Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2026, to question 124297 on Norway: Navy, what naval interoperability has been enhanced.

Royal Navy units continue to work closely with their Norwegian counterparts to ensure both nations operate seamlessly together in protecting shared security interests. For more information, I refer the hon. Member to the following Royal Navy and Government press releases:https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2026/march/25/20260325-joint-commando-craft-rfiUK and Norway to operate together to counter Russian undersea threat through major new defence agreement - GOV.UKUK steps up defence of Arctic and High North from rising Russian threats - GOV.UKBoost for UK Growth and Security as Norway Selects UK Warships in £10 billion partnership - GOV.UK

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 April 2026 to Question 123462 on Sky Sabre, what defence capability Land Ceptor is configured for.

The Common Anti-air Modular Missiles (CAMM) in use with the British Army are deployed from Land Ceptor launchers as part of the Sky Sabre air defence missile system. This provides short-medium range air defence against a spectrum of conventional threats including cruise missiles, fixed wing, rotary wing and uncrewed aerial systems.

How much his Department has been asked to make in in-year budget savings in 2026/27.

As part of routine financial management, the Ministry of Defence continues to allocate resources effectively to meet departmental and operational priorities. The total Ministry of Defence budget this financial year stands at £65.5 billion.

How much of the proposed in-year savings from his Department for 2025/26 were carried forward for inclusion within 2026/27 projected in-year savings.

As part of normal good financial management, the Ministry of Defence continues to allocate resources effectively to meet departmental and operational priorities. The Department's final position for 2025-26 will be set out in the Annual Report and Accounts.

How much was saved by his Department in-year savings in 2025/26.

As part of routine financial management, the Ministry of Defence continues to allocate resources effectively to meet departmental and operational priorities.The Department's final position for 2025-26 will be set out in the Annual Report and Accounts.

Pursuant to the answer of 13 April 2026 to Question 123069 on Type 83 Destroyers: Procurement, when the concept phase of the Future Air Dominance System (a) started and (b) is due to be completed.

I refer the hon Member to my response to question 106653.

What progress he has made on identifying the origin of the drone that struck RAF Akrotiri on 1 March 2026.

The full assessment of the drone that struck RAF Akrotiri is completed. Due to damage to the airframe, it is not possible to identify the exact point of origin.

With reference to the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, Keeping Britain Safe: secure at home and strong abroad, page 30, what are the complementary International Security Fund programmes.

All of Defence's international security programmes are deliberately designed to be complementary, mutually supportive, and burden sharing, whether funded by the Ministry of Defence or cross-government funding, such as the Integrated Security Fund. The Cabinet Office publishes the Integrated Security Fund's Annual Reports on the Government's website in which further details can be found.

What discussions he has had with the telecoms industry on countering the threat posed to undersea telecommunications infrastructure by Russian sub-threshold interference.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to a collaborative approach between government and private sector to work together on national resilience. Supporting the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology’s lead on telecoms security, the Secretary of State for Defence has engaged with private sector partners including the telecoms industry to discuss undersea telecommunications infrastructure. These discussions form part of a broader effort to protect critical national infrastructure from a range of threats, including Russian sub-threshold interference.

Pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2926 to question 120448 on Type 45 Destroyers: Defence Equipment, on what date the first Type 45 destroyer will be fitted with Sea Ceptor CAMM.

The CAMM capability is being fitted to the Type 45 fleet under the Sea Viper CAMM programme, which will augment the existing Anti-Air Warfare capability of those platforms. Installation on the first vessel will be completed in late Summer 2026.

Pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026 to question 122290 on Ajax Vehicles, what recent assessment he has made of the suitability of CV90 to replace Ajax.

Work on Ajax is ongoing. As I have previously updated the House, we have commissioned a number of safety reports. These have now been received, and we are working through their findings. I will update the House shortly on progress, as I have done since Exercise Titan Storm.

Pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026 to question 122290 on Ajax Vehicles, which alternative platforms have been assessed since Initial Operating Capability was paused.

Work on Ajax is ongoing. As I have previously updated the House, we have commissioned a number of safety reports. These have now been received, and we are working through their findings. I will update the House shortly on progress, as I have done since Exercise Titan Storm.

Pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026 to question 122290 on Ajax Vehicles, what recent assessment he has made of the suitability of SPz Puma to replace Ajax.

Work on Ajax is ongoing. As I have previously updated the House, we have commissioned a number of safety reports. These have now been received, and we are working through their findings. I will update the House shortly on progress, as I have done since Exercise Titan Storm.

Pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026 to question 122289 on Ajax Vehicles: Merthyr Tydfil, what future exports the Ajax programme will be able to generate.

As previously stated, future exports of the Ajax platform is a matter for General Dynamics Land Systems UK.

Whether the Defence Investment Plan will be a ten year plan from the 2025-26 financial year.

The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is the next step in turning the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) into action. It is a 10-year plan, and the first zero-based review of Defence’s budgets in eighteen years and goes significantly further than the last Government’s Equipment Plan by looking across every budget line, including people and infrastructure.

With reference to the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, Keeping Britain Safe: secure at home and strong abroad, page 30, by when does he plan to have established a new Defence Diplomacy Cadre for civilian policy professionals.

As part of the implementation of the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, the Ministry of Defence is establishing a Defence Diplomacy Cadre to increase training and education for our international facing policy staff. The cadre will be piloted with an initial focus on developing skills for staff in US facing roles. Lessons from the pilot will inform the work on the full Defence Diplomacy Cadre, which will leverage expertise within Defence and wider government on relationship building, negotiation, cultural awareness, and complex geo-political contexts, to further develop these skills in Defence, and empower staff in international facing roles.

What progress he has made in implementing the Maritime Aviation Transformation Strategy.

The Maritime Aviation Transformation Strategy will ensure aviation remains capable and sustainable as the Royal Navy transitions to a Hybrid Navy of crewed, uncrewed, and autonomous platforms that will redefine maritime military power. Progress is being made across force generation, operating models and capability development.

What progress he has made on waiving dependent visa fees for foreign and commonwealth veterans.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 January 2026, to Question 101187.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Crest Nicholson’s option on the surplus land at RAF Wyton from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on Project Fairfax.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold an option agreement with Crest Nicholson in relation to the surplus land at RAF Wyton. Instead, the MOD has a development management agreement with Crest Nicholson. This agreement supports the MOD’s promotion of the site for redevelopment by managing town planning, funding, and scheme implementation on behalf of the MOD. The MOD will continue to hold discussions with Crest Nicholson as work on the project develops.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2026 to Question 122321 on Ajax Vehicles: Health and Safety, whether he has considered publishing the membership of the expert panel.

An Independent Expert Panel Review of the programme is ongoing. This panel was established to identify human, environmental and technical factors affecting the users of Armoured vehicles. While this review is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to provide any further details.