Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

With reference to page 117 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made on developing Space Domain Awareness.

A key mission for UK Space Command is to develop capability to enable Space Domain Awareness (SDA) to safeguard our capability and understand potential adversary intent. UK Space Command has worked with the UK Space Agency and Met Office to establish an integrated military and civilian National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC). The NSpOC coordinates SDA capabilities, across multiple sites. UK Space Command is also the regional coordinator of the Meridian Cell as part of the Joint Commercial Operations (JCO) Initiative, which brings together partner nations, industry, commercial and civil to support global SDA collection. UK Space Command also includes command of the No 1 Space Operations Squadron, which monitor’s the space domain to protect on-orbit assets of the UK and its allies, as well as No 2 Space Warning Squadron, at RAF Fylingdales, which provides world-leading Missile Warning and Space Surveillance and Tracking to allies and partners. Most recently, a £65 million deal with CGI UK will deliver the Borealis command, control and data processing system will help the UK military and the UK Space Agency to better monitor and protect satellites, through new software which compiles and processes data from multiple sources, more quickly, to monitor space. The Government have also partnered with the United States and Australia in delivering the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability programme, a set of three global radar sites which will enable detection, identification, and tracking of objects in deep space.

With reference to her Department's document entitled How many people claim asylum in the UK?, published on 21 August 2025, if she will set the reasons why people claimed asylum increased in 2024.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics quarterly release’. The reason for individual asylum claims is not published. Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data. People claim asylum for a variety of reasons including the country situation and individual protection needs. In recent years, there has been a stark, and rapid increase in net migration, which simply cannot sustain. Later this year we will set out reforms to the asylum system and to border security in response to irregular and illegal migration, including plans for new legislation building on the new measures already set out in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill that is currently progressing through Parliament.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled UK-France treaty targeting illegal crossings comes into force, published on 7 August 2025, how many new specialist enforcement officers have been allocated to the Compagnie de Marche.

The Compagnie de Marche of enforcement officers has been mobilised, similar to the arrangements that were put in place during the Paris Olympics. The unit’s officers have specialist public order powers to address increases in violence on French beaches. This will enable more dynamic patrols of the shoreline to apprehend smugglers, intercept crossings and prevent loss of life in the Channel.However, these are French law enforcement units, and it would be inappropriate for the Home Office to comment upon their composition or duties. It is important to emphasise that French law enforcement units necessarily operate independently of UK law enforcement, though there is regular liaison, information exchange, and alignment of operational approaches between the two countries.

How many (a) adult males, (b) adult females and c) children have arrived via small boat since 5 July 2024.

The Home Office publishes statistics on detected irregular arrivals to the UK in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on detected irregular arrivals by method of entry (including small boat arrivals), age group, and sex is published in table Irr_D01 of the ‘Irregular migration to the UK detailed datasets’, with the latest data up to the end of June 2025.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled UK-France treaty targeting illegal crossings comes into force, published on 7 August 2025, what discussions she has had with the French authorities on the steps they are taking in order to increase their enforcement activity to prevent small boat crossings.

In their Joint Declaration of the 37th UK-France Summit on 10 July 2025 the Prime Minister and President Macron committed to deepening UK/France cooperation on tackling irregular migration to the UK.As a result of the strengthened relationship between the UK and France, the Home Secretary and her French counterpart meet regularly to discuss measures for tackling small boat crossings in the English Channel, including the delivery of the new returns pilot, and the ongoing French maritime review which will deploy novel and innovative approaches to intercept boats.The Home Office will continue to engage with French counterparts to support the implementation of these measures, with the intention of contributing to efforts aimed at addressing the issue of small boat crossings.

With reference to the Government's news story entitled, Update on Gaza medical evacuation scheme, published on 22 August 2025, what immigration status will the Gazan (a) children and (b) immediate family members have following the completion of the medical treatment and recovery.

