Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What progress his Department has made on developing an open-architecture app based combat management system interoperable across (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy, (c) the RAF and (d) UK Space Command.

There are several initiatives across Defence that relate to the development of Combat Management System (CMS). Examples of these initiatives are in ASGARD (Army), NEXUS (RAF) and the Digital Targeting Web (DTW - CSOC), though it is worth noting that each has developed and experimented with capabilities that fit specific uses cases that may not be aligned. Defence Digital have had stakeholder input in several of these but have not been solely responsible for any singular app development. Defence Digital is however, responsible for the Digital Backbone, accelerating military and business capabilities, delivering a resilient, multi-classification foundation of seamlessly integrated capabilities. It encourages reusability and enables easy access to data, all of which are managed, supported and battle ready. The mandating of architecture standards to industry and developers across Defence through digital.mod.uk ensures that any apps and services that are leveraged by the Digital Backbone can be integrated and interoperable across those that consume Backbone services.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what funding he has provided to the Cambridge x Manchester Innovation partnership.

Through Research England, we are providing almost £4.8 million over three years to support the Cambridge x Manchester Innovation Partnership. This exciting initiative brings together the Universities of Cambridge and Manchester, alongside local authorities and businesses, to strengthen relations within and between these regions’ innovation ecosystems.The partnership will pilot new approaches to place-to-place collaboration between ecosystems. This will share best practice, support start-ups and scale-ups to deliver jobs and opportunities, and stimulate investment into research and development, contributing directly to the delivery of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

What progress the Royal Navy has made on Sea Viper Evolution.

Both Sea Viper Evolution Programmes continue to make progress. Capability One, the Royal Navy’s entry level Ballistic Missile Defence Capability, is expected to provide an initial capability from 2027. Capability Two, providing theatre level Ballistic Missile Defence, remains in the Assessment phase to inform future capability and investment choices.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69521 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what will be the distribution of the 93 Ares vehicles across units.

The 93 ARES platforms will be distributed in line with the Army’s fielding plan and Defence priorities.

What funding his Department provides to BAE Systems' Falconworks programme.

The information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Our Commercial contract accounting tools only detail the BAE Systems operating company names in the contract reporting. It does not include any details of internal business structures, like the Falconworks team, within those operating companies.

How many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

Data is published on the average working days lost for the central Department on an annual basis for each financial year. Information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence with figures back to 1999.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the United States Navy’s Modular Autonomous Surface Craft programme on future (a) Royal Navy fleet operations and (b) US Navy interoperability.

The Royal Navy is working at pace to understand the implications of the Modular Autonomous Surface Craft programme. The developing plan indicates that the Future Navy will require a mixed force of crewed and uncrewed vessels, and distributed commando teams, each carrying modular, reconfigurable technology to defeat threats above, on, and beneath the waves and ashore.The Royal Navy and US Navy have a close working relationship within the 'Delivering Combined Seapower' framework and these close links ensure that both forces continue to progress their improved interoperability. Our combined work on NATO capability initiatives likewise ensures future interoperability with other Allied Navies.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what recent progress has he made in establishing a high-calibre concierge service in the office for investment.

The enhanced Office for Investment (OfI) is working to deliver high calibre concierge support via increased senior-level investment expertise, strengthened partnerships with regional and national leaders, and specific tools to generate investor-led opportunities. The OfI is already helping government to provide a pipeline of opportunities designed with investors in mind, promoted effectively, and delivered with insight from sector experts and triage support for key investor barriers. This includes responsibility for delivering the £600m Strategic Sites Accelerator programme, as outlined in the Industrial Strategy. This comprehensive approach will ensure strategic investment projects are supported while providing critical decision-escalation pathways across government.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, how much of the £500 million Local Innovation Partnerships Fund will be spent in Huntingdon constituency.

The Local Innovation Partnerships Fund will invest up to £500 million in growing high-potential innovation clusters across the UK. Ten regions have been earmarked to receive at least £30 million each, with other parts of the UK – including Huntingdon – able to bid for support. The application window will open shortly and UKRI has published initial guidance to help prospective applicants.The fund complements UKRI’s wider investment in R&D, and in 2023-24 UKRI invested £756 million in East Anglia. This included grants to Huntingdon businesses like BG Research, which is exploring in-field detection of veterinary pathogens to advance farming innovation.

What assessment she has made of what the pull-factors are that are encouraging illegal immigration to the UK.

