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 printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label attachment file name title
tabling member	label

Search

1504647

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Autonomous Weapons
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement in the policy document Ambitious, Safe and Responsible - Our approach to the delivery of AI-enabled capability in Defence, published on 15 June, that there must be "context appropriate human involvement in weapons which identify, select and attack targets", what plans they have to elaborate on the concept of "context appropriate human involvement" to ensure that relevant officers in (1) the Ministry of Defence, and (2) HM Armed Forces, have operational guidance on the acceptability of particular weapons, practices and uses.
tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
uin	HL2086
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>MOD officials and Military colleagues are currently exploring processes for the delivery of the approaches set out in the Ambitious, Safe, Responsible policy. This will include a consideration of AI across the system lifecycle, including further elaboration of the concept of 'context appropriate human involvement'.</p><p>With respect to the acceptability of particular weapons, the Additional Protocol 1 (AP 1), Article 36 of the Geneva Convention 1977, requires States to determine whether new weapons, means or methods of warfare may be employed lawfully under International Law. The United Kingdom takes this obligation very seriously, and UK weapon reviews are undertaken by serving military lawyers on the staff of the Development Concepts and Doctrine Centre (DCDC). This assessment will then be fed into usage instructions and authorities on particular systems to ensure that the parameters of lawful and responsible use are fully understood in any particular case.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 20/09/2022 13:52:56 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones

1504648

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Autonomous Weapons
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement in policy document Ambitious, Safe and Responsible: Our approach to the delivery of AI enabled capability in Defence, published on 15 June, that global governance for autonomous weapons systems is "a difficult task", how they plan to respond strategically to identified challenges of global governance in this area; and, in any such strategic response, how they intend to fulfil the aims set out in the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, published on 16 March 2021, in relation to international legal, ethical and regulatory standards on responsible development and use of artificial intelligence.
tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
uin	HL2087
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>The Department is developing its plans to implement its Defence AI Strategy, to address broader strategic issues arising from the Integrated Review. We will work with partners to mitigate the potential impacts of AI, including its proliferation, misuse and potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation.</p><p>Particularly relevant fora include the UN-brokered discussions under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), AI Partnership for Defence and NATO; as well as broader discussions on the development of AI within the Global Partnership on AI, UNESCO and the Council of Europe. Compliance with International Humanitarian Law will remain at the core of our current and future standards, which will be rigorously applied to all AI use in Defence.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 20/09/2022 13:54:13 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones

1504649

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Defence: Artificial Intelligence
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what mechanisms they are considering for compliance or oversight of the use of artificial intelligence in defence; and, in particular, whether mechanisms they are considering include (1) an internal artificial intelligence regulator, (2) the conversion of the principles included in the Defence Artificial Intelligence Strategy, published on 15 June, to specific standards and procedures, and (3) a means to ensure that weapons systems developed, acquired or deployed by the Ministry of Defence comply with any such standards and procedures.
tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
uin	HL2088
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>The internal regulation and governance of standards for AI use in Defence are currently subject to extensive work across the Department. Officials and military colleagues are developing frameworks to assess risk and ensure compliance, across the full spectrum of AI functionality.</p><p>Key aspects of this will include requiring Front-Line Commands and equivalent organisations within Defence to appoint 'Accountable Officers' ensuring oversight for AI activity and developing the capacity of the Defence Artificial Intelligence Centre to provide technical oversight and coordinated advice to all units across Defence. We are exploring how the Defence Safety Authority will consider AI within the wider issues across its current remit as the existing independent safety regulator.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 20/09/2022 13:57:50 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones

1504650

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Autonomous Weapons
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence on 18 July (HC Deb col 688) that "autonomy is increasingly the key to the successful generation of overwhelming force in the battle space" and that "a more lethal force—even a bigger force—does not necessarily acquire more workforce in the future", what assessment they have made of (1) the compatibility of these remarks with the answer by Baroness Goldie on 1 November 2021 (HL Deb, col 995) that "UK Armed Forces do not use systems that employ lethal force without context-appropriate human involvement", and (2) the implications of these remarks for risks of strategic instability.
tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
uin	HL2089
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>AI may not inherently reduce workforce requirements, but it is likely to change the activities we need people to undertake. Across the workforce, AI and autonomous systems offer opportunities to remove people from ‘dull, dirty and dangerous’ tasks. This will enable us to focus our people on those areas where they can add particular value, in the context of Human Machine Teams. Machines are good at doing things right; people are good at doing the right things, and context-appropriate human involvement will be essential for the ethical and legal use of AI-enabled weapon systems. We strongly believe that such systems can and must be used lawfully and ethically, and we will promote security and stability by working closely with allies and partners to build consensus, promote a common vision for the safe, responsible and ethical use of these technologies globally, and push for compliance with International Humanitarian Law.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 20/09/2022 14:00:51 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones

1504651

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Reserve Forces
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the 'Quarterly service personnel statistics 1 April 2022', what are the figures for reserve personnel, divided by service into (1) officers, and (2) other ranks, and by (a) strength, (b) inflow, and (c) outflow.
tabling member printed	Lord De Mauley
uin	HL2092
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2022 answer text <p>The requested breakdowns by strength, intake and outflow are provided in the attached spreadsheets.</p><p> </p><p>The Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics (QSPS) 1 April 2022 contain the breakdown for the Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) in Tables 6a (trained strength) and 6b (untrained strength) by Officers and Other Ranks. Combining the totals and sub-totals of these tables provides the total FR20 strength by service, broken down by Officers and Other Ranks. While the figures for FR20 intake and outflow split by Officers and Other Ranks have not been included in current or previous editions of the QSPS publication, FR20 intake and outflow by service (as a whole) are available in tables 7b and 7c.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie grouped question UIN HL2093 question first answered 21/09/2022 09:16:21 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie attachment 1 file name 1 April 2022 FR20 Strength, Intake and Outflow by Service and OfficerRank.xlsx title HL2092 - Armed Forces Statistics
tabling member	2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley

1504652

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Reserve Forces: Statistics
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the 'Quarterly service personnel statistics 1 April 2022', when the quarterly figures ceased showing reserve officers and other ranks separately; and why they continue to do so for regulars but not reserves.
tabling member printed	Lord De Mauley
uin	HL2093
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2022 answer text <p>The requested breakdowns by strength, intake and outflow are provided in the attached spreadsheets.</p><p> </p><p>The Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics (QSPS) 1 April 2022 contain the breakdown for the Future Reserves 2020 (FR20) in Tables 6a (trained strength) and 6b (untrained strength) by Officers and Other Ranks. Combining the totals and sub-totals of these tables provides the total FR20 strength by service, broken down by Officers and Other Ranks. While the figures for FR20 intake and outflow split by Officers and Other Ranks have not been included in current or previous editions of the QSPS publication, FR20 intake and outflow by service (as a whole) are available in tables 7b and 7c.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie grouped question UIN HL2092 question first answered 21/09/2022 09:16:21 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie attachment 1 file name 1 April 2022 FR20 Strength, Intake and Outflow by Service and OfficerRank.xlsx title HL2092 - Armed Forces Statistics
tabling member	2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley

1504653

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Reserve Forces: Reviews
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish their response to the report of the Reserve Forces Review 2030, published in May 2021.
tabling member printed	Lord De Mauley
uin	HL2094
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>Work is underway across Defence to transform the systems, policies and processes by which we draw on and leverage the critical contributions made by our Reserve Forces, informed by the vision set out in the Reserves Forces 2030 Review. The Government will provide an update on this work, and a response to the Reserves Forces 2030 Review, in due course.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 20/09/2022 14:32:30 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley

1504683

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Russia: Armed Forces
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of President Putin’s Decree No. 512 on the UK’s maritime strategy.
tabling member printed	Lord West of Spithead
uin	HL2194
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>The 2021 Integrated Review (IR) of Defence outlined Russia as the most acute threat to our security. We continue to assess the threat posed by Russia, and beyond. Russia's recent maritime activity, as set out in Decree No. 512, presents challenges which impact upon the interests of the UK, our Allies and partners.</p><p> </p><p>Growing our maritime capabilities will enable the projection of power further afield and the conduct of operations from increased range. We continue to remain vigilant that Russia continues to invest in and is developing significant underwater capabilities, including deep-sea capabilities which can threaten undersea cables, as well as a torpedo capable of delivering a nuclear payload to coastal targets.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 20/09/2022 14:37:26 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	3834 label Biography information for Lord West of Spithead

1504684

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	AUKUS
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government who, if anyone, in the UK plays the equivalent role to that played by Mr Abraham Denmark, who was appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence in the United States of America to "coordinate efforts across the Department delivering the AUKUS partnership to help Australia establish a conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarine capability and to accelerate development of advanced capabilities to serve security and stability in the Indo-Pacific".
tabling member printed	Lord West of Spithead
uin	HL2195
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>The UK welcomes the appointment of Mr Denmark to the Department of Defense. The National Security Adviser is the Senior Responsible Officer for AUKUS in the UK and the Cabinet Office is responsible for coordinating cross-departmental efforts.</p><p>The Ministry of Defence's Permanent Secretary, as the Defence accounting officer, is responsible for AUKUS capability development objectives.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 20/09/2022 14:46:56 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	3834 label Biography information for Lord West of Spithead

1504685

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Defence: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Secretary of State for Defence in an interview with Sky News on 26 July, whether they estimate that defence spending on present plans will drop below two per cent of GDP by 2026.
tabling member printed	Lord West of Spithead
uin	HL2196
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>The Department does not routinely publish forecast figures. The current Spending Review (SR2021) will last until 2025. Future spending decisions are for the next spending review.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 20/09/2022 14:47:53 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	3834 label Biography information for Lord West of Spithead