Written questions by Snowden.

How many buildings managed by his Department have been found to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation determined what buildings on Ministry of Defence land might potentially contain Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) material based on the period in which they were constructed and their construction type. Surveys are currently being conducted on all buildings which may have been constructed using RAAC.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the resilience of supply chains supporting the construction and maintenance of defence infrastructure.

MOD uses ‘SCRIPT’; a Supply Chain Resilience Intelligent Performance Tool, designed to map and monitor the resilience of the Defence supply chain. The tool allows the department to assess and assure the resilience of the supply chain on an ongoing basis.

What proportion of defence infrastructure contracts were awarded to UK-based suppliers in the last financial year.

Of 219 contracts awarded in Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) in financial year 2024-25, 97.72% (214 contracts) were awarded to Suppliers with a UK based address.

What security measures are in place to vet contractors and suppliers involved in sensitive defence infrastructure projects.

Defence has a range of mandatory physical, personnel and cyber security controls that are applied to contractor personnel, facilities and systems. These are all scalable to the sensitivity of projects being worked on and the classification of information being processed. If there is a particular risk the hon. Member is concerned about, I would be grateful if he could write to me about it.

What steps he is taking to increase mobile phone signal in barracks.

The Strategic Defence Review sets out this Government’s commitment to enhancing the standard of Service Family Accommodation and Single Living Accommodation, which is essential for the morale and retention of Service personnel. The Ministry of Defence (Defence Digital) has recently signed a new Mobile Device and Airtime Contract with BT. The main service provider under this contract is EE, with the option to use Vodafone as an alternative provider should mobile coverage prove poor with EE.

If he will meet with representatives from Unite the Union at BAE Systems Warton to discuss the impact of not purchasing new Typhoon jets for use by the Royal Air Force.

The Secretary of State has met with the General Secretary of Unite the Union over the last three months to discuss a range of issues including this.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of adding Lancashire to the pilot of the VALOUR veteran support centres.

On 26 June 2025 I launched the VALOUR pilot in partnership with Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire. There are a number of excellent support services available for veterans across this region, and across the UK. Through the enhanced coordination facilitated by VALOUR, the programme will promote a holistic approach to care by helping veterans access the full range of support services available to them. The pilot will serve as an opportunity to develop a comprehensive blueprint for the VALOUR network. While it is recognised that regional variations will be necessary to ensure the network meets the specific needs of local communities, the lessons learned from the pilot will form the basis for VALOUR across the country. We continue to move at pace, and VALOUR will be rolled out across the UK in 2026, so I am grateful for Lancashire's engagement and looking forward to working in the area soon.

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61866 on Armed Forces: Buildings, if he will make an estimate of the cost of answering that Question.

The estimated cost of providing a response to Question 61866 - To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 60125 on Armed Forces: Buildings, how many of those properties are in Fylde, would be approximately £7,800. This is more than the Parliamentary Question disproportionate cost limit of £850.

How many VALOUR support centres for veterans he plans to locate in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

The detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR are in development and further announcements, including on development funding, will be announced in due course. The first VALOUR pilot was launched on 26 June 2025, in partnership with Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire, and will help to develop a blueprint as VALOUR is rolled out across the country next year.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 60122 on Armed Forces: Buildings, if he will list the locations of his Department's seven sites in Fylde constituency.

The location of the seven sites in Fylde constituency, managed by the Ministry of Defence, can be found below: Blackpool Airport Air Traffic Control (ATC):Poulton le Fylde ATC:A building at Warton Aerodrome.Warton Service Family Accommodation (SFA)Warton ATCWeeton Barracks.Weeton Barracks SFA.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 60125 on Armed Forces: Buildings, whether there is a standard process for vetting (a) tenants or (b) leaseholders of Ministry of Defence properties.

Before a lease is granted to a third party, their financial and general reliability is investigated by Ministry of Defence (MOD) Officials, via references from banks and, where possible, from a previous landlord, solicitors, or via a professional background checking service. In addition, as part of the vetting process for civilian sublet tenancies, the following checks are completed by a third party, Let Alliance, on behalf of MOD’s contractor, Pinnacle: the undertaking of an income, credit, a Right to Rent and Sanctions check and obtaining work references.

What military support his Department provides to protect (a) buildings owned by and (b) personnel working for civilian defence contractors.

Contractor buildings and personnel located within the Defence Estate are covered by the security arrangements of the site at which they are situated. Depending on the outputs of the site this may include the use of military support to provide the security arrangements. For those contractor buildings and personnel not based on the Defence Estate, the Minstry of Defence (MOD) do not provide military support. Defence has well established mandated security policies and processes to ensure Defence Industry security controls and measures meet with MODs risk appetite.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 60125 on Armed Forces: Buildings, how many of those properties are in Fylde.

