only be done at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Ludlow answering member printed Mr Philip Dunne question first answered 16/06/2014 16:58:41 answering member 1542 label Biography information for Philip Dunne
	tabling member	1552 label Biography information for Alison Seabeck

58487

	registered interest
	date	05/06/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has procured any contracts for life cycle maintenance of the Reaper fleet; and for what periods.
	tabling member constituency	West Bromwich East
	tabling member printed	Mr Tom Watson
	uin	199429
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>No contracts for life cycle maintenance have been procured. Through Life maintenance and support of the UK Reaper fleet is provided through the Foreign Military Sales agreement at the time the Reaper system was procured,under the previous administration.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ludlow answering member printed Mr Philip Dunne question first answered 12/06/2014 14:00:55 answering member 1542 label Biography information for Philip Dunne
	tabling member	1463 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest

58488

	registered interest
	date	05/06/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Joint Services Publication 398 on UK Rules of Engagement has been amended to reflect use of remotely piloted aircraft systems.
	tabling member constituency	West Bromwich East
	tabling member printed	Mr Tom Watson
	uin	199299
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>JSP 398 was updated on 21 October 2013, replacing the previous 2004 edition. Rules of engagement govern how force can be applied in any given operation. They are not tailored to weapon system types per se, but are written to be applied as appropriate to the full spectrum of weapons systems available to UK Forces. Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) are governed by the same rules and regulations as any other weapons system; therefore the amendment of JSP 398 did not require any special provision to reflect the use of RPAS by UK Forces.</p> answering member constituency Rayleigh and Wickford answering member printed Mr Mark Francois question first answered 12/06/2014 15:13:03 answering member 1444 label Biography information for Mr Mark Francois
	tabling member	1463 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest