Written questions by Maguire.

Whether his Department's policy on the call-out time for reservists has changed in the last six months; and what the minimum notice period is before deployment.

In developing and maintaining our Reserves mobilisation policy, ensuring that the process is optimal for Defence, the Employer and the Reservist continue to be at the forefront of our thinking. The Ministry of Defence’s Reserves mobilisation policy has not changed over the last six months. While all Reservists are technically on immediate notice for call out, when circumstances permit, it is Defence policy that they, and their employers, will, wherever possible, be given a minimum of 28 days’ formal notice after receiving the call-out notice to report to a mobilisation centre for contingency operations and 90 days’ notice for pre-planned operations.

Whether his Department is conducting or plans to commission research into the long-term health impacts of explosive exposure for military personnel.

Ministry of Defence (MOD) officials reviewed with interest the recent British Journal of Urology International research letter on a potentially increased risk of bladder cancer in military personnel exposed to explosive ordnance. This is a complex scientific area, and the MOD has referred this matter to the Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG) for their independent medical advice. The possible link between exposure to explosives and an increased risk of bladder cancer among military personnel will be discussed by the IMEG at their June 2025 meeting.

What proportion of (a) Challenger 2, (b) Warrior, (c) Boxer and (d) protected patrol vehicles were (i) fit for service and (ii) not fit for service in each year since 2015.

We do not routinely disclose a breakdown of total capability fleets in the interests of security and operational effectiveness. However, the total fleet figures of Challenger 2, Warrior and Protected Mobility Vehicles since 2016 can be found in the annual UK Armed Forces Equipment and Formations statistics. This is accessible here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-armed-forces-equipment-and-formations.

What the average number of months are between a service person enlisting and leaving the (a) Navy, (b) RAF and (c) Army; what the 2015 average number of months was between a service person enlisting and leaving the (a) Navy, (b) RAF and (c) Army; and what the 2020 average number of months was between a service person enlisting and leaving the (a) Navy, (b) RAF and (c) Army.

It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Member's Question. I will write to her when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

Which recommendations of the Etherton Report have yet to be implemented; and what his planned timeline is for the implementation of those outstanding recommendations.

As of 1 April 2025, 42 of the 49 recommendations have been implemented, with work to implement the outstanding seven recommendations underway, demonstrating our commitment to supporting the LGBT veteran community. Of the seven remaining recommendations, two are for Defence and five are for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Defence officials are also supporting DHSC colleagues with progressing their five remaining recommendations (recommendations 31, 35, 36, 38 and 42). The two for Defence include recommendation 44 focusing on female veterans affected by the ban; this will be implemented as part of the new inclusive veterans’ strategy. Recommendation 17 to implement a dedicated memorial to LGBT personnel at the National Memorial Arboretum is expected to be unveiled before the end of 2025. Defence encourages those affected to apply for non-financial restorative measures and the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme by completing the application forms available at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/lgbt-veterans-support-and-next-steps.

What steps his Department has taken to protect British supply chains from Russian interference and sabotage.

We closely monitor the impact of global conflicts including the extent of Russian content in our critical programmes and the supply chains that support them, with the aim of identifying and managing emergent issues. The Department is actively engaged in a range of activity to de-risk critical defence supply chain vulnerabilities to enable us to make informed decisions around if and how to intervene. We work collaboratively with industry to mitigate risks via initiatives such as the recent joint Ministry of Defence (MOD)-industry wargaming event. The MOD also continues to work alongside the National Protective Security Authority and with allies to ensure our industry colleagues are aware of the threats posed by Russia, and the National Security and Investment Act 2021 is used to address national security risks posed by malign Russian ownership where appropriate.

How many incidents of Russian military activity in (a) the North Sea, (b) the English Channel, (c) the Irish Sea and (d) the North Atlantic his Department has recorded per month for the last 24 months.

The Royal Navy continuously monitors UK waters and stands ready to respond to the presence of Russian vessels. For reasons of national security, we cannot disclose the specific number of incidents of Russian military activity recorded during any given period.

With reference to the Professor Alice Sullivan's review entitled Independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender, published on 19 March 2025, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to establish a new non-departmental public body to (a) standardise and (b) improve the effectiveness of the work of the (i) Council of Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations and (b) the Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations.

