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513987

registered interest
date	19/04/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Army: Sikhs
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 4 March 2015 to Question 225425, what progress has been made on the assessment of the feasibility of the creation of a Sikh regiment.
tabling member constituency	Tottenham
tabling member printed	Mr David Lammy
uin	34580
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2016 answer text <p>The Armed Forces are working to increase the recruitment of military personnel from all ethnic and religious backgrounds and have made significant progress towards the set target of 10% Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic enlistment to training by 2020. Measures have also been implemented to improve mutual understanding between the Army and the full range of UK communities in order to build better relationships between communities and military personnel.</p><p>The Ministry of Defence continues to look at all options relating to the recognition of Sikh values and traditions in our Armed Forces. Service personnel already benefit from a thriving British Armed Forces Sikh Association and a Sikh chaplain to the military; work is ongoing to ensure that policy supports the active participation of the Sikh religion.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 27/04/2016 15:27:28 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	206 label Biography information for Mr David Lammy

513988

registered interest
date	19/04/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) status and (b) purpose is of the Defence Diversity and Inclusion Programme established in September 2013.
tabling member constituency	Tottenham
tabling member printed	Mr David Lammy
uin	34579
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2016 answer text <p>The Defence Diversity and Inclusion Programme (DDIP) is a high priority change programme aimed at increasing the diversity of our workforce - both military and civilian. The Defence Board agreed in 2014 that the DDIP should be regarded as core business, on a par with other Defence Transformation activities.</p><p>The main purpose of the DDIP is to ensure that Ministry of Defence outputs are delivered by the right mix of capable and motivated people that appropriately represent the breadth of the society we exist to defend, now and in the future. The programme continues to drive real change in the core areas of leadership and culture; recruitment; retention and progression; and outreach, seeking to remove barriers where they might exist.</p><p>The benefits of this will be better access to talent for Defence's workforce and improving the Armed Forces' ability to achieve overall recruitment levels; improved decision making as a result of the different perspectives that come from a more diverse workforce; greater levels of cultural understanding so that we are more effective and trusted in our international operations and activities; improved workforce engagement and morale; and better relations with, and support from, the wide range of communities within British society as a result of a more representative workforce.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 27/04/2016 15:25:40 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	206 label Biography information for Mr David Lammy

513605

registered interest
date	18/04/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Mediterranean Sea: Refugees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to what extent the Royal Navy plans to increase naval patrols in the Mediterranean to respond to the increase in attempted illegal crossings by migrants from North Africa.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	34501
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2016 answer text <p>We are encouraging the EU counter-migration mission, Operation SOPHIA, to increase its role in tackling irregular migration across the Central Mediterranean. Indeed, earlier this week the EU Foreign Affairs Council agreed on the need to evaluate options for increasing SOPHIA's impact on human trafficking networks. This may include broader security support to the legitimate Libyan authorities, for example through potential capacity building. The UK currently has HMS ENTERPRISE deployed in support of Operation SOPHIA, and although we have no immediate plans to increase naval patrols in the Mediterranean, we are keeping our contribution under review as the operation's requirements change.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 22/04/2016 13:08:38 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

513611

registered interest
date	18/04/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Saudi Arabia: Military Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what advice was provided by UK service personnel to the Saudi military prior to 8 May 2015 on international humanitarian law and the designation of civilian populated city regions as valid military targets.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow Central
tabling member printed	Alison Thewliss
uin	34356
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2016 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence has a longstanding relationship with Saudi Arabia, including the provision of training and advice in a broad range of areas including International Humanitarian Law. The education and training courses which Saudi Arabian military personnel have completed includes courses such as Managing Defence in a Wider Security Context, the Strategic Leadership Programmes, and Initial Officer training courses. These courses expose Saudi military personnel to UK policy, and promote concepts of accountability, compliance with International Humanitarian Law and transparency. They are important in building skills which enable Saudi Arabia to deal appropriately with their own security problems, thereby contributing to regional security.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 22/04/2016 13:09:02 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4430 label Biography information for Alison Thewliss

