Category: Partner Assistance
The UK routinely works with partners when executing its defence and security policies. These partnerships range from coalition operations, to assistance arrangements, including intelligence-sharing, arms export, and providing partners with access to UK assets, equipment and bases.
Legal cases and independent inquiries have revealed weaknesses in and risks of current partnership arrangements. Despite two decades of practice, legal opinion and inquiries establishing Parliament’s role in authorising the use of military force, these arrangements are not disclosed to Parliament, and the legal frameworks, policies and guidelines that inform them remain unclear.
In practice, existing parliamentary structures to govern, scrutinise and oversee assistance are insufficient, and Parliament is often kept in the dark. The Group is dedicated to improving this.
Bill on civilian protection in conflict, submitted by APPG Vice-Chair, Lord Hodgson, to the Lords Members Bill ballot
Today, a House of Lords ballot is held to allocate the order of the first 25 private members’ bills to be introduced in the new Parliament in the Lords. This provides a unique opportunity...