Three Phalanx close-in weapon systems will be fitted to each new aircraft carrier. Two are being fitted to HMS Queen Elizabeth during her current capability insertion period, with the third to be fitted towards the end of 2020. Three will be fitted to HMS Prince Of Wales in 2020.

Air and Unmanned Aerial Systems strikes are being conducted in Iraq and Syria. The UK is conducting military counterterrorism operations or capacity building in 17 countries. Military personnel have been deployed on the ground but none of those personnel are employed in combat roles. The Ministry of Defence has not constructed nor is it retaining any military bases for the sole purpose of counterterrorism operations; UK forces use shared military establishments at the invitation of host governments or allies at a number of locations globally.

The information required to answer this question is taking time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member when it is available.

The UK remains committed to NATO and to Euro-Atlantic security. We were a leading proponent of the decision made at the Warsaw Summit in 2016 to recognise cyberspace as a domain of operations and will continue to support its full implementation, and play an active role in supporting the development of NATO's Cyber Operations centre. The UK is also engaged with NATO's efforts to project stability across the Middle East and North Africa region through our southern partnerships and the Defence and Related Security Capacity Building initiative. Discussions within NATO regarding the exact nature of individual Allies' contributions to its new Commands in Norfolk and Ulm, and to the Counter Hybrid Support Teams, are still ongoing. Once this information becomes available, I will write to my right hon. Friend with further detail.

I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave him to Question 158137 on 4 July 2018.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes very seriously the conclusions set out at paragraphs 277 ("The Inquiry considers that a Government has a responsibility to make every reasonable effort to identify and understand the likely and actual effects of its military actions on civilians") and 280 ("The Government should be ready to work with others, in particular Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and academic institutions, to develop such assessments and estimates over time") of Section 17 of the Iraq Inquiry (Chilcot) Report. Since the publication of the Report, officials have been in discussion with several NGOs concerning these conclusions. In response to this dialogue, the Department now releases statistics relating to the number of civilians admitted to UK military field hospitals. In addition, the MOD publication 'The Good Operation' (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-good-operation), a handbook for those involved in operational policy and its implementation published in January 2018, highlights paragraph 277 of Section 17 (on page 8); invites policy-makers to assess the likely impact of an operation on the populace, including factors such as protection of non-combatants (page 23); and draws attention to the legal dimension of operational planning, including targeting and rules of engagement, on pages 33-35. These considerations are a central part of our planning and campaign assessment processes. We are keen to continue the dialogue with NGOs over the coming period to ensure that, as far as practicably possible, we continue to address the conclusions set out in paragraphs 277 and 280 of Section 17.

The current official statistics on operational casualties are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-armed-forces-and-uk-civilian-operational-casualty-and-fatality-statistics

The operations on which we are currently reporting (KIPION, SHADER and TORAL) do not incorporate a deployed field hospital, hence no civilian casualty data are currently being reported regarding admissions to deployed UK military medical facilities. We intend to start reporting on numbers of casualties for Op TRENTON (South Sudan) as a UK field hospital is deployed, subject to further work on data compliance issues.

We have previously published civilian numbers being treated in a UK field hospital as part of reporting for Op GRITROCK in Sierra Leone, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-and-uk-civilian-operational-casualty-and-fatality-statistics-financial-year-20142015