The children medically evacuated to the UK, alongside their immediate family members, will be granted leave to stay for up to two years with the ability to access public funds, including treatment and wraparound support in the UK.Those who wish to remain in the UK beyond that can apply for further permission to stay under existing routes within the Immigration Rules.Should individuals brought to the UK under this process wish to return to Gaza or the region, then HMG will look to support them.

With reference to page 27 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent progress he has made on meeting the NATO Alliance-wide resilience objectives.

The UK sees national and collective resilience as an essential basis for credible deterrence and defence and is committed to NATO Article 3, which requires Allies to maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack. The Government's work to deliver against NATO's seven baseline requirements for resilience is being delivered through the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme, in which Defence has a leading role. As set out in the National Security Strategy and the Resilience Action Plan, this coordinates civil and military preparations across the whole of government to ensure that all sectors are prepared for and able to respond to the most catastrophic risks.

With reference to page 126 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what the criteria are that determine Level (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3 of NATO’s Special Operations Taskforce 2026.

The criteria that determine Level (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3 of NATO’s Special Operations Taskforce 2026 are outlined in NATO's Minimum Capability Requirements, which are captured in the NATO Defence Planning Process. The Minimum Capability Requirements are held at NATO Confidential.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of use of the cryptocurrency token A7A5.

The UK remains committed to increasing economic pressure on Russia including its financial and energy sectors. This includes carefully targeted sanctions against Russia's attempts to circumvent sanctions and create alternative payment systems, including through its use of cryptocurrencies such as A7A5. The 20 August 2025 package of sanctions targeted crypto networks and financial systems in Kyrgyzstan being exploited by Russia, building on over 2700 existing UK sanctions against Russia. UK sanctions complemented action taken by the United States who announced similar measures targeting the cryptocurrency. Sanctions are a critical instrument of the UK's foreign, national and security policy and are deployed selectively and proportionately to complement other tools as part of a wider strategy to deter Russia from continuing its illegal invasion of Ukraine. We continue to monitor the impact of our sanctions closely and engage with third countries on Russian circumvention and where Russia is attempting to exploit financial networks.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of replacing the Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts as part of the Asylum Support Accommodation Programme.

Under the Asylum Support and Accommodation Programme (ASAP) now known as Future Asylum Contract Transformation (FACT) Project, a delivery model assessment was undertaken looking at the current Asylum contractual landscape alongside future business needs, this include the current Asylum Accommodation and Support Contracts (AASC) service due to the integration of these services alongside other core Asylum Business requirements.As with all Public Sector contracts, re-procurement is required to replace any expiring contracts to ensure value for money solutions to support delivery of future Asylum initiatives.

With reference to recommendation 21 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on co-ordinating with other Government (a) departments and (b) agencies to prioritise the use of the defence instrument in support of (i) UK defence and (ii) wider foreign policy.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State (Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry) (Mr Pollard) on 6 September 2025 to Question 70727 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr Cartlidge).To progress the development of the strategy, the Ministry of Defence is actively engaging with all relevant Government departments. The Department is working to complete the strategy by the end of the year.This work is being led by Minister of State (Minister for the House of Lords) who is responsible for international relations and defence diplomacy.

With reference to page 91 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, by when he plans to enable the annual publication of a summary of assessments on programme availability.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) set out the need for external scrutiny of UK warfighting readiness through annual reporting of key data, as one of a number of possible measures in a wider Defence Readiness Bill. Given its potentially broad scope, a Defence Readiness Bill may be a legislative vehicle for wider Government, not just Defence. We are therefore working closely across Government through the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence programme to shape key requirements, and understand and identify the measures needed. This preliminary work will allow us introduce legislation when parliamentary time allows.

With reference to page 91 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, by when he plans to enable the annual publication of percentage availability of in-service programmes.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) set out the need for external scrutiny of UK warfighting readiness through annual reporting of key data, as one of a number of possible measures in a wider Defence Readiness Bill. Given its potentially broad scope, a Defence Readiness Bill may be a legislative vehicle for wider Government, not just Defence. We are therefore working closely across Government through the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence programme to shape key requirements, and understand and identify the measures needed. This preliminary work will allow us introduce legislation when parliamentary time allows.

