Moved by
Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts
22A: After Clause 17, insert the following new Clause—
“Reporting obligation on overseas deployments (civilian casualties)
(1) The Royal Air Force Commander responsible for review of reports on civilian non-combatant casualties submitted to the Ministry of Defence in connection with UK deployments overseas shall report to the Minister for the Armed Forces, at least once every quarter or at any more frequent intervals as the Secretary of State may specify, on—
(a) the number of reports on civilian non-combatant casualties submitted by independent bodies during the period since his or her last report;
(b) the number of reports on civilian non-combatant casualties submitted by the civilian casualties tracking unit in that period;
(c) the number of reviews on civilian non-combatant casualties carried out in that period;
(d) the outcome of such reviews; and
(e) the sum and allocation of funding for any awards made as a result of the civilian casualty review procedure in that period.
(2) A report under subsection (1) shall include—
(a) a copy of the relevant civilian casualty review procedure;
(b) working definitions of the terms “civilian” and “combatant”; and
(c) the standard operating procedures in place to enable the review of reports of civilian non-combatant casualties.
(3) In this section “UK deployment” includes any airstrikes carried out by UK personnel operating manned or unmanned aircraft remotely from the United Kingdom or United States.
(4) On receipt of any report under subsection (1), the Minister for the Armed Forces shall—
(a) lay a copy of the report before Parliament, and
(b) lay a copy of the Government’s response to the report before Parliament, making particular reference to the operation of the civilian casualty review procedure, and any relative increase in reports, reviews or awards.”