Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What progress he has made on the development of a Type 91 uncrewed arsenal ship/missile barge.

The need for a mix of crewed and uncrewed autonomous vessels to provide Air and Missile Defence and Strike Capabilities for the Royal Navy was endorsed in the Strategic Defence Review. Technology demonstrators to support and de-risk the transition to the envisaged ‘hybrid’ Surface Fleet are underway. The Type 91 ‘Arsenal Ship’ is being assessed for feasibility and affordability within the Concept Phase of the Future Air Dominance System (FADS) programme, with a recommendation to be made in the Outline Business Case planned for June 2026.

How many Commonwealth service-leavers who have served between four and six years have paid for a visa upon discharge since 5 July 2024.

All applications are submitted to the Home Office. The Ministry of Defence does not hold information about the number of applications submitted by Service personnel on discharge, or by their family members.

What assessment he has made of trends in the level of growth potential in defence-related industries in Huntingdon constituency.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring defence is an engine for growth. However, we have made no assessment of growth potential in defence-related industries in Huntingdon constituency specifically. The Defence Industrial Strategy published on 8 September 2025 clearly set out how we are making defence an engine for growth - investing more money in key defence areas and regions across the UK to create good jobs.

What estimate he has made of the number of jobs the Tempest Global Combat Air Programme will create.

There are over 4,500 people working on the Future Combat Air System programme across the UK. At the core of the programme is the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) partnership between the UK, Japan and Italy to deliver a next-generation combat aircraft. We expect GCAP to support thousands of jobs across all three nations.

What the lead time is between purchasing and delivery for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile missiles.

I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand but I am withholding this information on the grounds of National Security as disclosure would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Ministry of Defence.

With reference to page 14 of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what growth spillover benefits he plans to unlock in Huntingdon constituency.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring defence is an engine for growth. However, we have made no assessment of growth spillover effects in the Huntingdon constituency, or any constituency level at this stage. The Defence Industrial Strategy published on 8 September 2025 clearly set out how we are making defence an engine for growth - investing more money in key defence areas and regions across the UK to create good jobs.

What estimate he has made of the contribution of Typhoon jets to GDP.

The biggest contribution of defence to GDP is peace and security. My Department has made no estimate of the contribution to GDP of any individual programmes and capabilities. The Defence Industrial Strategy published on 8 September 2025 clearly set out how we are making defence an engine for growth - Investing more money in key defence areas and regions across the UK to create good jobs. This year my Department has announced further multi-year contracts with UK companies for the support of in-service Typhoon EJ200 engines and the continuing development of the ECRS Mk2 radar upgrade programme that will be embodied on the RAF fleet. A resilient UK industrial base strengthens Britain's defence companies and supply chains to make us more secure and boost our economy, which will support making NATO stronger.

Which elements of the Global Combat air programme are included within the scope of the Industrial Strategy partnership with the Japanese government agreed in March 2025.

The UK and Japan are pioneering an Industrial Strategy Partnership (ISP) focusing on green and digital transformation, economic security and inclusive regional growth. The ISP aims to deepen UK-Japan industrial and technology collaboration through programmes such as GCAP.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49543, how many of the houses reacquired by his Department in January 2025 from Annington Homes have been used to house Afghans brought to the UK via (a) the Afghan Resettlement Programme and (b) separately as a subset of the Afghan Response Route.

Surplus SFA not needed for our personnel have been used in certain circumstances. 795 of the 36,000 properties bought back from Annington Homes in January 2025 have been used to house Afghans who worked alongside out troops in Afghanistan who have been brought to the UK via the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARAP).I refer the honourable member to the answer to PQ 72330 which provides the number of Afghan Response Route (ARR) Eligible Persons (EP) accommodated on the Defence Estate on 4 September 2025. The Department does not hold data on which former Annington Homes properties are occupied by ARR EPs.

How many Afghans were brought to the UK via the Afghan Response Route in each month the scheme was open.

