5 Dec 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedPursuant to his Answer of 26 July to Question 198 on Defence, what the cost to date of the Strategic Defence Review is (a) in total and (b) by category of allowance or expenditure.
ReplyOn 17 July 2024, the Prime Minister commissioned the Defence Secretary to oversee the Strategic Defence Review, which is headed by three external Reviewers, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, General Sir Richard Barrons and Dr Fiona Hill CMG. The Review is bei...
5 Dec 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat his Department’s policy is on reporting Unidentified Aerial Phenomena; and whether new material has been classified on the subject since the UK’s declassification programme.
ReplyWhilst we are aware of the differing approaches currently being undertaken by other countries and allies in the investigation of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) position on UAP remains unchanged, which is, that in over...
5 Dec 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 8456 on Strategic Defence Review, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the interpretation of recommendations relating to the use of artificial intel
ReplyAI tools have been used to help review and analyse the high volume of submissions received during the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) process, not to make recommendations. The SDR is being led by the Reviewers, and supported by a wider team of external exp...
5 Dec 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the scale of Other Ranks regularly declining use of official catering facilities on camp.
ReplyImplementation of the first stage of the Defence Catering Strategy began in May 2024 with new menus and a change to our charging approach. The Strategy also aims to improve the dining environment, to vary opening times to suit local needs, and to enhance ...
5 Dec 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 8456 on Strategic Defence Review, whether the artificial intelligence software being used to assess responses to the Strategic Defence Review was sourced from
ReplyThe Ministry of Defence is working with several technology providers in Defence's digital ecosystem to support the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). This allowed the team to leverage modern business practices and technologies to analyse a wide range of resp...
5 Dec 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedHow many net additional full time equivalent roles will be required to staff the Military Strategic Headquarters; and at what cost.
ReplyWhile the design, headcount and organisational structure of the future Military Strategic Head Quarters (MSHQ) is still in the development stage, it is expected that the establishment of the MSHQ will be cost neutral and contained within the overall Defen...
5 Dec 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on (a) transporting and (b) housing illegal migrants.
ReplyThe Ministry of Defence regularly liaises with the Home Office on a range of issues, but there are no plans for Defence to undertake actions in relation to migration in the UK currently outside the Afghan relocations work.
5 Dec 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhen the planners of the Strategic Defence Review were notified of the intention to retire (a) HMS Albion, (b) HMS Bulwark and (c) other assets.
ReplyThe decision to formally decommission HM Ships ALBION and BULWARK reflects the decision of the last Government. This has been in full consultation with the Service Chiefs and the SDR reviewers and neither ship could realistically be put to sea again ahead...
3 Dec 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat steps he is taking to improve engagement with UK (a) micro, (b) small and (c) medium-sized technology companies through traditional prime contractors.
ReplySmall and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) make a vital contribution to economic growth and are a valuable source of technical innovation in defence. This is recognised in the recently published Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, as well as the Dep...
3 Dec 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat steps he is taking to support the development of cyber capabilities within the defence sector through partnerships with UK (a) micro, (b) small and (c) medium-sized technology companies.
ReplyThe UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to working collaboratively with innovators in the technology sector to improve cyber capabilities across Defence. We recognise the valuable skills, technology, and pace of development in cyber, much of which i...
3 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, whether the Ministry of Defence wi
ReplyAs the Laboratory for AI Security Research is a cross-Government initiative, it will involve all relevant departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
3 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, what his planned timetable is for
ReplyThe Laboratory for AI Security Research began its work in September, bringing together government, industry and academia to agree joint research priorities and commission cutting-edge research to address the impact of AI on national security.
3 Dec 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat steps he is taking to collaborate with Israeli (a) hardware and (b) software technology companies in the defence sector; and what lessons he has learned from that collaboration..
ReplyThe UK collaborates with a range of international partners, including Israel, to develop cutting-edge capabilities to assure the British Armed Forces' continued strategic advantage. Ministry of Defence officials engage regularly with their international c...
3 Dec 2024·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedHow will industry investment play a role in the development of autonomous offensive and defensive cyber tooling for the purpose of (a) national security and (b) defence.
ReplyInvesting in cyber security is critical to all sectors of the UK economy, enabling long-term, secure and resilient growth. The UK is an attractive destination for cyber investors, owing to its collaborative environment, access to talent and skills, world-...
3 Dec 2024·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedHow collaboration with (a) Ukrainian and (b) Israeli (i) hardware and (ii) software technology companies in the defence sector is informing the Strategic Defence Review.
ReplyThe Strategic Defence Review is considering all aspects of Defence, involving, and receiving inputs from other Government Departments, industry and allies and partners. Throughout this process we have collaborated with a range of international counterpart...
3 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, which Department will have respons
ReplyThe Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) concept was developed jointly across HMG and is funded initially by the cross-Government Integrated Security Fund (ISF). LASR is an FCDO-led ISF programme co-designed and governed to inform the strategies and...
3 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, whether the Laboratory for AI Secu
ReplyAI security has clear implications for our national security. The programme to deliver the Laboratory for AI Security Research has only just started its work and will bring together government, academia and industry to share information and work together ...
3 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, where will the headquarters for th
ReplyHMG will lead the Laboratory for AI Security Research. Its research activities will be conducted across the UK and will include a range of UK universities, including the University of Oxford and Queen's University, Belfast.
3 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, how will the Laboratory for AI Sec
ReplyThe Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) was designed to build on the knowledge and experience of addressing cyber security and other national security activities across government, academia and industry. LASR is designed to complement or enhance ex...
3 Dec 2024·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, how will industry investment play
ReplyThe Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) is at an early stage. We will be working closely with industry and academia to define research priorities. Examples could include the role of AI security on our critical national infrastructure and how we can...