Written questions by Rosindell.

What funding he has allocated to a long term Royal Navy presence at the UK Naval Support Facility in Bahrain.

The UK remains steadfast in its commitment to maintaining a presence in the Middle East, reassuring partners and contributing to regional security and stability. Central to this posture is the UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC), located in Bahrain, with a footprint of c125 personnel, which commands and controls Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships. This also includes the MOD’s role in the Combined Maritime Forces framework and the delivery of training to regional partners.The Royal Navy is evolving its approach to operations in the Middle East, focusing on modernising capabilities, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring basing and access for times of crisis. The RN’s modernisation programme has already delivered an autonomous mine countermeasures capability operating in the Gulf, which continues to innovate at pace. In terms of personnel footprint, the RN maintains a strong regional presence, including roles within US Fifth Fleet Task Forces in Bahrain, Loan Service personnel in Oman, RN embeds in the British Military Mission in Kuwait, and RN personnel advising on seabed warfare through the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Programme (MODSAP) programme in Saudi Arabia.The RN remains agile and ready to respond to emerging threats, deploying platforms to meet Defence Plan commitments and operational requirements, which are continuously reviewed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to support good (a) mental and (b) physical health amongst retired veterans.

This Government remains dedicated in recognising our veterans for their service and is fully committed to ensuring that veterans are able to access the care and support they need. In England, NHS England provides Op COURAGE, which delivers a broad range of specialist mental health wellbeing care and support for service leavers, reservists, and veterans. Op RESTORE provides specialist care and support to veterans who have physical health problems as a result of their service. Separate provision is available for veterans living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Earlier this year we launched VALOUR, a new national programme designed to make it easier for veterans across the UK to access support when it is needed. The £27 million VALOUR development funding programme will deliver VALOUR Recognised Centres across the country, which will help cohere service provision and ensure that veterans can meet and discuss their issues with others who understand their unique experiences, within their communities, to further enhance their wellbeing.

What steps he has taken to streamline his Department’s procurement procedures.

Implementation of the procurement and acquisition reforms set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy is underway, under the new National Armaments Director who took up post on 14 October 2025. We are introducing service-agnostic capability portfolios, aligned with wider departmental reforms. The portfolio-driven approach will increase pace and adaptability, enabling us to maximise the output from our investment, reduce waste and be more market aligned. Five commercial pathways have been launched for Spiral, Urgent, Design to Cost, Digital & Technology and Low Complexity Procurement. Further Commercial Pathways are being developed including for S&T and Experimentation, National Security, and Infrastructure with a focus on harnessing commercial flexibilities to drive pace and adaptability. These pathways underpin the new segmented approach to procurement which sets ambitious targets to drastically reduce the timescales to get new projects on contract by tailoring processes and timelines to the type of acquisition supplier and risk involved. This includes the Rapid Commercial Exploitation segment to allow us to pull the latest technology into operations and increase innovation.

What steps his Department has taken to improve the electronic warfare capabilities of His Majesty’s Armed Forces.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) designates the Cyber and Electromagnetic (CyberEM) domain as a strategic priority. In response, UK Strategic Command has transitioned to become Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC), providing explicit four-star leadership for the CyberEM domain alongside pan-Defence responsibility for Electronic Warfare (EW) concepts, doctrine, and capability development.Additionally, CSOC has now established the Defence Cyber and EM Force (DCEMF) at two-star level to support operational commanders in integrating Electronic Warfare across the range of military effects.Current EW programmes and projects continue to be funded and supported in service. Future proposals for additional EW capabilities are being considered through the Defence Investment Plan.

What steps his Department has taken to support the defence industry in Northern Ireland.

On 8 September 2025 we published the Defence Industrial Strategy, which includes a range of initiatives that cut red tape, speed up development to delivery, and ensure our defence investment benefits local communities. This includes a Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal, which will harness Northern Ireland’s defence sub-sector strengths while also ensuring that the foundations are in place to support that defence spending. We are committed to working with partners across Northern Ireland to ensure that we have a thriving defence sector that supports jobs, skills and growth.

How much his Department has spent on cancelled programmes in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Army in each year since 2010.

The Department's spend on cancelled programmes of over £300,000 is published as part of its Annual Report and Accounts.As would be expected of any responsible organisation, the Ministry of Defence regularly reviews its programmes and assets to determine how best to meet future threats including taking appropriate action to address changes.

