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42916

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government in what areas they operate drones; and for what use.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL5981
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2014 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence operates Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) globally for operational surveillance, precision attack and for training purposes.　 Reaper RPAS is the only armed system.　 It operates only in Afghanistan, and professional, qualified pilots follow the exact same Rules of Engagement as pilots of other aircraft types.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not used any RPAS, its Centre for Environment Fisheries &amp; Aquaculture Science, Food &amp; Environment Research Agency, Environment Agency, Natural England and Royal Botanic Gardens have used small RPAS to support work on flood defence and coastal erosion, and the monitoring of crops, plants and nature reserves.　 All flights were carried out within the UK except for an aerial plant survey in Peru carried out by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office does not itself operate RPAS and the only police force operationally using a system (albeit very occasionally) is Staffordshire. This system is mostly used for patrol sweeps of car park and camping areas at V Festival, security sweeps for VIP events at the National Arboretum, they have also carried out some missing person, search and rescue, and counter-poaching tasks.</p><p> </p><p>Sussex Police have completed formal training and are now in the process of gathering experience with their own RPAS system – although if an important operational task came up RPAS would be deployed. The formal start date for the trial is in the near future.</p><p> </p><p>Kent Police, as part of the 2 Seas project, have hosted some RPAS trial flights to assess the performance of the system. They are planning to host an event about the project in July.</p><p> </p><p>　</p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer question first answered 25/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

167251

	registered interest
	date	02/12/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Sri Lanka
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the European Union decision in 2010 to remove trade concessions from Sri Lanka pending the government of that country improving its human rights record has created a precedent for other countries.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL3352
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p>In 2010 some trade preferences, known as GSP+, were removed from Sri Lanka by the European Union following investigations and reports which found significant shortcomings in respect of Sri Lanka’s implementation of three human rights conventions. Sri Lanka continues to receive beneficial but less generous trade preferences from the EU under the ‘standard’ GSP scheme.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As was the case for Sri Lanka, any decision for the EU to remove GSP+ preferences from a country is based on the objective criteria and following the process established in the GSP Regulation as agreed by European Member States and the European Parliament.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Livingston of Parkhead question first answered 15/12/2014 17:51:12 answering member 4278 label Biography information for Lord Livingston of Parkhead
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

79684

	registered interest
	date	28/07/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Israel
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the value of United Kingdom arms sales to Israel in the last 12 months, including cryptographic equipment; and what assessment they have made of the use of such arms for internal repression or external aggression.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL1576
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/08/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>In general the Department holds information only about the value of goods licensed for export, not about the value of sales.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In 2013, the UK granted a total of 178 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) for military-rated goods with a value of £10,011,169.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Cryptographic equipment and software are dual-use items and the vast majority are for civil end use – they are not arms. In 2013 we granted 88 SIELs for cryptographic equipment, software, and related components. The vast majority of the value of these related to one licence, for electronic components and circuit boards which are specifically designed for building mobile phone networks for public use. They do not meet military specifications and they are not suitable for building military communications equipment. The end-user is a commercial stockist and distributor of electronic components and equipment. Given the nature of the equipment and intended end-use we do not have any concerns that the goods might be diverted for military end-use.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria in light of the prevailing circumstances. The Government announced the findings of its review of licensed exports to Israel on 12 August.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Livingston of Parkhead question first answered 18/08/2014 09:50:02 answering member 4278 label Biography information for Lord Livingston of Parkhead
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

106163

	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	Israel
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what weapons the United Kingdom has purchased from Israel in the last five years.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL2635
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>In the last five years the Ministry of Defence has purchased the Exactor weapons system, comprising Exactor 2 palletised launchers and Exactor Mk5 missiles, from a contractor based in Israel.</p> answering member printed Lord Astor of Hever question first answered 17/11/2014 12:38:47 answering member 3428 label Biography information for Lord Astor of Hever
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

92387

	registered interest
	date	06/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Watchkeeper WK450: Procurement
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Watchkeeper drones they have ordered from Elbit Systems; and when they expect the order to be completed.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL1949
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2014 answer text <p>None. The Ministry of Defence is procuring 54 Watchkeeper air vehicles from Thales UK. We expect deliveries to be complete by March 2016.</p> answering member printed Lord Astor of Hever question first answered 13/10/2014 16:54:46 answering member 3428 label Biography information for Lord Astor of Hever
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

61499

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Palestinians
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they plan to take to promote the education of United Kingdom citizens about the events of 1948 in Palestine.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL277
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The new national curriculum for history, to be taught in maintained schools in England from September 2014, requires that 11-14 year olds be taught about the challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world from 1901 to the present day. This can cover Britain's place in the world since 1945, including the events of 1948 in Palestine. It is for schools to decide what to teach and how to teach it. In accordance with Section 407 of the Education Act 1996, we would expect that the teaching of any issue in schools be consistent with the principles of balance and objectivity.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 23/06/2014 11:05:09 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

142604

	registered interest
	date	06/11/2014
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions have taken place between the relevant government departments concerning the recent cuts in scientific research at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL2707
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2014 answer text <p>Since April 2014 there have been no reductions in the baseline funding for science at RBG Kew.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>RBG Kew has a well-deserved international reputation and is widely respected for its world-leading collections-based science. RBG Kew is developing a new science strategy to enhance its role further and the results of this should be publicly available in early 2015. The Board of Trustees will need to ensure any new approach is affordable within the RBG Kew budget. They will announce their proposals shortly.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is involved in discussions with RBG Kew to ensure that any changes are affordable and RBG Kew’s scientific standing is maintained.</p> answering member printed Lord De Mauley question first answered 18/11/2014 12:36:59 answering member 2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

100985

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	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	Palestinians
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Palestinians they estimate to have been displaced from their homes in East Jerusalem during the last two years.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL2441
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 419 Palestinians were reportedly displaced in East Jerusalem between January 2013 to August 2014 following evictions and demolitions. answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 06/11/2014 14:21:10 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

100986

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	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	Palestinians
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action the European Union is taking to ensure that East Jerusalem remains a part of Palestinian territory.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL2442
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>In its 22 July 2014 Council Conclusions, the EU made clear that it will only recognise changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, when agreed by the parties. Settlements, including in East Jerusalem, are illegal under international law and an obstacle to the two state solution. Discussions are continuing in Brussels on how the EU can best discourage further Israeli settlement expansion including in East Jerusalem. The EU has also called on both parties to resume serious peace negotiations, which must resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of both states.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 06/11/2014 14:19:02 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

100987

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2014
	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	Middle East
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support European Union members are giving to the United Nations Secretary-General’s investigation into Israeli attacks on United Nations facilities during Operation Protective Edge.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL2443
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p>The UK fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and calls on all sides to cooperate with the investigation. As the UK and EU made clear, the attacks on UN schools in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of innocent children, were shocking. We are pressing Israel to demonstrate accountability for its actions during the conflict, both through internal processes, such as Israel Defence Forces' investigations of specific cases of engagement, and international procedures, such as this inquiry, which must be independent and balanced, and examine the actions of both Hamas and Israel.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 06/11/2014 14:09:27 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge