To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) RAF personnel and (b) BAE Systems personnel seconded under Government-to-Government agreements work in direct support of Royal Saudi Air Force operational squadrons engaged in the war in Yemen; what the functions are of those personnel; and what restrictions are placed on their support for active operations.
Answered on
18 March 2019
UK personnel provide routine engineering and generic training support for UK-supplied aircraft and aircrews assigned to operational squadrons under long-standing Government-to-Government arrangements.
These personnel do not provide direct support for Royal Saudi Air Force operational squadrons when engaged in the war in Yemen. They do not prepare aircraft for operations, this includes a prohibition on the loading of weapons, and they are not involved in the planning of operational sorties.