ISLAMIC STATE
Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of ISIL's military capabilities; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Mark Francois, Minister of State for the Armed Forces: Coalition airstrikes and Iraqi security forces supported by coalition equipment and training are degrading ISIL military capabilities. A number of important towns in the north have been liberated by the Peshmerga, but the scale of the problem remains significant. ISIL retains sufficient military hardware to conduct traditional military operations as well as terrorist activity and they remain a threat to the region, the UK and our interests.