Written questions by Johnson.

What proportion of (a) named day questions and (b) ordinary written questions were responded to by his Department within the required timescale in (i) May 2025, (ii) June 2025, (iii) July 2025, (iv) August 2025, (v) September 2025, (vi) October 2025 and (vii) November 2025.

The Government recognises the importance of the effective and timely handling of written parliamentary questions (WPQs).The following table provides the proportion of (a) named day and (b) ordinary written parliamentary questions answered with the required timescales for the months requested.2025Named DayOrdinary WrittenMay72%91%June79%94%July89%95%August--September83%82%October99%94%November72%90%Notes on the data:Data based on the date a WPQ was due for answer.Named Day WPQs are due for answer on a specified date. Ordinary WPQs should be answered within five working days of the question being tabled.No questions were answered in August due to summer recess.The House of Commons Procedure Committee monitors Departmental PQ performance and publishes a report of the Government’s consolidated PQ data following the end of each session.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 58044 on Strategic Defence Review and with reference to the freedom of information request FOI2025/17106, which trade unions were offered access to the Strategic Defence Review before 5.00pm on 2 June 2025.

As stated in the response to FOI2025/17106 in the FOI response that the hon. Member has already received, engagement with key stakeholders ahead of any major publications, such as the Strategic Defence Review, is entirely appropriate given the impact such publications can have. The Review as published was intended for a public audience and does not contain any classified or restricted commercial information. Trade Unions did not see the Review prior to publication.

If he will place in the Library his Department's response to the freedom of information request, reference FOI2025/17106.

I can confirm I am content to place a copy of my response in the library of the House.

When he plans to provide an answer to the freedom of information request with reference FOI2025/17106.

I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this freedom of information request. A response will be issued shortly.

What steps he is taking to ensure that single sex (a) living accommodation, (b) bathroom and (c) changing facilities for service personnel are compliant with the law.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) welcomes the Supreme Court's ruling and the clarity that it brings for women and service providers. The MOD is undertaking a review of its internal policies to ensure compliance with the ruling; this includes living accommodation, ablutions, changing facilities, and single-sex spaces. We will be guided by the revised Equality and Human Rights Commission Code of Practice when it becomes available.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 58044 on Strategic Defence Review, which Parliamentarians who are not members of the Government were (a) offered and (b) took up the offer of access to the Strategic Defence Review before 5pm on 2 June 2025.

For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews. At no point did stakeholders receive any commercially sensitive information ahead of publication.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56305 on Strategic Defence Review, which think tanks were (a) offered and (b) took up the offer of access to the Strategic Defence Review before 5pm on 2nd June 2025.

For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews. At no point did stakeholders receive any commercially sensitive information ahead of publication.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 56305 on the Strategic Defence Review, if he will provide the names of the (a) industry, (b) media, (c) trade associations and (d) think tanks who were offered access to the Strategic Defence Review before 5pm on 2 June 2025.

For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 56305 on the Strategic Defence Review, if he will publish the names of people offered access to the Strategic Defence Review before 5pm on 2 June 2025; and when that access was for each person.

For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.

How many UK armed forces personnel are categorised as NATO dental fitness Category (a) 2 and (b) 3 on the basis that they need dental care or treatment to achieve optimal dental fitness.

As at 1 April 2025 (latest available data) 21,461 Armed Forces personnel were categorised as NATO Category 2. As at 1 April 2025 13,742, were categorised as NATO Category 3, meaning that they require either preventative or interventive treatment to achieve optimal dental fitness. A further 20,870 UK Armed Forces personnel were categorised as NATO Category 4, meaning that they require a periodic dental examination, have an undetermined dental status, or have missing or incomplete dental records.

How many military personnel are waiting for dental treatment as of 3 June 2025.

As at 1 April 2025 (latest available data) 21,461 Armed Forces personnel were categorised as NATO Category 2. As at 1 April 2025 13,742, were categorised as NATO Category 3, meaning that they require either preventative or interventive treatment to achieve optimal dental fitness. A further 20,870 UK Armed Forces personnel were categorised as NATO Category 4, meaning that they require a periodic dental examination, have an undetermined dental status, or have missing or incomplete dental records.

How many full time equivalent dentists are employed by (a) his Department, (b) the armed forces, (c) the Royal Air Force, (d) the British Army and (e) the Royal Navy.

I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Which (a) industry bodies, (b) defence industry companies, (c) media organisations and (d) other non-Government bodies or people were given access to the Strategic Defence Review 2025 ahead of its publication; and at what times.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was published on 2 June 2025, setting Defence's strategic direction for the next decade. Before the Secretary of State made his Statement in the House of Commons at 1700, the Ministry of Defence organised for selected stakeholders (industry, media, trade associations and think tanks) to read the SDR under strict embargo, with an official present. This was designed to inform key stakeholders.

If he will make it his policy to (a) maintain and (b) expand the Greater Lincolnshire Defence and Security Cluster.

This Government recognises the invaluable role Regional Defence and Security Clusters (RDSC) have played in the sector since the first such Cluster was instituted in 2020. Their success in bolstering collaboration between regional industry, academia, local Government and the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and in connecting non-traditional SMEs to the Defence Supply Chain, has been reflected in the sustained expansion of the RDSC network. We welcome today’s launch of its latest member- East RDSC. A key priority for the forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy is to use Defence procurement and investment to actively generate wealth, boost export potential and create high quality jobs across all the nations and regions of the UK. RDSCs are vital partners in this endeavour and the MOD will be providing further support to them in due course, including via the recently-announced UK Defence Innovation and SME Support Centre.

How many and what proportion of items of correspondence from Parliamentarians received by (a) his Department, (b) him and (c) his Ministers in each month since August 2024 have not yet received a substantive response.

We are committed to ensuring Government responses to correspondence are timely, accurate, and high quality. All correspondence from Parliamentarians to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is processed centrally. Whether an individual item of correspondence was originally received by an individual Minister is not recorded. The number of items of correspondence received each month and the number and proportion awaiting a response as at 6 February 2025 are as follows. Date ReceivedNumber ReceivedNumber Awaiting ResponseProportion Awaiting ResponseAugust 202420421%September 202422931%October 202431162%November 2024300114%December 2024258166%January 202530120267%February 2025292897% For the small proportion of correspondence which are late, these often pertain to complex cases, and MOD has the processes in place to ensure these will be answered as soon as possible.

Pursuant to the Answers of 4 and 11 November to Questions 11939 and 12740 on Ministry of Defence: Employers' Contributions, what estimate he has made of the indirect costs to his Department following the proposed increase in employer national insurance contributions on suppliers and contractors that support his Department.

As individual suppliers and contractors will manage the increase differently, it is not possible for the Department to estimate the indirect costs relating to the change in Employer National Insurance Contributions.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2024 to Question 11939 on Ministry of Defence: Employers' Contributions, whether the £216 million figure given is the (a) direct cost of his Department’s Ministry of Defence: Employers' Contributions national insurance contribution, (b) indirect cost to his department of higher contributions by suppliers and contractors and (c) total of direct and indirect costs.

The £216 million Employers' National Insurance cost provided in the previous answer is the estimated direct cost to the Department.

What estimate he has made of the increase in (a) direct and (b) indirect costs to his Department of the 1.2% rise in employer national insurance contributions announced in the budget.

The changes to employer national insurance contributions from April are expected to increase Departmental costs c.£216million in financial year 2025-26. The Chancellor has agreed to provide funding to the public sector to support with the cost of employer national insurance contributions, which will be confirmed at a future date.