Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

If he will publish any legal advice on UK participation in military operations connected to the conflict in the Middle East.

A summary of the government’s legal position was published on gov.uk on 1 March 2026.

If he will bring forward a voteable motion on the use of UK military bases in connection with operations related to the escalation in the Middle East.

Defence Ministers will continue to proactively engage with colleagues on the ongoing situation in the House, as well as written questions.

Whether his department has commissioned an assessment on the compliance of the British use of Epure with Article One of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The United Kingdom’s use of the facilities at Epure, constructed under the Teutates programme, is fully compliant with our obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The Teutates Treaty (Cm 8289) reaffirms the rights and obligations of both the UK and France under the NPT.

How many U.K.-US working groups currently exist pursuant to the 1958 Mutual Defense Agreement on Atomic Energy Matters; what subjects do they cover; and what is the annual cost of servicing these working groups.

There are 21 current UK-U.S. Joint Working Groups (JOWOGs), an information exchange arrangement with the U.S. under the Mutual Defense Agreement. The costs of participating in those JOWOGs is not held centrally in the format required and that information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

What bi-lateral working groups have been created between AWE and the French counterparts on the development of the Astraea nuclear warhead.

None. The Astraea nuclear warhead is sovereign to the United Kingdom.

What has been the cost of implementation of the Anglo-French TEUTATES treaty since its inception in 2010; and whether French military personnel are based at AWE Aldermaston or AWE Burghfield as part of the treaty.

I am withholding the cost of the Teutates programme as release would prejudice international relations. No French personnel, civilian or military, are based at AWE’s Aldermaston or Burghfield sites as part of the programme.

Whether the US Los Alamos National nuclear laboratory and Lawrence Livermore national laboratory have played a role in the research, design or development of the British Astraea nuclear warhead.

We are working with our U.S. counterparts in the U.S. Navy and National Nuclear Security Administration to ensure the UK replacement warhead remains compatible with the Trident missile. The Astraea warhead will be designed, developed, and manufactured in the UK. It will be housed in the Mk7 aeroshell, as will the U.S. W93 warhead, but the requirements, design and manufacture of the warheads are sovereign to each nation. This is consistent with our obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

What is the projected cost of the planned infrastructural improvements at Rosyth Dockyard; whether the improvements will require the removal from the dockyard of radioactively contaminated equipment.

The preliminary plans for infrastructure upgrades at Rosyth Dockyard have been approved and industry has been engaged to begin processing the scheme design. Once the scheme design is complete, final costs for the project will be negotiated. The work will include the requirement to deliver a contingent docking facility for HMS Dreadnought during its sea trials at Rosyth Dockyard.As part of the Submarine Dismantling Project, infrastructure upgrades at Rosyth will enable the removal and processing of all legacy radioactive waste, including radioactively contaminated equipment, from dismantled submarines. Activity at Rosyth has begun, with HMS Swiftsure being dismantled and a further six decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines awaiting disposal.

If the new Establishment Management Plan at HMNB Clyde will address and remedy radioactive leaks into the loch.

The Establishment Management Plan at His Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde does not include actions to monitor and manage any potential discharges of radioactive material into surrounding environments. Its focus is on maintaining safe, secure, and high-quality estate, buildings, and infrastructure. Whilst the Establishment Management Plan is not a nuclear safety document it will be informed by, and take into consideration, regulatory requirements. While the treatment of radioactive material is outside of the scope of the Estate Management Plan, I can confirm handling radioactive substances safely and securely at HMNB Clyde are of the utmost importance. HMNB Clyde engages frequently with regulators to ensure it is discharging its responsibilities in compliance with regulations concerning the treatment of radioactive materials. There are extant Defence and independent monitoring programmes in place also.

If he will publish the review made of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) methodology as mentioned has been undertaken last year in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise 2025 annual report.

The United Kingdom has no plans to publish its Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) methodology. The methodology revalidated our approach to warhead design and certification which is, and will remain, in compliance with the CTBT. We ratified the CTBT in 1998 and we are committed to our voluntary moratorium on nuclear test explosions, having ceased nuclear testing in 1991.

What is the projected cost of the infrastructural improvements at HMNB Devonport, Plymouth; when is the expected completion date; and whether the improvements involve the removal of radioactively contaminated equipment from the base.