The 2019 Review of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCAs) was published on 24 March 2020 and placed in the Library of the House. The Review recommended that the Council of Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (CRFCA) and the 13 RFCAs should be merged into a single Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), with a National Office and a set of regional organisations. The review can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-reserve-forces-cadets-associations-2019. The NDPB implementation work was paused in March 2023 due to it failing to obtain a legislative slot in the last Parliament, but this work has now re-commenced, and we are currently progressing work on the required legislation.

How many (a) type 23 Duke Class, (b) type 31 Inspiration Class and (c) type 26 City Class frigates the UK navy has; how many of each of those types are currently not fit for purpose; and for each frigate currently not fit for purpose, how many days each ship has been out of service.

The Royal Navy operates eight Type 23 Frigates, and as of 2 April 2025, six Type 23 frigates are at readiness and available for operations. Each ship follows a normal operating cycle, going through different readiness levels based on their schedules and maintenance. In addition to the eight operational Type 23 frigates, the Royal Navy has three that are in the process of being decommissioned. It has been 321 days since the decision to retire HMS Westminster and HMS Argyll, and 133 days for HMS Northumberland. The retirement announcements are part of the UK’s plan to modernise its surface fleet. The Royal Navy will replace the Type 23 Frigates with new Type 26 and Type 31 Frigates. All eightType 26 ships are scheduled to enter service between 2028 and 2035, with all five Type 31 ships expected to be operational by the early 2030s.

If his Department will undertake a review of intelligence-sharing structures with the US.

The US and the UK have the closest of relationships; our defence, security and intelligence are completely intertwined. No two countries are as close as our two countries, and at a time like this, it would be a mistake to suggest that any weakening of that link is the way forward for security and defence in Europe. As such, the Department has no plans to undertake a review of our intelligence sharing arrangements with the US.

What steps he is taking to increase awareness that military compensation should not be treated as income in means tests for statutory support.

The Ministry of Defence and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) collaborate closely to ensure the current practice of how their respective schemes and benefits work together, and any proposed changes, are communicated and considered. Advice is available on gov.uk for those seeking further guidance - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/veterans-uk-contact-us The DWP already applies different treatment for Armed Forces compensation payments across the benefit system in comparison to other groups. This reflects the nature of the payments to compensate those who have made significant sacrifices for our country. For example, Universal Credit fully disregards War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation payments. This means that payments under these Schemes do not impact the eligibility or amount of benefit to which individuals might be entitled. Other social security benefits may partially or fully disregard Armed Forces-related compensation payments. This will be dependent on the type of benefit being considered, as different benefits have different criteria.

What support his Department provides to (a) service personnel and their families and (b) people leaving the services to improve financial resilience.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) works in close partnership with several financial institutions including three not-for-profit Credit Unions which make up the MOD’s Joining Forces Credit Union initiative. Joining Forces Credit Union provides Service personnel, their partners, families, and dependants, with access face-to-face and online financial awareness briefings to help improve financial resilience with an emphasis on encouraging a savings culture and deterring the use of ‘pay day loan companies’. All Service leavers are entitled to support from the Career Transition Partnership (CTP). Service leavers are encouraged to attend The Financial Aspects of Resettlement (FAR) brief which is a single day course designed to help them access financial awareness and long-term planning information, tax, pensions, and benefits advice. There are 11 resettlement hubs around the UK, located in areas where the majority of Service personnel choose to settle.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of pension entitlements for Armed Forces reservists.

Reserves enable our Armed Forces to meet the threats we face at home and overseas, by providing the scale, skills, agility and connection to society needed, in a cost-effective way. Defence believes that the pension and salary offered to today’s Reservists represents fair and competitive remuneration. A pension has been part of the offer to all Reservists since 2015 who are enrolled in the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 (AFPS 15). This is the same scheme in which Regular members of the Armed Forces are enrolled. AFPS 15 is a non-contributory scheme and is calculated according to average earnings over a Service person’s career. All Armed Forces salaries up to 1* rank, including those for Reservists, are reviewed by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review body (AFPRB). On 29 July 2024, the Government accepted the AFPRB’s recommendations in full for the 2024/25 Pay Round, which was paid in September salaries, backdated to 1 April 2024. Most personnel up to and including 1* rank received an overall 6% increase. This was the largest headline percentage uplift in 22 years for our Armed Forces.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the salary level for Armed Forces reservists.