It is also important to stress that we do everything we can to minimise the risk to civilians from UK military action, not least through the professionalism of our personnel. Reports of civilian casualties are taken very seriously and will continue to be. We already have in place a process by which we identify any evidence that a civilian casualty may inadvertently have occurred. Any such evidence is assessed and if it is credible, it is passed to the relevant authorities for investigation. The results are published where any investigation shows that the UK has been responsible.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes very seriously the conclusions set out at paragraphs 277 ("The Inquiry considers that a Government has a responsibility to make every reasonable effort to identify and understand the likely and actual effects of its military actions on civilians") and 280 ("The Government should be ready to work with others, in particular Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and academic institutions, to develop such assessments and estimates over time") of Section 17 of the Iraq Inquiry (Chilcot) Report. Since the publication of the Report, officials have been in discussion with several NGOs concerning these conclusions. In response to this dialogue, the Department now releases statistics relating to the number of civilians admitted to UK military field hospitals. In addition, the MOD publication 'The Good Operation' (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-good-operation), a handbook for those involved in operational policy and its implementation published in January 2018, highlights paragraph 277 of Section 17 (on page 8); invites policy-makers to assess the likely impact of an operation on the populace, including factors such as protection of non-combatants (page 23); and draws attention to the legal dimension of operational planning, including targeting and rules of engagement, on pages 33-35. These considerations are a central part of our planning and campaign assessment processes. We are keen to continue the dialogue with NGOs over the coming period to ensure that, as far as practicably possible, we continue to address the conclusions set out in paragraphs 277 and 280 of Section 17.

The current official statistics on operational casualties are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-armed-forces-and-uk-civilian-operational-casualty-and-fatality-statistics

The operations on which we are currently reporting (KIPION, SHADER and TORAL) do not incorporate a deployed field hospital, hence no civilian casualty data are currently being reported regarding admissions to deployed UK military medical facilities. We intend to start reporting on numbers of casualties for Op TRENTON (South Sudan) as a UK field hospital is deployed, subject to further work on data compliance issues.

We have previously published civilian numbers being treated in a UK field hospital as part of reporting for Op GRITROCK in Sierra Leone, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-and-uk-civilian-operational-casualty-and-fatality-statistics-financial-year-20142015

It is also important to stress that we do everything we can to minimise the risk to civilians from UK military action, not least through the professionalism of our personnel. Reports of civilian casualties are taken very seriously and will continue to be. We already have in place a process by which we identify any evidence that a civilian casualty may inadvertently have occurred. Any such evidence is assessed and if it is credible, it is passed to the relevant authorities for investigation. The results are published where any investigation shows that the UK has been responsible.

The Government responded on 19 December 2017 to a 16 March 2017 Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee report (HC656) on Lessons still to be learned from the Chilcot Inquiry. This included an annex by the National Security Advisor which summarised the lesson learning process undertaken across the National Security Community in response to the Iraq Inquiry. The Ministry of Defence has no plans to publish any further progress reports, though considerable progress has been achieved in responding to the findings of the Iraq Inquiry Report. This includes introduction across the Department of a 'Guide to Reasonable Challenge' to ensure that decision-making is as well informed as possible; training and education on challenge, including at the Defence Academy; publication of a handbook for those involved in operational policy and its implementation ('The Good Operation', available at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-good-operation);

a programme of increased professionalisation for those working in the policy profession; and work to improve the capture and curation of (and access to) knowledge. On 5 July 2018, the MOD is hosting a conference entitled Chilcot Two Years On which will take stock of progress in responding to the Report.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes very seriously the conclusions set out at paragraphs 277 ("The Inquiry considers that a Government has a responsibility to make every reasonable effort to identify and understand the likely and actual effects of its military actions on civilians") and 280 ("The Government should be ready to work with others, in particular Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and academic institutions, to develop such assessments and estimates over time") of Section 17 of the Iraq Inquiry (Chilcot) Report. Since the publication of the Report, officials have been in discussion with several NGOs concerning these conclusions. In response to this dialogue, the Department now releases statistics relating to the number of civilians admitted to UK military field hospitals. In addition, the MOD publication 'The Good Operation' (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-good-operation), a handbook for those involved in operational policy and its implementation published in January 2018, highlights paragraph 277 of Section 17 (on page 8); invites policy-makers to assess the likely impact of an operation on the populace, including factors such as protection of non-combatants (page 23); and draws attention to the legal dimension of operational planning, including targeting and rules of engagement, on pages 33-35. These considerations are a central part of our planning and campaign assessment processes. We are keen to continue the dialogue with NGOs over the coming period to ensure that, as far as practicably possible, we continue to address the conclusions set out in paragraphs 277 and 280 of Section 17.

The current official statistics on operational casualties are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-armed-forces-and-uk-civilian-operational-casualty-and-fatality-statistics

The operations on which we are currently reporting (KIPION, SHADER and TORAL) do not incorporate a deployed field hospital, hence no civilian casualty data are currently being reported regarding admissions to deployed UK military medical facilities. We intend to start reporting on numbers of casualties for Op TRENTON (South Sudan) as a UK field hospital is deployed, subject to further work on data compliance issues.

We have previously published civilian numbers being treated in a UK field hospital as part of reporting for Op GRITROCK in Sierra Leone, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-and-uk-civilian-operational-casualty-and-fatality-statistics-financial-year-20142015

It is also important to stress that we do everything we can to minimise the risk to civilians from UK military action, not least through the professionalism of our personnel. Reports of civilian casualties are taken very seriously and will continue to be. We already have in place a process by which we identify any evidence that a civilian casualty may inadvertently have occurred. Any such evidence is assessed and if it is credible, it is passed to the relevant authorities for investigation. The results are published where any investigation shows that the UK has been responsible.

The information requested is not held centrally in the format requested and can be provided only at disproportionate costs.

As part of preparations to operate from the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers, including the arrival of the Crowsnest surveillance system, we continue to develop the optimum structure of the Merlin Helicopter Force. Current planning assumptions are that 829 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) will decommission in 2018. All three 829 NAS Flights (personnel and aircraft ) will be re-distributed across the other Merlin Helicopter Force Squadrons. The overall size of the force structure is planned to remain the same.

The following exercises will not take place in Financial Year 2017-18:

Exercise Black Horse;

Exercise Curry Trail;

Exercise Orange Marauder;

Exercise Steel Sabre;

Exercise Southwest Sword;

Commando Strike;

Royal Marines Reserve Exercises Commando Phoenix and Hare Spring (Norway).

As planning has matured, there have been some changes to the number of Royal Marines personnel planned to deploy to Norway since question 110567 was answered on 7 November 2017. The current plans are as follows:

Since question 110568 was answered on 7 November 2017, an additional Royal Marines Company, comprising approximately 100 personnel, is now planned to participate in Exercise Trident Juncture 2018.

The following exercises will not take place in Financial Year 2017-18:

Exercise Black Horse;

Exercise Curry Trail;

Exercise Orange Marauder;

Exercise Steel Sabre;

Exercise Southwest Sword;

Commando Strike;

Royal Marines Reserve Exercises Commando Phoenix and Hare Spring (Norway).

As planning has matured, there have been some changes to the number of Royal Marines personnel planned to deploy to Norway since question 110567 was answered on 7 November 2017. The current plans are as follows:

Since question 110568 was answered on 7 November 2017, an additional Royal Marines Company, comprising approximately 100 personnel, is now planned to participate in Exercise Trident Juncture 2018.

The following exercises will not take place in Financial Year 2017-18:

Exercise Black Horse;

Exercise Curry Trail;

Exercise Orange Marauder;

Exercise Steel Sabre;

Exercise Southwest Sword;

Commando Strike;

Royal Marines Reserve Exercises Commando Phoenix and Hare Spring (Norway).

As planning has matured, there have been some changes to the number of Royal Marines personnel planned to deploy to Norway since question 110567 was answered on 7 November 2017. The current plans are as follows:

Since question 110568 was answered on 7 November 2017, an additional Royal Marines Company, comprising approximately 100 personnel, is now planned to participate in Exercise Trident Juncture 2018.

