The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2015-02-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Strategic Defence and Security Review will address the issues identified in Joint Doctrinal Note 2/11, the UK Approach to Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Michael Fallon
The next Strategic Defence and Security Review will be a matter for after the General Election.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-07-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the value is of duplicate supplier payments identified by his Department since 2010; and what proportion of such payments have since been recovered in each of the last two financial years.
David Mundell
The Scotland Office has made no duplicate supplier payments since 2010.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has issued any authorisations under section 42(3) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 which permit intrusive surveillance by unmanned aircraft systems in the UK.
James Brokenshire
As a matter of long-standing practice we do not comment on the operational use
of covert surveillance, or provide a breakdown of the number of warrants signed
by particular Secretaries of State, or in relation to specific circumstances or
methods of surveillance.
Existing regulation relating to surveillance includes the surveillance camera
code of practice issued under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, which
provides a framework of good practice for surveillance camera operators and
sets out obligations arising from other legislation including those for the
processing of personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998 and a public
authority’s duty to adhere to the Human Rights Act 1998. Any covert
surveillance undertaken by a public authority which is likely to obtain private
information would be subject to authorisation under the Regulation of
Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 169W, on Djibouti, from which squadron armed forces have been deployed at Camp Lemonnier; and what role is undertaken by each UK officer embedded with US forces at that location.
Mr Mark Francois
The three UK Armed Forces personnel embedded in Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJFT-HOA) at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti are currently from the Royal Regiment of Artillery, the Corps of Royal Engineers, and the Intelligence Corps. Their roles involve planning and supporting US military operations in East Africa.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the advice provided by Jemima Stratford QC to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drones, if he will agree a new Memorandum of Understanding or other bilateral agreement with the US on data transfer and use.
Hugh Robertson
The UK intelligence agencies work in accordance with UK law, as described by the Foreign Secretary in his statement to the House on 10 June 2013 (Official Report of 10 June 2013, column 31). In addition, Section 6 of the recently published Annual Report for 2013 by the Interception of Communications Commissioner, Sir Anthony May, addresses the legal basis for intelligence sharing between the UK and its partners.
The UK Intelligence Agencies adhere to the law at all times. We have one of the world’s strongest legal and regulatory frameworks governing the use of secret intelligence. All of GCHQ’s activities are legal, necessary and proportionate. GCHQ does not disclose or share information other than is appropriate under the Intelligence Services Act 1994 and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has issued any exemptions pursuant to section 28 of the Data Protection Act 1998 which apply to data obtained via unmanned aircraft systems in the UK.
James Brokenshire
It has been the position of successive Governments to not comment on national security issues.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 15 January 2014, Official Report, column 578W, on unmanned air vehicles, whether his Department maintains munitions records from the UK Reaper fleet on a sortie-by-sortie basis or for each operation carried out.
Mr Mark Francois
| After each UK Reaper sortie a mission report is written detailing the aircraft used and events of the flight. This includes weapon releases on a sortie-by-sortie basis. | |||||||
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the advice provided by Jemima Stratford QC to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drones, if her Department will take steps to prevent any unlawful practice by GCHQ.
Hugh Robertson
The UK intelligence agencies work in accordance with UK law, as described by the Foreign Secretary in his statement to the House on 10 June 2013 (Official Report of 10 June 2013, column 31). In addition, Section 6 of the recently published Annual Report for 2013 by the Interception of Communications Commissioner, Sir Anthony May, addresses the legal basis for intelligence sharing between the UK and its partners.
The UK Intelligence Agencies adhere to the law at all times. We have one of the world’s strongest legal and regulatory frameworks governing the use of secret intelligence. All of GCHQ’s activities are legal, necessary and proportionate. GCHQ does not disclose or share information other than is appropriate under the Intelligence Services Act 1994 and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made by the cross-government working group on remotely piloted aircraft systems.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Cross Government Working Group has been discussing its draft Terms of Reference (extract copied below) and its membership. The focus of its work so far has been to gather information from the relevant departments to identify areas of common interest requiring collaboration.
RPAS Cross Government Working Group Vision and Activities
Vision : To provide a consistent government message on RPAS issues.
Objectives:
Approach
Issues to Address
Engagement
Understand the potential benefits of RPAS to Government.
Inform and be informed by active industry associations e.g.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department maintains (a) mission reports, (b) guided missile firing reports, (c) weapon system videos and (d) any other munitions release records for the UK Reaper fleet following the change of operational command to US pilots.
Mr Mark Francois
Each UK Reaper sortie has a mission report produced post flight. If a weapon is fired during a sortie, a weapon report is completed detailing the engagement, as well as a video produced of the engagement itself. There are no other munitions release records for the UK Reaper fleet. US pilots have not flown UK Reaper except during the launch and recovery phase.
Outside of the launch and recovery phase, UK Remotely Piloted Air Systems have always been operated by UK pilots.