513236

registered interest
date	15/04/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Yemen: Military Intervention
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of airstrikes that have been conducted by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
tabling member printed	Tom Brake
uin	34248
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2016 answer text <p>The UK has a small number of military personnel serving as liaison officers to Saudi headquarters to provide insight into Saudi operations. The UK is not a member of the coalition and the release of operational data is a matter for the coalition.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 20/04/2016 15:00:19 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

512491

registered interest
date	13/04/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Falkland Islands
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when a British frigate or destroyer was last assigned to protect the Falkland Islands; whether there has been any change in his Department's policy on the provision of such protection: and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
uin	33732
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2016 answer text <p>The Atlantic Patrol Tasking (South) duty provides a tangible presence in the South Atlantic, maintaining a commitment to provide support and reassurance to British Overseas Territories in the region, including the Falkland Islands.</p><p>The last frigate or destroyer in the vicinity of the Falkland Islands was the Type 23 frigate HMS LANCASTER; she completed this task in early December 2015.</p><p>There has been no change to our policy. We continually review our security posture in the Falkland Islands, which remain defended by a range of military assets including the patrol vessel HMS CLYDE, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship and around 1,200 UK personnel operating Royal Air Force Typhoon jets, ground defences and supporting infrastructure. In addition, other Royal Navy ships would be retasked to the Falkland Islands if required.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 20/04/2016 15:01:04 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight

512495

registered interest
date	13/04/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Falkland Islands
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure a continuous presence of Royal Navy vessels in the Falkland Islands.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	33866
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2016 answer text <p>The Royal Navy has a permanent presence in the South Atlantic in the form of the Falkland Islands Patrol Vessel, HMS CLYDE, supported by a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship. The Royal Navy's Ice Patrol Ship, HMS PROTECTOR, also operates in the South Atlantic region for periods of the year.</p><p>Other Royal Navy ships continue on normal operations in the Atlantic and would be retasked to the Falkland Islands if required.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 20/04/2016 15:02:39 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

512497

registered interest
date	13/04/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Syria: Islamic State
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of how many non-extremist opposition fighters in Syria have fought against Daesh since 21 December 2015.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	33889
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2016 answer text <p>We share the Joint Intelligence Organisation's assessment that opposition numbers have held up despite recent pressure and that there are significant numbers of non-extremist opposition inside Syria. Numbers in groups fighting Daesh are likely to have increased.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 22/04/2016 13:06:27 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

512504

registered interest
date	13/04/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Syria: Military Intervention
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of Russian airstrikes on the number of non-extremist opposition fighters in Syria.
tabling member constituency	Islington South and Finsbury
tabling member printed	Emily Thornberry
uin	33816
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2016 answer text <p>The Syrian regime, backed by Russian airstrikes, has put significant pressure on the non-extremist opposition, particularly in rural Damascus, Hama, Homs, Latakia and Aleppo. However, the Joint Intelligence Organisation has concluded that non-extremist opposition numbers have held up despite recent pressure.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 22/04/2016 13:08:00 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	1536 label Biography information for Emily Thornberry

511324

registered interest
date	12/04/2016
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Ethnic Groups
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of (a) Royal Navy, (b) British Army excluding Gurkhas and (c) Royal Air Force personnel are from an ethnic minority background.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	33630
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2016 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence is committed to achieving a more diverse workforce and is developing plans to meet the Government's commitment to increase the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) recruits into the Armed Forces to 10% by 2020 and have allocated resources for this purpose.</p><p>Planning is ongoing to ensure that new activity is evidence-based and resources are allocated in the best way to deliver the step change that is required.</p><p>Whilst this plan is being finalised, examples of steps already taken include increased engagement with ethnic minority communities, using communications to improve understanding on careers in the Armed Forces and offering support throughout the application process where it is needed.</p><p>The Armed Forces recently won two awards in October 2015 at the Race for Opportunity Awards. The Armed Forces Muslim Association won the Public Sector Employee Network Award and the Royal Air Force won the Future Workforce Award for their Employability Skills Programme. The Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force have also been recognised as two of the Top 10 public sector organisations for race diversity and inclusion by Race for Opportunity.</p><p>Statistics on the diversity declaration and representation of minority groups of <br>Service Personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence are published biannually. The most recent data can be found at:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-biannual-diversity-statistics-2015</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 33496 question first answered 18/04/2016 15:41:41 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis