To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the duration and scope of the defensive military engagement in Saudi Arabia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the duration and scope of the defensive military engagement in Saudi Arabia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Attorney General provided legal advice prior to accepting the request from Saudi Arabia for defensive air-to-air refuelling support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Attorney General provided legal advice prior to accepting the request from Saudi Arabia for defensive air-to-air refuelling support.

Lords statement on the deployment of RAF Typhoon aircraft to defend Saudi Arabia, and the extension of air-to-air refuelling support for the Saudi air operations, including those against Houthi targets in Yemen.

Lords statement on the deployment of RAF Typhoon aircraft to defend Saudi Arabia, and the extension of air-to-air refuelling support for the Saudi air operations, including those against Houthi targets in Yemen.

My Lords, last year the Government authorised offensive action against Houthi targets in response to threats to international security. Last week the Minister in the other place indicated that the RAF Typhoon aircraft will operate solely in a defensive role. May I ask the Minister why the Government have reversed...

My Lords, last year the Government authorised offensive action against Houthi targets in response to threats to international security. Last week the Minister in the other place indicated that the RAF Typhoon aircraft will operate solely in a defensive role. May I ask the Minister why the Government have reversed...

It is good to see the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, in the Chamber, and I welcome her back. She is referring to activities that took place where RAF jets conducted a small number of precision strikes between January and August 2025 alongside US partners, separate from the larger US Operation...

It is good to see the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, in the Chamber, and I welcome her back. She is referring to activities that took place where RAF jets conducted a small number of precision strikes between January and August 2025 alongside US partners, separate from the larger US Operation...

Can we go a little further on that and ask: can the Government give us an assurance that, if we have to do any more or commit more resources to this, the capacity under which that is done will be discussed by both Houses of Parliament before any decision is...

Can we go a little further on that and ask: can the Government give us an assurance that, if we have to do any more or commit more resources to this, the capacity under which that is done will be discussed by both Houses of Parliament before any decision is...

As the noble Lord knows, we have been discussing this with and updating noble Lords and those in the other place. The Prime Minister delivered a Statement in the other place on the first day back after the recess. He set out the strategic case for why the UK is...

As the noble Lord knows, we have been discussing this with and updating noble Lords and those in the other place. The Prime Minister delivered a Statement in the other place on the first day back after the recess. He set out the strategic case for why the UK is...

My Lords, have the Government arrived at arrangements over rules of engagement with the Saudis? I am not asking what they are but I want assurance that they have been agreed. Will the Saudis be paying financially towards the contribution that we are making?

My Lords, have the Government arrived at arrangements over rules of engagement with the Saudis? I am not asking what they are but I want assurance that they have been agreed. Will the Saudis be paying financially towards the contribution that we are making?

The noble and gallant Lord asks important questions. On compliance with the law and specific issues about rules of engagement, I cannot comment, but we expect all partners receiving UK assistance to comply fully with their obligations under international law, including the protection of civilians, and we will continue to...

The noble and gallant Lord asks important questions. On compliance with the law and specific issues about rules of engagement, I cannot comment, but we expect all partners receiving UK assistance to comply fully with their obligations under international law, including the protection of civilians, and we will continue to...

My Lords, I declare my interest as a long-standing member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Saudi Arabia. Recently His Excellency the ambassador gave us a full briefing on what is going on. All our sympathies and prayers go out to those who lost their lives in some of the...

My Lords, I declare my interest as a long-standing member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Saudi Arabia. Recently His Excellency the ambassador gave us a full briefing on what is going on. All our sympathies and prayers go out to those who lost their lives in some of the...

I thank the noble Baroness for mentioning the impact that these terrible attacks are having on Saudi Arabia. As she knows, we strongly condemn them, hence our provision of support. Clearly, wider diplomatic actions are being led more by the FCDO than by the MoD, but officials on both sides...

I thank the noble Baroness for mentioning the impact that these terrible attacks are having on Saudi Arabia. As she knows, we strongly condemn them, hence our provision of support. Clearly, wider diplomatic actions are being led more by the FCDO than by the MoD, but officials on both sides...

My Lords, once again the Iranians are causing havoc and supporting the Houthis. It is heartening that we are supporting Saudi Arabia in this, but surely we can do something here at home and proscribe the Houthis.

My Lords, once again the Iranians are causing havoc and supporting the Houthis. It is heartening that we are supporting Saudi Arabia in this, but surely we can do something here at home and proscribe the Houthis.

We keep the list of proscribed organisations under review. It is the Government’s long-standing position not to comment on whether or not a specific organisation is being considered for proscription. Decisions to proscribe are taken only after a rigorous process, in close consultation with operational partners, based on the best...

We keep the list of proscribed organisations under review. It is the Government’s long-standing position not to comment on whether or not a specific organisation is being considered for proscription. Decisions to proscribe are taken only after a rigorous process, in close consultation with operational partners, based on the best...

My Lords, the alliance between this country and Saudi Arabia is very important, and all the training that goes on between our military units is also important. In discussing the deployment of Typhoon fighters, can the Minister comment on anything else in terms of the alliance that we would deploy,...

My Lords, the alliance between this country and Saudi Arabia is very important, and all the training that goes on between our military units is also important. In discussing the deployment of Typhoon fighters, can the Minister comment on anything else in terms of the alliance that we would deploy,...

The noble Lord is right to comment on the long-standing relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. Indeed, I served in that country—more than 20 years ago, so that shows how old I am. We have agreed to work with the Saudis in providing the Typhoons, which we have...

The noble Lord is right to comment on the long-standing relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. Indeed, I served in that country—more than 20 years ago, so that shows how old I am. We have agreed to work with the Saudis in providing the Typhoons, which we have...

My Lords, I refer to my interests in the register. I support the Minister in the sympathy she expressed for the Saudi people, who are under relentless attack from the Houthis. I also commend the Government on the proportionate support and help that they are giving to Saudi Arabia.

My Lords, I refer to my interests in the register. I support the Minister in the sympathy she expressed for the Saudi people, who are under relentless attack from the Houthis. I also commend the Government on the proportionate support and help that they are giving to Saudi Arabia.

I thank my noble friend Lord Robertson for his thoughts on Saudi Arabia’s predicament. Our priorities remain to condemn the action of the Houthis, support our Saudi Arabian allies and help to protect the civilians on the ground. There are British nationals involved and at risk, and we are communicating...

I thank my noble friend Lord Robertson for his thoughts on Saudi Arabia’s predicament. Our priorities remain to condemn the action of the Houthis, support our Saudi Arabian allies and help to protect the civilians on the ground. There are British nationals involved and at risk, and we are communicating...

In terms of other defence partners with Saudi Arabia, particularly the Mecca joint defence agreement between Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, how does the UK deployment interact and co-operate with that agreement and its deployment to support Saudi Arabia in its defence?

In terms of other defence partners with Saudi Arabia, particularly the Mecca joint defence agreement between Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, how does the UK deployment interact and co-operate with that agreement and its deployment to support Saudi Arabia in its defence?

As the noble Lord probably knows, the Mecca countries—Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia—have met and had discussions. That is a completely separate alliance from our own; our conversations are with allies in the region and other allies that are also offering support. There have been reports of France and Italy...

As the noble Lord probably knows, the Mecca countries—Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia—have met and had discussions. That is a completely separate alliance from our own; our conversations are with allies in the region and other allies that are also offering support. There have been reports of France and Italy...

Urgent question on the deployment of RAF Typhoon aircraft to defend Saudi Arabia, and the extension of air-to-air refuelling support for the Saudi air operations, including those against Houthi targets in Yemen.

Urgent question on the deployment of RAF Typhoon aircraft to defend Saudi Arabia, and the extension of air-to-air refuelling support for the Saudi air operations, including those against Houthi targets in Yemen.