As the responsible Department, the Home Office produce quarterly statistics for immigration. These statistics are broken down by the route in which the individual entered the UK. The Afghan Response Route (ARR) is included and can be accessed via the link below: safe-legal-routes-summary-tables-jun-2025.ods As of 4 July 2025, the ARR is closed. This Government continues to support the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) and is taking seriously our commitment to deliver on our promise to our Afghan friends and allies – many of whom stood side-by-side with the UK's Armed Forces in Afghanistan. By the end of this Parliament, we aim to have successfully honoured our obligation to complete relocations of eligible persons.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the introduction of CBAM in January 2027 on defence procurement.

The UK Government will introduce a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on 1 January 2027 to address the risk of carbon leakage, and support efforts towards industrial decarbonisation to achieve net zero. Initially, the CBAM will apply only to specific imports from a limited number of sectors at risk of carbon leakage, including aluminium, cement, fertiliser, hydrogen, iron and steel. These sectors collectively account for less than 3% of total UK imports. The government expects the CBAM to have a negligible inflationary impact on consumers in the near term. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) will continue to engage as the policy develops to fully assess the implications for Defence. The MOD is committed to addressing climate and environmental challenges, complying with environmental legislation and standards, while ensuring Defence activities and national security are protected.

What assessment has he made of the potential merits of adopting the (a) L403A1-AIW, (b) the L119A1/A2 and (c) the Sig Sauer MCX as the replacement for the L85A3.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 28 April 2025 to Question 45196.

What are his Department’s ethical principles for developing and deploying AI.

The SDR recognised the transformative potential of AI and set out MOD's commitment to accelerate the adoption of AI-enabled capabilities across warfighting domains. All development and use of AI across Defence must align with MOD's AI Ethics Principles, published in 2022 in the Ambitious, Safe Responsible policy. The five principles are: human centricity, responsibility, understanding, bias and harm mitigation, and reliability. Joint Services Publication 936 on Dependable AI defines the governance and assurance processes necessary to apply these principles as part of a proportionate, risk managed approach.

How many EJ200 engines have been manufactured by Rolls Royce in (a) 2020, (b), 2021, (c) 2022, (d) 2023, (e) 2024 and (f) 2025.

No new engines were manufactured for the UK MOD in the timeframe specified.

What engine is used as the test demonstrator for the Global Combat Air Programme.

The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) demonstrator is planned to use EJ200 engines from the Eurofighter Typhoon, giving a reliable engine for testing the aircraft’s design. A brand-new engine will power the final production aircraft.

How many scimitar tanks the British Army currently holds (a) in reserve and (b) that are awaiting disposal.

No Scimitar vehicles are held in reserve and only one vehicle is awaiting disposal.

What the size of the budget contingency for the Dreadnought nuclear submarine programme is.

I refer the hon. Member to page 11 of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise 2025 Annual Update to Parliament, which was published on 22 May 2025. The publication is available at the following location: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/682f01c2e9440506ee95398c/20250522-Defence-Nuclear-Enterprise-2025-Annual-Update-to-Parliament-v10.pdf

With reference to the National Infrastructure & Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024/25, published on 11 August 2025, what are the funding gaps which could impact delivery of the broader capabilities required to transition the Challenger 3 platform into service as part of the Armour Main Battle Tank programme.

The mandated scope of the Challenger 3 (CR3) programme is fully funded. Current support arrangements are being reviewed to ensure CR3 can transition fully supported into service.

How many Ares vehicles will be required by an infantry platoon in the armoured role.

The Department does not release detailed information on its workforce requirements below top-level figures. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will understand that I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Whether he has made an assessment of the (a) immediate and (b) short-term threat posed to Taiwan by recent Chinese military activity in the region.

The Ministry of Defence pays close and persistent attention to Chinese military activity and its implications. The UK considers the Taiwan issue one that should be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We do not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo. This includes increased Chinese assertiveness towards Taiwan.