Select Committee · Defence Committee

Operation Isotrope: the use of the military to counter migrant crossings

Status: Closed Opened: 18 Jan 2022 Closed: 6 Dec 2022 3 recommendations 10 conclusions 1 report

The session will consider the role of the Armed Forces in countering Channel crossings by migrants (Op Isotrope), and the wider implications for Defence, including what assets will be used, who will pay for them, how success will be measured and what the chain of command and reporting arrangements will be.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Operation Isotrope: the use of the military… HC 1069 11 Mar 2022 13 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
5 Recommendation Fourth Report - Operation Isotrope: the… Rejected

We recommend that the Home Office and the MOD agree realistic indicators of success and...

We recommend that the Home Office and the MOD agree realistic indicators of success and explain them to both Houses of Parliament. Furthermore, we recommend that an agreed date for the operation to be handed over to the Border Force is published, with the option of extension if so required. … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government disagrees with the Committee’s view on the deployment of ‘scarce’ naval resources and states that the commitment can be maintained indefinitely without any significant impact on wider Royal Navy activity.
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Ministry of Defence
8 Conclusion Fourth Report - Operation Isotrope: the… Rejected

It is clear that if Royal Navy vessels are to be committed to the operation...

It is clear that if Royal Navy vessels are to be committed to the operation in the Channel, some existing commitments will be given up. The Government ought to be clear, both with Parliament and the public what it is prioritising this task against and which commitments will be unfulfilled … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Government disagrees with the Committee, stating that there is no significant impact whatsoever on wider Royal Navy or Army activity, as the assets made available to Operation ISOTROPE are already permanently assigned to Home Waters.
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Ministry of Defence
11 Conclusion Fourth Report - Operation Isotrope: the… Rejected

The manner in which this decision was announced leaves a lot to be desired.

The manner in which this decision was announced leaves a lot to be desired. The confusion around the ways and means which will be used to achieve the strategic objective (let alone the strategic objective itself) is unhelpful and does not lend itself to effective scrutiny, particularly when Ministers provide … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Government believes the Committee’s point on the timing of the announcement is disingenuous, clarifying the sequence of events.
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Ministry of Defence

Oral evidence sessions

2 sessions
Date Witnesses
12 Jul 2022 Paul Wyatt · Ministry of Defence, Rt Hon James Heappey MP · Ministry of Defence View ↗
26 Jan 2022 Commander (rtd) Tom Sharpe OBE, Vice Admiral (rtd) Sir Charles Montgomery KBE View ↗

Who gave evidence

4 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Commander (rtd) Tom Sharpe OBE 1
Paul Wyatt · Director General, Policy Ministry of Defence 1
Rt Hon James Heappey MP · Minister for the Armed Forces Ministry of Defence 1
Vice Admiral (rtd) Sir Charles Montgomery KBE 1