Written questions by Leishman.

With reference to the seizure of the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera and the removal of its captain and first officer from UK jurisdiction by United States Coast Guards, what engagement the Government received from the United States prior to that operation; on what basis the removal of those individuals from UK territorial waters was permitted; and what assessment he has made of the suitability of United States Coast Guards to (a) remove and (b) transfer individuals from UK territory.

Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. This includes engagement with US partners on the nature and purpose of their activity. All UK support to allies for operational purposes considers the legal basis and policy rationale for any proposed activity. For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations' military operations.

Whether UK armed forces personnel are embedded in the US Gerald Ford carrier strike group in the Caribbean.

Personnel from His Majesty's Armed Forces routinely serve on long‑standing exchange programmes with NATO Allies and key international partners. These arrangements strengthen interoperability, enhance mutual understanding, and support our shared security aims.For reasons of operational and personnel security, the Ministry of Defence does not comment on the specific roles, locations, or units in which UK personnel may be embedded.

Whether his Department has provided (a) training and (b) assistance to Guyana to protect its Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Ministry of Defence offers a range of training to global partners. Our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) course emphasises peacetime operations both ashore and afloat in support of activities in the EEZ. Personnel from Guyana’s Defence Force have attended this course.

How many UK armed forces personnel are present in Guyana.

None.

What process his Department has for (a) storing and (b) otherwise retaining surveillance footage taken by Royal Air Force planes over Gaza since December 2023.

The Ministry of Defence has policies and protocols which provide direction for the storage and retention of operational intelligence. I am unable to comment further due to operational security.

Whether his Department has (a) lost, (b) deleted and (c) otherwise destroyed any surveillance footage taken by Royal Air Force planes over Gaza since December 2023.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 57027, and reiterate that I cannot comment on detailed intelligence matters nor disclose details of Ministry of Defence internal policies for the storage and retention of operational intelligence.

When he plans to respond to Question 52089 tabled by the honourable Member for Alloa and Grangemouth on 13 May 2025.

I am unable to release this information due to operational security.

When he plans to respond to Question 52090 tabled by the honourable Member for Alloa and Grangemouth on 13 May 2025.

I am unable to release this information due to operational security.

For what reason the Royal Air Force stopped airdropping aid to Gaza; whether he has had recent discussions with his Israeli counterpart on this issue; if he will make it his policy to restart airdropping aid to Gaza.

Humanitarian aid should never be contingent on a ceasefire or used as a political tool. On 13 May 2025, along with European partners, the UK convened a UN Security Council meeting to call for Israel to lift its block on aid into Gaza. We will continue to make our views clear, both in public and in private to the Israeli government and work with our partners to achieve an enduring and sustainable end to the hostilities. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office leads on coordinating the Government’s humanitarian response to deliver lifesaving assistance to the civilian population in Gaza. The Ministry of Defence has provided military support when requested to facilitate the delivery of this assistance, including participating in airdropping aid as part of the Jordanian international coalition in 2024. Currently land routes are the only viable option for delivering aid at scale into Gaza. We remain ready to support as required.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 15836 on Israel: F-35 Aircraft, how many F-35 components were sent from RAF Marham to Israel between January 2022 and October 2023; and when each component was sent.

I am unable to release this information due to operational security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 15836 on Israel: F-35 Aircraft, when F-35 components were sent from RAF Marham to Israel between October 2023 and August 2024.

I am unable to release this information due to operational security.

What the purpose was of Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton’s visit to Israel between 9 and 11 January 2024.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2025 to Question 24182.

When an Israeli Air Force aircraft last landed at an RAF station in the UK; and what its purpose was.

For operational security reasons and as a matter of policy, the Ministry of Defence will neither confirm, deny, nor comment on any foreign nations’ military aircraft movement or operations within UK airspace or UK overseas bases, whether they may or may not have happened.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 36262 on Ministry of Defence: Israel, what the purpose of the meeting was; and who the senior British official was who attended.

The Israeli Air Force delegation, led by their Head of Personnel Division, visited Ministry of Defence Main Building to meet and receive a briefing from the Defence Human Resources Transformation Team, as part of their visit to the UK focussing on HR and People issues.

What the purpose is of Project HEZUK; and whether that project (a) is ongoing or (b) has been discontinued.

The Ministry of Defence has a number of active and retired project names, I will not comment further for security reasons.

Where his Department has recently published information about the British Support Team Ramallah.

The Ministry of Defence has not published information about the British Support Team in Ramallah.

When the UK last supplied Ukraine with tank shells containing depleted uranium.

We have sent thousands of rounds of Challenger 2 ammunition to Ukraine, including depleted uranium armour-piercing rounds. For operational security reasons, we will not comment on Ukrainian usage rates for the rounds provided.

Whether UK-supplied Challenger tanks being deployed by Ukraine in the Kursk region of Russia are equipped with shells containing depleted uranium.

We have sent thousands of rounds of Challenger 2 ammunition to Ukraine, including depleted uranium armour-piercing rounds. For operational security reasons, we will not comment on Ukrainian usage rates for the rounds provided.

What the (a) purpose, (b) strength and (c) budget is of the British Support Team in Ramallah.

As part of our commitment to stability in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the UK provides the Palestinian Authority with professional support in helping develop capable and responsible security institutions that respect human rights and are accountable to the Palestinian people. Support to the Palestinian Authority Security Forces is paid for by Ministry of Defence core funds and the UK's Integrated Security Fund (ISF). The amount spent by the UK's ISF in the Financial Year 2024-25 will be published in due course in the respective ISF annual review of 2024-25. The number of personnel is being withheld in order to protect the security of those personnel and to avoid prejudicing international relations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 29341 on Ministry of Defence: Israel, which Israeli officials visited his Department on 5 February 2025.

Brigadier General Yaval Harel, Israeli Air Force Head of Personnel Division, led an Israeli Air Force delegation of nine personnel as part of a three-day HR-focussed visit to the UK.