Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Based on the £34.7 billion cost of the deal for the Chagos Islands calculated by the Government Actuary’s Department, how much of the total figure will be paid by his department (a) each year and (b) in total.

The £34.7 billion figure is incorrect. The correct figure is £3.4 billion, which reflects the real costs of a treaty that lasts 99 years, with an average cost of £101 million per year.The treaty payments will be split between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

What is the current status of all MOD sites listed within the Defence Estates Optimisation Programme.

Defence Estates Optimisation (DEO) has completed construction at 17 sites and has disposed of 30 Ministry of Defence sites. The status for the remaining disposal sites is listed in the House of Commons Defence Disposal Database report on the Gov.UK website. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disposal-database-house-of-commons-report

How much was the UK contribution to Lots 39 and 40 of the $3.5 billion contract awarded to Raytheon on 31 July 2025, for the continued production of Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).

Lot 39 of the contract is expected to be placed by the end of 2025. Lot 40 of the contract is yet to be negotiated by the US Government. The UK proportionate contribution towards the $3.5 billion contract is classified as commercially sensitive information.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69526 on Army: Ajax Vehicles and Boxer Vehicles, will anti-tank platoons be equipped with a mix of Ajax and Boxer or one or the other depending on whether the unit is tracked or wheeled.

Anti-tank platoons within Armoured Infantry units will be equipped with Boxer variants.

With reference to page 135 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress has he made in establishing comprehensive oversight of a) assets, b) liabilities, c) rates of obsolescence and d) lifecycle costs across his Department's estate.

In line with the Strategic Defence Review 2025, the Ministry of Defence has established the following to support oversight of a) assets, b) liabilities, c) rates of obsolescence and d) lifecycle costs across his Department’s estate: (a) a centralised asset register,(b) a liability baseline,(c) introduced an obsolescence model for critical infrastructure,(d) and embedded lifecycle costing within the Defence Investment Plan to ensure transparency and alignment with the Strategic Defence Review 2025 objectives.

With reference to page 135 of his Department's document entitled Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made in making Ministry of Defence sites available for (a) start-ups and (b) scale-ups to help nurture innovation.

In line with the Strategic Defence Review 2025, the Ministry of Defence has been reviewing its estate to identify land that it can release from current operational use. The purposes to which this land can be put is now being assessed. Some sites may become available for start-ups and scale-ups, supporting innovation in defence and technology sectors.

With reference to page 139 of the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, how was the retirement of the Albion and Bulwark landing platforms calculated at a constructive loss of £428,459,000.

The decision to decommission both HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark was announced in November 2024. In the period from 2022 to 2024, a total of £72.1 million has been spent on refitting HMS Bulwark. Neither HMS Albion nor HMS Bulwark were due to go to sea ahead of their out-of-service dates in 2033 and 2034. Their disposal shows that we are delivering for defence by divesting ourselves of old capabilities to make way for the future. These ships were effectively mothballed by the previous Government. As part of disposal procedures, we have calculated the write-down costs, in line with Managing Public Money and Ministry of Defence accounting policies. The constructive loss of £428,459,000 reflects the write-down of remaining value of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark and their associated capital works, spares and consumables following the decision to bring forward their out-of-service dates.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the rating of the SPEARCAP 3 SRO Delivery Confidence Assessment.

Delivery Confidence Assessments reflect that moment in time and will change throughout a programme's lifecycle. An assessment of Red does not mean that the programme is undeliverable, but that there are management interventions required as a priority in order to increase the likelihood of being able to deliver to approved time, performance and cost.The National Armaments Director holds all the levers of procurement, enabling the necessary interventions to be applied in support of programmes assessed as Red.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the rating of the Future Combat Air System IPA Delivery Confidence Assessment.

Delivery Confidence Assessments reflect that moment in time and will change throughout a programme's lifecycle. An assessment of Red does not mean that the programme is undeliverable, but that there are management interventions required as a priority in order to increase the likelihood of being able to deliver to approved time, performance and cost.The National Armaments Director holds all the levers of procurement, enabling the necessary interventions to be applied in support of programmes assessed as Red.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the rating of the Land Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance IPA Delivery Confidence Assessment.