The information is not held in the format requested and could only be provided by retrieving and interrogating large amounts of data which could only be completed at disproportionate cost.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 June to Question 60125 on Armed Forces: Buildings, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing formal (a) criteria and (b) guidelines for leasing its properties to third parties.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has formal criteria and guidelines for the leasing of properties to third parties. Criteria and guidelines for Service Family Accommodation (SFA) leased to non-military personnel is set out in the MOD’s contract with Pinnacle Service Families. A separate process is in place for SFA that is utilised under the Afghan Resettlement Programme. The remaining leases criteria and guidelines are set out in Joint Service Publication 850.

How many complaints have been (a) received and (b) resolved from residents living in his Department's properties that are leased to third parties in the last 12 months.

The number of complaints received and resolved for third parties leasing Ministry of Defence properties in the last 12 months is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

What steps his Department is taking to help support the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

As set out in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Royal Charter, the six member countries contribute to the funding of the Commission in proportion to the number of graves maintained for each nation’s Armed Forces. The United Kingdom is the largest contributor, paying 79% of the Commission’s budget via quarterly payments. For this year, that equates to a UK contribution of £59 million. Given the scale of the UK contribution, the Secretary of State for Defence is the Chair of the CWGC. Additionally, the Defence Services Secretary represents Defence at the quarterly CWGC Commissioners’ meetings and the regular finance meetings where budgets are agreed and expenditure monitored. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) also work closely with the CWGC on selected commemorative events. Alongside this year’s landmark VE Day 80 and VJ Day 80 anniversaries, DCMS are leading Government assistance to the CWGC’s delivery of the ‘For Evermore Tour’, a programme of over 250 mobile exhibitions and events across the UK and at key global commemorative sites, to honour and share the stories of those who served in the Second World War. Questions related to that specific assistance should be addressed to DCMS.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme to include chronic primary pain as a compensable condition.

Under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, pain and suffering are already included in awards for all conditions, the aim being a holistic approach to compensation. How chronic pain could be better addressed under the Scheme is currently being considered by the Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG) as part of their Forward Work Programme.

What support is available for veterans transitioning out of the armed forces in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country, no matter which community they are based in. I am working across Government and with civil society to ensure veterans, including those in Fylde and Lancashire, have access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need. For most Service Leavers, the successful transition into employment is the foundation of positive life outcomes. Consequently, as part of their resettlement process, all Regular Service Leavers are entitled to support and receive regular check in calls from the Ministry of Defence’s Career Transition Partnership (CTP). The CTP provides support through a range of career and employment support services, including skills development workshops, seminars, resettlement training advice, vocational training courses, and career consultancy. This has recently been changed to be an opt-out service, increasing attendance of Service Leavers. I recently announced VALOUR, a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. This will ensure easier access to essential care and support for veterans across the UK. This regional approach, based on a network of VALOUR support centres, together with regional field officers, will ensure that services are designed to meet the needs of local communities. Please raise awareness of VALOUR and encourage organisations to sign up for updates here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/valour-information-and-next-steps. In England Op RESTORE provides specialist care to veterans who have physical health problems, and Op COURAGE, a mental health specialist service helps veterans and their families. Housing support is available across the United Kingdom via Op FORTITUDE, a single referral pathway to connect veterans with help and support. Veterans can also access a range of tailored employment support, including the CTP and Op ASCEND, the employment pathway for veterans. I would also like to take the opportunity to highlight the Defence Transition Services (DTS) and the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS), which provide additional support to Service Leavers and their families who are most likely to face challenges as they leave the Armed Forces, irrespective of their reason for discharge. In your constituency, VWS have a Regional Welfare Centre based in Blackpool (Norcross).

Whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the (a) efficiency and (b) cost-effectiveness of its property management services.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) continues to drive for both improved performance and increased value for money from all its Estates Management contracts. The DIO has conducted a series of reviews to capture lessons learned from the delivery of the Future Defence Infrastructure Services Accommodation contracts and commissioned external audits of Industry Partners (IP)s performance. The Department also has the contractual right to withhold elements of profit for non-performance of Key Performance Indicators by its IPs, and continually assesses Property Management Contract Supplier performance. Performance is monitored on a monthly basis including oversight at Chief Executive level.

What steps he is taking to ensure the (a) safety and (b) security of (i) all properties and (ii) properties in operational use managed by his Department.

The safety and security of our sites is of the utmost importance, in order to protect both our people, and to safeguard national security. The Strategic Defence Review recognises that we are in a new era of threat, which demands a new era for UK Defence. The Review sets out a vision to make Britain safer, secure at home and strong abroad, with specific direction to strengthen home defence and resilience and increased funding to defend Britain. While I am unable to comment on specific security arrangements, I can assure the hon. Member that we take this extremely seriously and have robust measures in place.