There is no single, universal ‘pull’ factor independently driving irregular migration to the UK. In many cases, asylum seekers are directed or even coerced by organised criminal networks.The Government’s Plan for Change sets out our ambition to secure borders and control immigration. We are committed to tackling illegal migration and the criminal networks behind it. We have launched campaigns directed at misinformation on pull factors and are taking tougher action on illegal working, with major increases in enforcement visits and arrests. We are continuing work to streamline and improve the asylum system so that it deals with cases more quickly and better enables us to remove failed asylum seekers - we intend to announce further reforms to the asylum system later this year.

How many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

Information on sickness absence is published annually as part of the Civil Service Sickness Absence report.Data has been published up to the end of the 2023/24 financial year and is available on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-sickness-absence-2024/civil-service-sickness-absence-2024-report.Data for subsequent years, including those spanning the periods requested are due for publication, from early 2026 and annually following that.

How many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

Between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, a total of 360,823 working days were lost to sickness absence across the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) civilian workforce, an average of 6.65 days per employee. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA)’s data is collected separately. For the RFA in this period, a total of 18,338.5 24-hour days were lost to sickness absence, an average of 11 days per employee. MOD civil servant sickness absence statistics are published by the Cabinet Office on an annual basis at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence

Innovation and Technology, how many of the Government’s new AI Growth Zones are in (a) Cambridgeshire and (b) the Huntingdon constituency.

The formal application process for AI Growth Zones opened in April 2025. We will be communicating to all formal applicants the outcome of their application shortly and we will move selected sites forward as soon as they are ready. This approach ensures critical AI infrastructure can be delivered quickly to support the UK’s AI ecosystem, enabling development and deployment across sectors while delivering economic benefits across all parts of the country.

Whether any defence operational developments are eligible for fast-track planning as nationally important Crown Developments in Huntingdon constituency.

There are currently two projects potentially eligible for fast-track planning as nationally important Crown Developments in Huntingdon constituency.

What the scope is of Project TELUM.

Project TELUM aims to deliver the successor capability to the services currently provided under the Light Aircraft Flying Task 2 (LAFT2) contract, which is set to expire in March 2030. The LAFT2 contract supports a range of services and flying tasks for Air Cadets, University Air Squadrons, the Royal Navy, the Army, and ad hoc flying training requirements, all of which will be addressed by Project TELUM.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69515 on Typhoon Aircraft: Decommissioning, what roles the four Tranche 1 Typhoons are conducting.

1435 Flight flies the four Tranche 1 Typhoon FGR4 at Mount Pleasant complex. The unit provides air defence and Quick Reaction Alert in the South Atlantic Islands.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on re-establishing a nuclear fuel cycle for defence reactor fuel.

The Nuclear Fuels programme is in its early development phase and we are currently working with industry to develop options for its delivery. These options will inform the timescales for completion.

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 days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

HM Treasury complies with the Cabinet Office’s sickness absence collection quarterly process. All submissions of details relating to his question can be found through this cross-government designed process.

What recent progress she has made in establishing the jobs and careers service.

We are reforming Jobcentre Plus and creating a new service across Great Britain that will enable everyone to access support to find good, meaningful work, and support to help them to progress in work, including through an enhanced focus on skills and careers. We are taking a test and learn approach to developing the new service including incorporating the learnings from other tests and trials underway. We will continue our work with local government, including Strategic Authorities, and Devolved Governments as we design, test, and trial the service. Earlier this year we launched our first Jobs and Careers Service Pathfinder based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The Pathfinder is our first step in testing elements of the new service based on the 5 pillars set out within the Get Britain Working White Paper that underpin the delivery of the new Jobs and Careers Service. It will also look at how the new service can integrate with other local services. This will support us to develop a new service that is locally tailored and embedded, designed to meet the different needs of local labour markets, local people and local employers. Further Pathfinders, including ones that are focused on support for young people and those with health conditions, will be launched this year. We have also started testing a new Get Britain Working Coaching Academy. Once in place, this will offer further training for a range of our colleagues to deliver high-quality coaching conversations for customers, focused on goal setting and action planning, as part of our commitment to enhancing the way we interact with people. We currently have two large scale trials in progress testing changes to how we currently operate. The first, to test providing support for people by telephone and video as well as face to face appointments. The second, to test whether meeting unemployed people less frequently in a Jobcentre would have an impact on their work outcomes and whether this approach is more beneficial for particular groups. We will incorporate learnings from these and other tests and trials to inform the design of the new service and how the new service could operate differently.