Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

With reference to box 12 page 105 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in developing acoustic detection systems (a) powered by artificial intelligence and (b) integrated into the digital targeting web.

Atlantic Bastion is a portfolio of programmes to secure the North Atlantic for the UK and in support of NATO against a range of underwater threats. It will develop a range of capabilities that enhance existing systems and deploy new platforms into the North Atlantic. It is separate from Baltic Sentry, which is a NATO led activity in the Baltic Sea to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure. The Royal Navy will be able to learn from Baltic Sentry and be able to share lessons from Bastion programmes with NATO allies. Through AUKUS Pillar 2, the nations are working together on an algorithm to support Maritime Patrol Aircraft processing systems. This work will inform future capability development of Bastion systems powered by AI to enhance acoustic detection. Capability options under Atlantic Bastion are submitted for consideration in the Defence Investment Plan. Options for capabilities that would be deployable from the Type 26 Frigate Force are included in these options.

With reference to page 113 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in increasing RAF reserves by 50%.

The RAF continues to make positive progress toward increasing its Reserves by 50% by focusing on recruitment activity, structural reform and strategic alignment. The RAF is prioritising the growth of the Part Time Volunteer Reserves, who are the reserve of first choice for operational support, while also enhancing the management and training of the Strategic Reserve to maximise the skills and experience of ex-Regular personnel.

With reference to page 112 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what assessment he has made of the level of challenge to the primacy of crewed aircraft.

The safety of aircrew and the survivability of crewed platforms remain paramount. The Strategic Defence Review sets a path for the next decade and beyond to transform Defence and make the UK stronger both at home and abroad. The Government endorses the Review's vision and accepts all 62 recommendations. The implementation of the Review's recommendations is underway; this will be priority business and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort. Our Defence Investment Plan (DIP) which will be published in due course, will set out how we intend to deliver the Review's recommendations. The DIP will be affordable, consider infrastructure and people, alongside capabilities and enable flexibility to seize new technological opportunities maximising the benefits of defence spending to grow the UK economy.

With reference to page 106 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what assessment he has made of the use of commercial vessels to augment the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fleet Solid Support Ships in non-contested environments.

The Ministry of Defence continues to assess options for augmenting Fleet Solid Support capabilities in non-contested environments. Commercial vessels are being considered for low-risk logistical roles, offering potential benefits in cost and flexibility. Work is underway to establish assured access to UK-based shipping through strategic frameworks, supported by industry engagement via the Shipping Defence Advisory Council. These efforts aim to ensure readiness through identified vessels, trained crews, and secure communications infrastructure.

With reference to recommendation 35 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made on developing mechanisms for the enhanced parliamentary scrutiny of the UK’s nuclear deterrent spending.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 September 2025 to Question 70759 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).

With reference to page 113 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what air-to-air refuelling capability does the RAF contribute to NATO plans in the Euro-Atlantic.

The RAF Voyager Force contributes to NATO Integrated Air Defence and NATO Enhanced Air Policing. In addition, I refer the hon. Member to the answer the right hon. Member for Liverpool Garston (Maria Eagle) gave to him on 4 July 2025 to Question 63066.

With reference to recommendation 34 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what recent progress he has made in determining what the post-Dreadnought nuclear deterrent would be.

This Government is fully committed to the United Kingdom’s independent nuclear deterrent, underpinned by our triple lock commitment to continue to build the four new Dreadnought Class submarines, maintain our continuous at sea deterrent and deliver all the required upgrades, including the replacement warhead. The Government has accepted all of the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations, including the need to start to define the requirement for the post-Dreadnought nuclear deterrent within this Parliament, and is currently working to progress this.

With reference to page 130 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on conducting organisational reform of medical services within defence.

In response to the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, and as part of Defence Reform, the Defence Medical Services (DMS) will be empowered as the Lead Command for medical within the Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC). Work is ongoing to establish and implement the Lead Command model across the Armed Forces.

With reference to page 131 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in ensuring Front Line Commands retain sufficient (a) capacity and (b) expertise to implement technical direction from Defence Medical Services.

A key recommendation of the Strategic Defence Review is rebuilding medical capacity and capability, together with the NHS, to ensure our Armed Forces remain fighting fit in peacetime and are prepared to meet operational demands when at war. With allies, through the NATO Medical Action Plan we are focused on addressing priority challenges in workforce; mass casualty planning; patient evacuation; and medical logistics. We will look to address legislative and regulatory barriers to effective care. The Defence Investment Plan will set out how the Ministry of Defence and will deliver the vision of the Strategic Defence Review over the next 10 years, including to ensure that the Defence Medical Services and the NHS together have capacity to meet Defence medical needs, including in the most extreme circumstances.

With reference to page 131 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on developing specialist clinical capability in support of the Integrated Force (a) in crisis and (b) at war.

