02 Feb 17. Defence Committee. Tuesday 07 February 2017 The Grimond Room, Portcullis House. The Committee will hold a one off evidence session looking at the treatment of locally employed interpreters. Of particular interest is the case of Afghan interpreters formerly attached to the UK Armed Forces, which the Committee will examine in detail.
Witnesses: At 11.00am
• Deborah Haynes, The Times
• Rafi Hottak, former interpreter for British Forces in Afghanistan
• Colonel (Rtd) Simon Diggins OBE, former British Defence Attaché in Kabul
At 11.45am
• Rt Hon Mike Penning MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces
• Jonathan Iremonger, Assistant Chief of Staff, J8 at Permanent Joint Head Quarters
02 Feb 17. Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy. Conflict, Stability and Security Fund. The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy will publish its Report Conflict, Stability and Security Fund on Tuesday 7 February 2017 at 00.01 GMT. This will be the Committee’s Second Report of Session 2016-17 (HC 208, HL Paper 105).
The Report will be made available on the Committee’s website,
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/joint-select/national-security-strategy/, on 7 February 2017 and copies may be purchased from the Parliamentary Bookshop (12 Bridge Street, Westminster, London, SW1A 2JX; 020 7219 3890).
Embargoed copies of the Report will be available from 10am on Monday 6 February 2017: media copies will be available from Estelle Currie, the Committee’s media officer (see contact details below). Embargoed copies will be supplied automatically to those who gave oral evidence to the inquiry.
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Q
Asked by Mr Pat McFadden
(Wolverhampton South East)
Asked on: 24 January 2017
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Iraq: Bomb Disposal
61454
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much funding has been allocated to de-mining in and surrounding Mosul since the offensive against Daesh.
A
Answered by: Mr Tobias Ellwood
Answered on: 01 February 2017
The UK is helping the Government of Iraq to stabilise areas liberated from Daesh. We have provided £8.25 million for UN-led efforts to manage explosive hazards, including a £3.5m contribution to support work in and around Mosul. We are also providing technical advice and support from the British Defence Attaché in Baghdad, and the British Army’s Senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Expert. In total, the international community has contributed £88.25 million for the management of explosive hazards, primarily through the UN Mine Action Service.
Q
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
Asked on: 17 January 2017
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries
HL4728
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the strategic importance to the UK of having a domestic steel industry; and whether the National Security Committee has discussed this issue.
A
Answered by: Lord Prior of Brampton
Answered on: 31 January 2017
Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees is generally not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion. However, Government is committed to ensuring a sustainable and competitive steel industry in the UK.
We have taken action on public procurements of steel, in response to requests from the steel sector. In Autumn 2015, Government issued guidance to central government departments on how to ensure that they take full account of the value provided by UK steel producers when conducting their procurement activities. All central departments, their agencies and arm’s length bodies are already required to apply these guidelines on relevant projects. In addition, the steel procurement pipeline published in December 2016 will enable UK suppliers to plan to bid in response to procurement opportunities.
I can confir