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03 Dec 14. UK Autumn Statement: Some Savings. The Chancellor of the Exchequer presented (3 Dec 14) his Autumn Statement on the economy to the House of Commons. The end of Operations in Afghanistan enables an additional £200m to be saved in the current year from the ‘special military reserve.’ The Chancellor acknowledged the bravery of Servicemen and women tackling the Ebola virus in West Africa.
Comment: The Chancellor also forecast “very substantial savings in public spending”. A new charter for budget responsibility is to be published during the working week starting 8 Dec 14. According to the Chancellor, the charter “will reinforce our commitment to finish the job in the next Parliament.” A vote on the charter is to be taken in the New Year. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/48, 08 Dec 14)
01 Dec 14. Sierra Leone: OP GRITROCK. Merlin helicopters of 820 Naval Air Squadron have flown more than 10,000 miles over Sierra Leone in the fight against Ebola. For OP GRITROCK the aircraft are effectively ‘flying trucks.’ slinging loads in nets containing several tonnes of much-needed aid. (RN, 1 Dec 14.)
Six Ebola treatment centres are being set up in Sierra Leone by UK personnel, with the goal of providing beds for over 700 patients and medical care to around 8,800 people over six months. (RN, 1 Dec 14.)
Comment: The UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) has received 400 motor cycles from Germany. The machines are equipped with cooler boxes and will be used to transport blood samples in the most affected areas of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. (UN, 4 Dec 14.) (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/48, 08 Dec 14)
01 Dec 14. Iraq: OP SHADER. British Forces continued to conduct air Operations to assist the Iraqi Government in its fight against ISIL. (MoD, 1 & 3 Dec 14.)
RAF aircraft struck a large concentration of ISIL vehicles (2/3 Dec 14). A Reaper remotely piloted aircraft attacked an ISIL vehicle with a Hellfire missile. (MoD, 3 Dec 14.)
Combined with targeted military action in Northern Iraq, a British Army training team continues to provide Infantry training to Kurdish peshmerga. (MoD, 3 Dec 14.)
Comment: The NATO Secretary General met the Iraqi Prime Minister in Brussels (3 Dec 14), for a discussion on security and political developments in Iraq, Syria and the wider region. The Iraqi Government is sending a request to NATO for “Defence capacity building support” (as agreed by NATO Allies at the Wales Summit in September 2014). (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/48, 08 Dec 14)
01 Dec 14. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK/OP CATALINA. The re-settlement of Afghan interpreters and the protection of human rights defenders were discussed in the House of Lords. (House of Lords, 1 Dec 14.)
The future of Afghan interpreters was debated in the House of Lords. (House of Lords, 2 Dec 14.)
The UK and Afghanistan co-hosted the London Conference on Afghanistan, where 59 countries reaffirmed their commitment “to support Afghanistan to become a secure and stable nation “. The conference consisted of a main meeting on 4 Dec 14, preceded by three associated events on 3 Dec 14. (DfID, 4 Dec 14.)
The resettlement of Afghan interpreters was further discussed in the House of Commons. 228 interpreters are eligible for relocation to the UK. (Written Answers, 5 Dec 14.)
The Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan met Afghan Cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, before addressing all the Officer Cadets. The Minister emphasised that the Afghan Officers Academy would ensure that the National Army’s future leaders would be “fully prepared for the coming challenges ahead”.
(MoD, 5 Dec 14.)
Comment: NATO announced (2 Dec 14) that OP RES