To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they will make to the US President-elect after his inauguration following his description of the NATO alliance as obsolete.

My Lords, the deployment announced by the noble Earl in the eastern area of Europe is obviously to be welcomed, but is he aware of the RAND Corporation report of 2016 which sets out graphically the vulnerability of the Baltic states in the face of any Russian threat? Is not their best guarantee the fulfilment by all members of the NATO alliance of the obligation under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty—including, if I may say so, the United States, which after all was the beneficiary of that article after the events of 9/11?

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many times between 1 January and 31 December 2016 RAF aircraft flew air patrol sorties from Eastern European countries which are members of NATO; which countries those were; and what aircraft types were used.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what role the UK will play in the implementation of the decision made on 14 November 2016 by EU foreign and defence ministers to seek alignment of national defence planning.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Royal Air Force E-3D aircraft are operational.