Whether he will make it his Department's policy to reinstate the two-power standard as applied to the Royal Navy Fleet.

The 'two-power standard' was set out by the Naval Defence Act 1889 and dictated that the Royal Navy (RN) should maintain a fleet at least as strong as the next two powerful navies combined. Today our security is underpinned by NATO's collective defence, where capabilities are shared across 32 allies.Modern naval warfare still demands mass, presence, and resilience. For that reason, The Royal Navy is transforming to a hybrid fleet, moving to a dispersed but digitally connected fleet of crewed, uncrewed, and autonomous platforms. This restores mass and power in a cost-effective way whilst ensuring we retain the cutting-edge capabilities expected of a leading NATO navy.

What steps the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Army have taken to improve interoperability.

The Strategic Defence Review states that the Armed Forces must compete the journey from 'joint' to 'integrated'. On 1 April 2025, the Chief of the Defence Staff became head of the new Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ) with command over the Service Chiefs. This change ensures that authorities for force design and activity delivery now flow top-down from a single point of military authority. The MSHQ has also appointed an interoperability champion to support NATO in its development of its own interoperability plan. We have already seen tangible progress in improving interoperability with allies, for example, the UK's Carrier Strike Group has recently been under NATO Command, integrated into both Alliance operational and tactical command and control Systems.

What recent steps the Royal Marines and the United States Marine Corps have taken to improve interoperability.

The Royal Marines and the United States Marine Corps have an enduring partnership forged through decades of shared operations and tested in demanding environments. This ensures that they can operate seamlessly together. The United Kingdom and United States have permanent exchange positions in operational and capability organisations, and set shared priorities for interoperability across doctrine, training and capability development annually. Recent joint exercises include BALTOPS and BOLD QUEST, which advanced UK/US digital integration to improve command and control.

What steps he has taken to improve the sonar capabilities of the Royal Navy surface fleet.

The Defence Innovation Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Spearhead Programme has focussed on accelerating the Navy's understanding of advanced capabilities. Key areas progressed include sensor optimisation, machine learning and artificial intelligence, to improve the sonar capabilities within the surface fleet. Investment in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Sonar 2087 system has led to improvements to Type 23 capabilities. These improvements will also be pulled through to the Type 26 programme.

If he will make it his Department's policy to reinstate compulsory chapels on Royal Navy vessels.

The Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service (RNCS) provides spiritual, pastoral and moral support to all personnel, regardless of faith and belief. Chaplains are routinely embarked on Royal Navy vessels, particularly major warships and deployed task groups, and will use and suitable quiet space for services, prayers and one-to-one support.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a memorial to commemorate Force 135 and all those involved in the liberation of the Channel Islands during World War Two at the National Arboretum.

As advised in the answer I gave to Question 78038 on 18 October 2025, the Ministry of Defence maintains a longstanding policy that it does not typically establish or fund memorials. The normal expectation is that new memorials will be supported through private donations or public subscription and established with the agreement of the relevant local authority. On that basis, there are no plans to assess the potential merits of establishing a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, to commemorate Liberation Task Force 135.

What steps he is taking to (a) streamline army recruitment and (b) increase (i) regular and (ii) reserve military personnel numbers.

As part of the Strategic Defence Review, the Department has committed to increasing the British Army to at least 76,000 full time soldiers in the next Parliament. Under this Government, we have driven improvements to recruiting process, stripping out outdated medical policies, reducing the time it takes to receive candidate medical records and widening cross-Government data sharing. These measures, along with targeted recruiting and a restructure of the Army's recruiting organisation, are delivering results. Year on year the Army's soldier intake numbers are up 13%, officer numbers are up 10%.Regarding specific measures to increase Army reserve numbers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 June 2025 to Question 57778 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben-Obese Jecty) which remains extant.

What steps his Department has taken to support the British Legion’s Poppy Appeal 2025.

I pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our country, to recognise the dedication of those who serve in our Armed Forces today to safeguard the peace we enjoy, and to offer our respect and gratitude for their Service. The Poppy Appeal is a vital part of the nation's annual Remembrance commemorations, and as a veteran myself I was immensely proud, along with everyone in the Ministry of Defence (MOD), to support the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal 2025. Through the Armed Forces Covenant, the Government remains committed to ensuring that veterans and their families receive the support they need, including through partnerships with organisations like the Royal British Legion.The MOD continues to work closely with the Royal British Legion to support their efforts in raising funds and awareness for the Poppy Appeal. This includes amplifying their campaigns through our communication channels and supporting their work to provide vital services to veterans and their families. We also work closely with local authorities and community organisations to promote the Poppy Appeal and ensure that Remembrance events are well-supported across the UK. We have also actively promoted the Poppy Appeal across the Armed Forces and the wider Defence community, encouraging personnel, veterans, and staff to participate in fundraising activities and, as always, to wear their poppies with pride.

When the first Type 32 frigate will be commissioned.

The Ministry of Defence is continuously evaluating its capabilities, including potential enhancements to the Royal Navy's fleet. As stated in the Strategic Defence Review, the Royal Navy is transitioning towards a Hybrid Navy, delivering a mixed fleet of crewed and uncrewed vessels. These will be delivered through faster, smarter procurement and enabled by modular, reconfigurable technology and scalable platforms to increase mass and effect. Future capability plans for the Royal Navy are being considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan (DIP). It would be inappropriate to provide further detail at this time.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current ship-to-ship lethality capabilities of the Royal Navy surface fleet.

The Royal Navy is undertaking a significant programme to modernise and increase the lethality of the Fleet. The introduction of Sea Venom and the Naval Strike Missile are key aspects of this programme which will be followed by further capability upgrades over the next few years.

Whether his Department plans to create a memorial to the British Liberation Task Force 135 that freed the Channel Islands in 1945.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) deeply values the contribution of Liberation Task Force 135 in ending the occupation of the Channel Islands. While there are currently no plans to create a dedicated memorial, it remains longstanding Government policy that the MOD does not typically establish or fund memorials. These are usually supported through private donations and public subscription, and placed with the agreement of the relevant local authority.

Whether his Department plans to take steps to make it easier for people in the British Overseas Territories to enter army officer training in the UK.

British Overseas Territory Citizens (BOTC) are already eligible to apply to join the British Army and there are no restrictions on the numbers who can serve as Officers or Other Ranks. However, a UK (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) footprint is an integral part of the national security vetting process for joining the Armed Forces, and clearance levels vary depending on the rank and role applied for. Where an applicant, regardless of nationality, has not resided in the UK continuously for the required period prior to their application, additional checks may be needed.For BOTC, the lack of UK residency can be managed through a residency waiver, which would include additional documentation being provided by individuals. Each case will be risk-assessed on a case-by-case basis, and successful BOTC applicants would be eligible for clearance but for a shorter period of time in the first instance. Once the individual is in the Armed Forces, they will build up a UK footprint which will then allow the necessary checks to take place should their clearance need to be extended, or they wish to be considered for further roles where a higher clearance level is required.The British Army recruitment page sets out the eligibility criteria, including for those not resident in the UK that will require more checks.Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Overseas Territory, British Antartic Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St Helena, Ascension & Tristan De Cunha, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri, Dhekelia and Episkopi in Cyprus and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

What steps he has taken to improve the mine hunting capabilities of the Royal Navy.

The Mine Hunting Capability Programme is delivering a rolling programme of unmanned surface vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles into Royal Navy service for use by frontline Mine Warfare specialists. These autonomous mine hunting systems are in regular use by the Mine Threat Exploitation Group, both for training and operations.

What steps he has taken to improve the domestic (a) development, (b) production and (c) delivery of autonomous systems for service in the Royal Air Force.

The Strategic Defence Review recognised that the RAF must stay at the leading edge of Combat Air's evolution, through the transition from exclusively crewed Combat Air platforms to a Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with a mix of crewed, uncrewed, and increasingly autonomous platforms, integrated into the UK's digital targeting web.Both Protector and Stormshroud, the RAF’s first ACP, entered service this year, the latter being an excellent example of how the RAF is taking modernising its approach to autonomous systems, by combining expertise of the RAF, the Governments Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and UK industry.The RAF are committed to the exploitation of autonomy and other complimentary technologies in a range of systems, delivering effects across the Air domain. The pace of adoption will be facilitated by the Defence Investment Plan, due for publication later this year.