With reference to Box 12 page 105 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, what (a) uncrewed surface vessels and (b) uncrewed underwater vehicles are currently in operational service with the Royal Navy.

As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review 2025, Atlantic Bastion is the Royal Navy’s plan to secure the North Atlantic for the UK and NATO against the persistent and growing underwater threat posed by a modernising Russian submarine force. The UK’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities are central to European defence and vital to meeting the Alliance’s evolving needs.To support this, the Royal Navy will deploy a Type 26 ASW frigate force, designed to operate both uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs). The Navy is accelerating the integration of these systems, building on its existing wide range of uncrewed capabilities.For operational security reasons, details of USVs and UUVs currently in active service are not publicly disclosed.

With reference to page 91 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, when he plans to introduce the Defence Readiness Bill.

We are developing proposals for inclusion in defence readiness legislation, including on potential military and civilian personnel requirements. That work will include consideration of the potential impacts of defence mobilisation in crisis or conflict on other areas. Any decisions on any future mobilisation will be taken in the context of the specific nature of the crisis and the circumstances applying at that time.

With reference to page 100 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what the full scope is of the National Endeavour approach to the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

The National Endeavour covers all programmes and policies which contribute to the delivery of the nuclear deterrent. This includes investing in the infrastructure, capabilities, science, people, and places which are critical to the nuclear deterrent. Some aspects of this work are delivered directly by the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, as outlined in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise 2025 Annual Update to Parliament (available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-nuclear-enterprise-2025-annual-update-to-parliament/). Other aspects are being driven forward by other Government Departments.

On what date the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement with the United States was last renewed.

The most recent renewal of the 1958 Mutual Defense Agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States entered into force on 14 November 2024. The agreement is now enduring in its entirety following the removal of the 10-yearly renewal provisions.

What assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of recent Nuclear Site Event Reports on (a) equipment failures, (b) human error, (c) procedural shortcomings and (d) near-misses.

I cannot provide specific detail for the events as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of any relevant forces. However, I can assure the hon. Member that none of the events listed caused harm to the health of any member of staff or to any member of the public and none have resulted in any radiological impact to the environment. The table below shows the number of Nuclear Site Event Reports (NSERs) at Coulport recorded between for the most recent financial year. These are shown according to agreed categorisation: Nuclear Site Events- 2024, 22 April 2024 - 31 December 2024Category ACategory BCategory CCategory DBelow ScaleCoulport009251 Nuclear Site Events- 2025, 01 January 2025 - 22 April 2025Category ACategory BCategory CCategory DBelow ScaleCoulport00490 In line with Industry Good Practice and in common with other defence and civil nuclear sites, His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde has a well-established system for raising NSERs. NSERs are raised to foster a robust safety culture that learns from experience, whether that is of equipment failures, human error, procedural failings, documentation shortcomings or near-misses.

What is the out-of-service date of all Royal Navy Batch 1 OPVs.

The Royal Navy constantly reviews out-of-service dates to achieve maximum availability of its platforms for operational tasking. For operational security reasons, the Royal Navy does not release the out-of-service dates of individual platforms. The class out-of-service date for OPV Batch 1 is 2028. The Royal Navy continues to assess its future capability requirements in accordance with the Strategic Defence Review and the Defence Investment Plan.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of replacing the Royal Navy’s Batch 1 OPVs on retirement.

The Royal Navy constantly reviews out-of-service dates to achieve maximum availability of its platforms for operational tasking. For operational security reasons, the Royal Navy does not release the out-of-service dates of individual platforms. The class out-of-service date for OPV Batch 1 is 2028. The Royal Navy continues to assess its future capability requirements in accordance with the Strategic Defence Review and the Defence Investment Plan.