27 May 16. Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.
New Inquiry: The Conflict, Stability And Security Fund. The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy is launching an inquiry examining the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF).
The CSSF is a pool of money worth more than £1bn pounds per year for tackling conflict and instability overseas. It was launched on 1 April 2015, replacing the Conflict (Prevention) Pool and is overseen by the National Security Council (NSC). The 2015 National Security Strategy states that the CSSF is part of an ‘even more ambitious approach’ to tackling conflict and building stability overseas, especially in fragile states and regions. The CSSF supports delivery of the UK’s Building Stability Overseas Strategy (BSOS) and the 2015 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review.
The Committee welcomes written submissions on this subject. The Committee is particularly interested in receiving submissions which address:—
• The extent to which the CSSF contributes to national security;
• How CSSF expenditure by Departments is monitored, evaluated, and scrutinised;
• Whether reporting and transparency arrangements are consistent across Departments;
• How the National Security Council fulfils its oversight function in relation to the CSSF;
• How the CSSF differs from its predecessor fund, the Conflict Pool;
• On what basis the CSSF is allocated to Departments, individual projects and programmes;
• How CSSF projects are managed, prioritised and evaluated;
• How departmental priorities are balanced against national security imperatives in the allocation of the CSSF;
• How the CSSF is subject to strategic direction to achieve cross-government goals.
Written submissions are invited and should be received by the Committee no later than 15 September 2016.
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Rebecca Long Bailey
(Salford and Eccles)
Asked on: 24 May 2016
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Ethiopia: Military Aid
38391
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what military support has been provided to the government of Ethiopia in the last five years; what such support he plans to provide in the next five years; and whether the UK currently provides training for Ethiopian security or military personnel.
A
Answered by: James Duddridge
Answered on: 01 June 2016
Ethiopia is one of the world’s largest peacekeeping troop contributors, heavily engaged in the fight against Al Shabaab in neighbouring Somalia which is vital to build stability in the region and to UK interests. The UK maintains a Defence relationship with the Ethiopian Ministry of National Defence, focused on education and training in non-combat areas. Over the past five years that has been centred on assisting in the setting up of the Ethiopian Peace Support Training Centre, and providing courses that give members of the Ethiopian military an improved range of non-combat skills as they serve on regional peace support operations. We have run a successful programme of English language training, delivered by the British Council, and a Masters course in Security Sector Management, for students from across the Eastern Africa region. We have provided a small number of places to Ethiopian military students on courses in the UK.
The importance of good governance, accountability and respect for human rights is central to this programme of engagement. Over the next five years, we will continue to focus on helping Ethiopia to develop its capability to conduct peace support operations in the region, and continue to encourage improved governance and accountability within the security sector.
Q
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
Asked on: 25 May 2016
Ministry of Defence
European Union: Army
HL345
To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent the UK is committed to joining an EU army if one is formed and we are invited to do so