Delivery Confidence Assessments reflect that moment in time and will change throughout a programme's lifecycle. An assessment of Red does not mean that the programme is undeliverable, but that there are management interventions required as a priority in order to increase the likelihood of being able to deliver to approved time, performance and cost.The National Armaments Director holds all the levers of procurement, enabling the necessary interventions to be applied in support of programmes assessed as Red.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the rating of the SKYNET 6 IPA Delivery Confidence Assessment.

Delivery Confidence Assessments reflect that moment in time and will change throughout a programme's lifecycle. An assessment of Red does not mean that the programme is undeliverable, but that there are management interventions required as a priority in order to increase the likelihood of being able to deliver to approved time, performance and cost.The National Armaments Director holds all the levers of procurement, enabling the necessary interventions to be applied in support of programmes assessed as Red.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the rating of the Mine Hunting Capability SRO Delivery Confidence Assessment.

Delivery Confidence Assessments reflect that moment in time and will change throughout a programme's lifecycle. An assessment of Red does not mean that the programme is undeliverable, but that there are management interventions required as a priority in order to increase the likelihood of being able to deliver to approved time, performance and cost.The National Armaments Director holds all the levers of procurement, enabling the necessary interventions to be applied in support of programmes assessed as Red.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the rating of Land Environment Tactical Communication and Information Systems IPA Delivery Confidence Assessment.

Delivery Confidence Assessments reflect that moment in time and will change throughout a programme's lifecycle. An assessment of Red does not mean that the programme is undeliverable, but that there are management interventions required as a priority in order to increase the likelihood of being able to deliver to approved time, performance and cost.The National Armaments Director holds all the levers of procurement, enabling the necessary interventions to be applied in support of programmes assessed as Red.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the rating of the Protector IPA Delivery Confidence Assessment.

Delivery Confidence Assessments reflect that moment in time and will change throughout a programme's lifecycle. An assessment of Red does not mean that the programme is undeliverable, but that there are management interventions required as a priority in order to increase the likelihood of being able to deliver to approved time, performance and cost.The National Armaments Director holds all the levers of procurement, enabling the necessary interventions to be applied in support of programmes assessed as Red.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the rating of the E7 Wedgetail SRO Delivery Confidence Assessment.

Delivery Confidence Assessments reflect that moment in time and will change throughout a programme's lifecycle. An assessment of Red does not mean that the programme is undeliverable, but that there are management interventions required as a priority in order to increase the likelihood of being able to deliver to approved time, performance and cost.The National Armaments Director holds all the levers of procurement, enabling the necessary interventions to be applied in support of programmes assessed as Red.

When will he publish the most recent quarterly portfolio review of his Department’s projects within the Government major projects portfolio.

In line with other Departments, the Ministry of Defence discloses declassified programme performance information for most of our major programmes, alongside the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) Annual Report. The next NISTA Annual Report and proactive disclosure will cover the Financial Year 2025 to 2026 and will be published in summer 2026.Routine examination of the performance of our major projects and programmes that will contain security classified material is achieved through various governance boards and committees to ensure that senior management intervention is applied where and when it is needed throughout the year.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the rating of the Core Production Capability IPA Delivery Confidence Assessment.

Delivery Confidence Assessments reflect that moment in time and will change throughout a programme's lifecycle. An assessment of Red does not mean that the programme is undeliverable, but that there are management interventions required as a priority in order to increase the likelihood of being able to deliver to approved time, performance and cost.The National Armaments Director holds all the levers of procurement, enabling the necessary interventions to be applied in support of programmes assessed as Red.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the rating of the Type 31 IPA Delivery Confidence Assessment.

Delivery Confidence Assessments reflect that moment in time and will change throughout a programme's lifecycle. An assessment of Red does not mean that the programme is undeliverable, but that there are management interventions required as a priority in order to increase the likelihood of being able to deliver to approved time, performance and cost.The National Armaments Director holds all the levers of procurement, enabling the necessary interventions to be applied in support of programmes assessed as Red.

What is the full scope of Operation CROSSWAYS.

The scope of Operation CROSSWAYS is to provide military support to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, primarily focused on training and tailored military advice to the Saudi armed forces. It also includes a phased deployment of air defence equipment to Saudi Arabia.

What support has he provided to Lebanon in the development of its armed forces.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a wide range of support to Lebanon in the development of the Lebanese Armed Forces' capacity as the legitimate defender of Lebanon's sovereignty. This includes providing equipment, training on both maritime and counter-terrorism activities, and the contracted construction of infrastructure to enhance their border security. The Department also co-ordinates bilateral support with international partners.