Current capabilities which would be used to defeat cruise missiles, drone swarms and ballistic missiles include existing Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force capabilities. Type 45 destroyers, Ground Based Air Defence, Combat Air platforms and supporting air defence sensing and command and control, as well as Counter-Uncrewed Air System capabilities would all play a part in a response. His Majesty’s Government announced a £1 billion UK spend on Integrated Air and Missile Defence in the Strategic Defence Review which will shape future Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability. Further announcement on Integrated Air and Missile Defence investment will be made within the Defence Investment Plan. We have also recently approved £318 million for dragonfire which will help support protection against air threats with the first system being installed on a type 45 destroyer in 2027.

Whether there are any Australian naval personnel sited at any U.K. Defence Nuclear Enterprise establishment as part of the AUKUS collaboration in nuclear-propelled submarines.

The Ministry of Defence is working closely with Australia and the United States under the AUKUS partnership to deliver conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines for Australia. As part of this collaboration, Australian naval personnel are embedded with the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) including the Royal Navy, Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), and UK Industry to gain the skills and experience required to operate and sustain nuclear-powered submarines. This activity is essential to building Australia's sovereign capability.

If he will publish the details and values of contracts his Department has placed with a) universities and b) private research organisations in respect of work for the Defence Nuclear Enterprise since 2015.

The Ministry of Defence (specifically the Defence Nuclear Organisation and Submarine Delivery Agency) has placed 25 contracts at a cumulative contract value of £4.456 million with universities and private research organisations for work relating to the Defence Nuclear Enterprise since 2015. Specific contract details may be exempt from publication due to National Security. Where applicable, contracts have been published and can be found on Contracts Finder. Further details are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

What has been the cost to date of the Astraea nuclear warhead design and production programme.

The UK’s replacement warhead, Astraea, remains in the concept phase. I am withholding details on cost for purpose of safeguarding national security.

If he will list the university departments where his Department is currently funding PhD students under the Nuclear Skills Plan working on projects in support of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

The Ministry of Defence is working jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to deliver the Nuclear Skills Plan, a collaboration between defence and civil sectors. Through this plan, an additional 26 PhD students have been funded across the Universities of Manchester, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Strathclyde, Bangor, Bristol, Cambridge, Imperial College London and The Open University, in support of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

What quantity of plutonium has been recovered from the dismantling of the Mk4A Trident warheads since the start of the dismantlement programme; what proportion has been re-cycled and re-used in new warheads; where is the surplus plutonium currently stored; and what has been the cost to date of the dismantlement programme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to the hon, Member for Newton Abbott (Martin Wrigley) on 1 September 2025 to Question 70223.

What discussions the has had with the Royal Navy on the role of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in the humanitarian aid and disaster relief operation in the Caribbean in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

There have been no discussions on the role of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in support of humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations in the Caribbean in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. The Ministry of Defence’s support to the region during the Hurricane season, Operation VENTUS, is, in the first instance, delivered through the presence of a Royal Navy ship with an embarked crisis response troop. HMS TRENT is currently serving this role and can provide an immediate response and, crucially, set the conditions for further recovery operations. The Royal Navy, alongside FCDO colleagues, has delivered humanitarian aid and disaster relief in the Caribbean following Hurricane Melissa. This supported the deployment of Operational Liaison and Reconnaissance Teams to Jamaica and the Turks and Caicos Islands. HMS TRENT supported both locations with the ship’s crew and crisis response troop also deployed ashore in Falmouth, Jamaica to clear debris and conduct engineering repairs to restore critical infrastructure ahead of the arrival of other agencies.

If he will list (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary (i) expenditure and (ii) other commitments to international humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations in each year since 2015-16.

It will take time to collate the information requested. To ensure I can be as accurate as possible, I will write to the hon. Member with the detail requested and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

How much compensation has been paid out to successful applicants under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme.

As of 9 June 2025, the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) had distributed £2.2 million in payments. We have been prioritising payment to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved.Payments made by the FRS are not compensation payments and do not seek to compensate for any pecuniary losses or attempt to place personnel in a financial position they could have been in, had the ban not existed.The Ministry of Defence is unable to confirm the number of eligible applicants for the FRS at this time; however, application data is being is being monitored and assessed now that the Scheme is live.

What estimate has he made of the number of veterans eligible for compensation under the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme.

As of 9 June 2025, the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) had distributed £2.2 million in payments. We have been prioritising payment to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved.Payments made by the FRS are not compensation payments and do not seek to compensate for any pecuniary losses or attempt to place personnel in a financial position they could have been in, had the ban not existed.The Ministry of Defence is unable to confirm the number of eligible applicants for the FRS at this time; however, application data is being is being monitored and assessed now that the Scheme is live.