A key recommendation of the Strategic Defence Review is rebuilding medical capacity and capability, together with the NHS, to ensure our Armed Forces remain fighting fit in peacetime and are prepared to meet operational demands when at war. With allies, through the NATO Medical Action Plan we are focused on addressing priority challenges in workforce; mass casualty planning; patient evacuation; and medical logistics. We will look to address legislative and regulatory barriers to effective care. The Defence Investment Plan will set out how the Ministry of Defence and will deliver the vision of the Strategic Defence Review over the next 10 years, including to ensure that the Defence Medical Services and the NHS together have capacity to meet Defence medical needs, including in the most extreme circumstances.

What his planned timeline is for the installation of the Helicopter Visual Landing Aid System across the batch 2 fleet.

The planned timeline for installation of Glamox HVLAS (Helicopter Visual Landing Aid System) to the remainder of the Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Fleet is aligned to the platform’s five Annual Recertification Maintenance Periods. An exception to this may be due to operational requirement, or if there is a funding and timing opportunity to enable the advancement of installation work. Wildcat are the Royal Navy’s cleared aircraft and HVLAS is suitable for all aircraft from Partner Nations, although limited by their size and weight.

With reference to page 130 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on conducting an urgent sprint review to strengthen the partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care.

There is a strong foundation of cross-Government working between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), including planning to meet the demands of warfighting and other strategic health emergencies. A series of workshops involving both the MOD and DHSC are exploring the UK’s ability to deal with various combat scenarios and the treatment of casualties. The MOD is also participating in DHSC’s cross-Government Exercise PEGASUS, the national tier 1 pandemic preparedness exercise set to assess the UK’s ability to respond to a pandemic. Both activities focus on understanding system-wide capacity and capability, potential future need and shared plans for delivery.

With reference to page 131 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what options private sector healthcare offers for supporting personnel in (a) maintaining and (b) recovering fighting fitness.

As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, the Ministry of Defence recognises private-sector healthcare offers options for supporting personnel in maintaining and recovering fighting fitness. Defence Medical Services commissions private healthcare treatment for Service personnel which falls outside NHS policy and provision. Bespoke private-sector healthcare pathways are also offered for some Service personnel in priority trade groups who are on NHS waiting lists for longer than 18 weeks. Additionally, the Regional Rehabilitation Unit Fast Track Scheme, in contract with a private-sector healthcare provider, delivers rapid access to high quality musculoskeletal diagnostic imaging, high quality orthopaedic specialist surgical intervention and access to an accelerated spinal care pathway.

With reference to recommendation of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, what resourcing options for medical infrastructure could be drawn from (a) the NHS and (b) private finance.

The Defence Investment Plan will set out how the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will deliver the vision of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) over the next 10 years, including confirming the funding available to improve the physical and digital infrastructure of Defence Medical Services, together with medical evacuation and medical stockpiles. The SDR commits the MOD to establish a ten-year physical infrastructure plan for Defence medical by February 2026, including options for medical infrastructure drawing on the NHS and private finance.

With reference to page 131 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on making defence the employer of choice for (a) regular and (b) reserves medical staff.

The Strategic Defence Review recognises Defence must become an employer of choice for medical staff (Regular and Reserves) by offering flexible employment, education, and training—facilitated by aligning with the NHS on pay, benefits, and terms and conditions. The implementation of the Review's vision and recommendations is underway, including to ensure that pay and benefits for medical personnel are competitive with civilian healthcare roles and reviewing terms and conditions to provide greater flexibility and fairness, ensuring they reflect the unique demands of military service. The MOD is committed to the professional development of medical staff, offering access to advanced training, leadership courses, and opportunities to work in diverse and challenging environments; this is particularly relevant to reserve roles.

With reference to page 131 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on prioritising increasing shared capacity with the Department of Health and Social Care.

There is a strong foundation of cross-Government working between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), including planning to meet the demands of warfighting and other strategic health emergencies. A series of workshops involving both the MOD and DHSC are exploring the UK’s ability to deal with various combat scenarios and the treatment of casualties. The MOD is also participating in DHSC’s cross-Government Exercise PEGASUS, the national tier 1 pandemic preparedness exercise set to assess the UK’s ability to respond to a pandemic. Both activities focus on understanding system-wide capacity and capability, potential future need and shared plans for delivery.

With reference to page 134 of his Department's Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made in reinvesting the proceeds from housing development on Minstry of Defence land.

The Defence Housing Strategy will set out the roadmap for how the Department will deliver a national regeneration programme for the Service Family Accommodation estate and deliver more housing of all types on Defence land identified as suitable for development. It is due to be published later this year.

If he will list the components that comprise 37% of each Typhoon aircraft assembled in the UK.

For all Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, and in line with agreed workshare arrangements, the UK leads on manufacturing the front and rear fuselage, windscreen and canopy, fin and rudder, engine bay doors, and foreplane comprising 37% of each Typhoon aircraft.

With reference to recommendation 57 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in establishing an independent review board.

The Ministry of Defence is exploring options for an independent review board to assure national health ecosystem—Defence, the NHS, and the private sector— readiness to meet the demands of warfighting and other strategic health emergencies involving Defence Medical Services.

Whether he had made recent progress on integrating Brimstone 3 onto the Protector platform.

Brimstone 3 remains in the Demonstration and Manufacture phase. Assurance testing of operational software for use on Protector is now underway.