The UK Armed Forces units and the numbers of personnel that are planned to take part in cold weather training in Norway in 2018 are given below:

On current planning assumptions, the following UK Armed Forces units and personnel are due to participate in Exercise Trident Juncture 2018: from the Naval Service, three destroyers and/or frigates, four mine counter measures vessels, a mine warfare battle staff, and one Royal Marines Company; from the Army, HQ 4 Infantry Brigade in command with squadrons from 11 Signals Brigade, Light Dragoons, Engineers, combat service support, 1 Royal Irish and a Military Police Platoon; from the Royal Air Force, four Hawk aircraft from 100 Squadron based at RAF Leeming.

While the precise details are yet to be confirmed, it is expected that in the region of 2,300 Service personnel will deploy on the exercise.

This information is not held in the format requested. However, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) does hold information on the average length of time between attendance at a medical board and the date of medical discharge for UK Regular Armed Forces personnel.

For those UK Regulars discharged between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2015, the median averages are as follows:

Those who are medically discharged are entitled to the highest level of resettlement provision through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), regardless of how long they have served or the nature and cause of injuries. We also offer specialised support for wounded, injured and sick personnel and those with the most complex barriers to employment to ensure they receive the most appropriate support within their recovery pathway. This is delivered through the Defence Recovery Capability and is supported by the Career Transition Partnership Assist (CTP Assist) programme. The purpose of CTP Assist is to deliver an individualised, needs-based service to those Service personnel who face the greatest barriers to employment given their medical condition.

The MOD Veterans’ Welfare Service (VWS) provides welfare support automatically to those medically discharged, with an 'on request' service for all other members of the veterans community.

The Transition Protocol is an established practice to ensure the effective transition of health and social care for injured Service leavers to local public providers. There is regular and close co-operation between the MOD, the Department of Health, NHS England and the Devolved Administrations in order to ensure that it is working successfully.

The Naval Service employs 29 Recovery Cell/Troop (NSRC) staff who have broadly equivalent responsibilities to those of Personal Recovery Officers (PROs) and oversee the recovery of Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) personnel. NSRC staff do not differentiate between different categories of injury; all WIS are managed equitably with their recovery pathway being directed by doctors, physiotherapists, military Departments of Community Mental Health and Occupational Therapists. Not all personnel on a recovery pathway are due to receive medical discharge; 84% return to work.

A total of 67 PROs are based within 11 Personnel Recovery Units (PRUs) across the UK and Germany; PRUs are military units established for the command and care of WIS soldiers with the greatest need. All Army WIS personnel have a dedicated PRO assigned to them, to assist them through the recovery process and co-ordinate support from other agencies. If the individual remains in their unit the PRO will be someone in the unit who has been assigned by their Commanding Officer.

Soldiers are transferred to a PRU if their Chain of Command or unit recommend they need more help than the unit can provide. There are a number of reasons for this, such as the nature or severity of their injury or illness, the distance between the soldier’s home address and the unit (if the soldier is at home on recovery duty), or because the unit is due to deploy. The PRUs are not residential facilities, but are organised on a regional basis allowing soldiers to be transferred to the one closest to them.

The RAF has two full time and two part-time PROs based in the Personnel Recovery Centre at RAF High Wycombe.

RAF PROs are responsible for supporting WIS personnel through their recovery pathway and in support of their patient care whether they are returning to Service or being medically discharged. They encourage and, where necessary, direct WIS personnel to manage their own recovery pathway as much as they are able. RAF PROs become the line manager for WIS and provide mentoring, coaching and welfare support throughout their recovery. They maintain regular contact with WIS personnel for up to six months after their discharge.

Information on the number of UK Regular Armed Forces personnel medically discharged by Financial Year and Service since 2010 is given in the attached.

Defence Statistics release annual updates on medical discharges in the UK Regular Armed Forces as an Official Statistic publication. The next statistical release is due in July 2016 which will present data for financial year 2015-16. The latest report for 2014-15 can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/medical-discharges-among-uk-service-personnel-statistics-index