Reserves enable our Armed Forces to meet the threats we face at home and overseas, by providing the scale, skills, agility and connection to society needed, in a cost-effective way. Defence believes that the pension and salary offered to today’s Reservists represents fair and competitive remuneration. A pension has been part of the offer to all Reservists since 2015 who are enrolled in the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 (AFPS 15). This is the same scheme in which Regular members of the Armed Forces are enrolled. AFPS 15 is a non-contributory scheme and is calculated according to average earnings over a Service person’s career. All Armed Forces salaries up to 1* rank, including those for Reservists, are reviewed by the independent Armed Forces Pay Review body (AFPRB). On 29 July 2024, the Government accepted the AFPRB’s recommendations in full for the 2024/25 Pay Round, which was paid in September salaries, backdated to 1 April 2024. Most personnel up to and including 1* rank received an overall 6% increase. This was the largest headline percentage uplift in 22 years for our Armed Forces.

When his Department will publish the 2024 update to Parliament on the United Kingdom’s future nuclear deterrent.

The scheduled annual update to Parliament on the United Kingdom’s future nuclear deterrent is undergoing final clearance procedures and will be published in due course.

What safeguarding training is provided to new instructors at the Army Foundation College before working with recruits.

The following safeguarding training is provided to new instructors at the Army Foundation College (AFC) before working with recruits: · Permanent Staff Development Course Part 1. This is a Defence Learning Environment Course covering the Basic Care of Trainees which includes Level 1 Safeguarding Training. · Permanent Staff Development Course Part 2. This delivers the Advanced Care of Trainees (ACoT) course, a safeguarding brief at level 2 and a review of the Supervisory Care Directive. This training is contextualised for the under 18 audience at AFC. Instructors are not able to conduct duties until they have completed ACoT. · AFC(H) staff do refresher training prior to each new intake which includes training on safeguarding and the Supervisory Care Directive. · The Commanding Officer, Designated Safeguard Lead, Chief Instructor, All Training Company Officer's Commanding, Adjutant and Unit Welfare Officer will complete the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Designated Safeguard Lead course.

With reference to his Department's statistics entitled Murder, manslaughter and sexual offences in the Service Justice System: 2023, published on 28 March 2024, how many victims of sexual crimes under the age of 18 were based at the Army Foundation College.

I am sure you will understand that I am unable to release any details concerning alleged victims of sexual offences which could lead to their identification. This is because of statutory restrictions and also to ensure that victims of sexual offences are not deterred from coming forward.Therefore, in the interests of protecting the anonymity of the victims I will not be releasing information confirming whether or not any of the victims of sexual offences referred to in your question were based at the Army Foundation College at the time of the offence.I can however advise you that the published figures for victims of sexual offences aged under 18 are based on investigations opened (including referral and non-referral to the Service Prosecuting Authority), and not based on conviction.

With reference to the Answer of 9 May 2024 to Question 24728 on Army Foundation College: Sexual Offences, how many (a) perpetrators were involved and (b) of the victims were recruits for each category of offence listed.

Due to the small number of offences, victims and perpetrators, it would be inappropriate to release any further breakdown of the figures provided in Question 24728. I am sure you will understand that I am unable to release any details which could lead to the identification of victims of sexual offences. This is because of statutory restrictions and also to ensure that victims of sexual offences are not deterred from coming forward. Court Martial results are published online, including the Rank, charges outcome and sentence and unit at the time of Court Martial.

With reference to the Answer of 9 May 2024 to Question 24727 on Army Foundation College: Staff, how many Army Foundation College staff found to have started sexual relationships with recruits since 2014 were allowed to continue working there.

At the point of notification, the personnel were no longer working at the Army Foundation College. The cases subsequently went to Court Martial and the sentences all included Dismissal from HM Forces.

How many King’s Coronation Medals have been issued; what his planned timeline is for completing distribution to all eligible recipients; and what steps his Department is taking to help reduce delays in issuing the remaining medals.

As at 26 February 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Medal Office has despatched 144,155 medals to Service personnel, Veterans, Cadets, MOD civilian personnel and agency personnel sponsored by the MOD. The timeline for issuing the remainder of medals to eligible personnel is dependent on the confirmation from Veterans of their home address as once an individual leaves service, the efficacy of records significantly reduces. The MOD continues to explore methods of contacting those individuals who have left the Armed Forces since the 6 May 2023, as it is important to ensure that medals do not go astray by sending to unconfirmed addresses. Any veteran can apply for medals at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/apply-medal-or-veterans-badge/apply-for-a-medal.