Written questions by Maguire.

How many of his Department’s firearms were (a) lost and (b) stolen in each month in 2023.

The security of firearms is taken very seriously within the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and we have robust procedures in place to deter and prevent loss and theft. All losses and thefts of firearms and ammunition are fully and rigorously investigated.The below table details firearm losses and thefts from MOD Facilities in 2023 under the previous Government. This includes military establishments, ranges, training areas and on operations.2023DecemberGlock 19 Pistol1StolenAugustDeactivated WWI German Machine Gun1[1]LostJulySA80 Rifle1[2]LostJuneDeactivated WWII Luger Pistol1LostJuneDeactivated WWII Sten Gun SMG1Lost[1] Weapon subsequently found.[2] Weapon subsequently found.

How many incidents of (a) mould, (b) fire, and (c) flooding were recorded in military service personnel housing in each month in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

The number of reported incidents of damp and mould, fire, and flooding in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in each month in 2022 and 2023 is detailed in the tables below: Damp and Mould reported in SFA:2022Number of incidents2023Number of incidentsJan-22-Jan-231,204Feb-22-Feb-23592Mar-22-Mar-23534Apr-22176Apr-23341May-22326May-23325Jun-22268Jun-23192Jul-22225Jul-23199Aug-22207Aug-23201Sep-22215Sep-23199Oct-22389Oct-23408Nov-221157Nov-23575Dec-22817Dec-23455Total3,780Total5,225 Fire Incidents reported in SFA:2022Number of incidents2023Number of incidentsJan-22-Jan-232Feb-22-Feb-231Mar-22-Mar-230Apr-223Apr-232May-220May-230Jun-222Jun-233Jul-221Jul-232Aug-221Aug-231Sep-221Sep-230Oct-222Oct-232Nov-221Nov-230Dec-221Dec-232Total12Total15 The figures for fires in SFA, include smells of burning or a melted plug and the figures for flooding in Service Family Accommodation include incidents that occur inside the property and includes garages and outhouses. Flooding Incidents reported in SFA:2022Number of incidents2023Number of incidentsJan-22-Jan-2359Feb-22-Feb-2333Mar-22-Mar-2334Apr-229Apr-2316May-2214May-2318Jun-2218Jun-2321Jul-2220Jul-2318Aug-2212Aug-2325Sep-2225Sep-2318Oct-2210Oct-2329Nov-2225Nov-2317Dec-2281Dec-2330Total214Total318 The number of reported incidents of damp and mould, in Single Living Accommodation (SLA) in each month in 2022 and 2023 is detailed in the table below: Damp and Mould in SLA:2022Number of incidents2023Number of incidentsJan-22-Jan-23226Feb-22-Feb-23240Mar-22-Mar-23216Apr-2274Apr-23119May-22126May-23216Jun-22132Jun-23241Jul-22134Jul-23163Aug-2293Aug-23155Sep-2299Sep-23167Oct-22153Oct-23233Nov-22171Nov-23305Dec-22101Dec-23182Total1,083Total2,463 The number of reported incidents of fire and flood, in SLA can only be provided at a disproportionate cost. Data relating to incidents prior to April 2022 is not held as this predates the current Future Defence Infrastructure Services contracts. The figures for damp and mould include work orders raised and can include small amounts of mould where a bathroom has not been ventilated.

How many service personnel were referred to mental health services in 2023.

3,444 UK Armed Forces personnel had an initial assessment at a Ministry of Defence Department of Community Mental Health centre between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023.

How many of his Department's (a) computers, (b) laptops, (c) phones and (d) USB sticks were (i) lost and (ii) stolen in each month in 2023.

The table below shows the number of computers, laptops, phones and USB sticks which were either lost or stolen in each month in 2023.DateComputersLaptopsUSBsPhonesJan-2301329Feb-2301003Mar-23038210Apr-2301003May-230828Jun-23010112Jul-230968Aug-2305139Sep-230738Oct-230819Nov-2309011Dec-2303011We take the security of defence assets very seriously and have robust policies and procedures to prevent losses and thefts. Defence personnel are regularly reminded of their responsibilities to safeguard Defence assets.Proportionate security controls are used to protect electronic devices according to the classification and nature of the information which the asset can hold.

What funds the Government has committed to veterans charities in each of the last two years; and how much each such charity has received.

The information is not held in the format requested. Information held by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not differentiate between veterans’ charities; charities that generally support the Armed Forces community including veterans; and charities that have a wider remit but include support to veterans. For the MOD, the majority of grant programmes supporting veterans are administered via the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (AFCFT), and are listed on their website: https://covenantfund.org.uk During financial year (FY) 2022-23 the AFCFT awarded 134 grants, totalling just over £7 million to 112 different not-for-profit organisations towards projects to support veterans. During FY 2023-24 the AFCFT awarded 180 grants, totalling £23.8 million to 122 different organisations. In addition, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA), now part of the MOD, has also funded grant programmes to support veterans, some of which were awarded to charities. For OVA grants administered by the AFCFT, a total of £12 million has been allocated to the following programmes in FYs 2022-23 and 2023-24, some of which were awarded to charities: Veterans’ Capital Housing FundReducing Veteran Homelessness ProgrammeVeterans’ Employment Enhancement ProgrammeVeterans’ Mobility FundLGBT Support Fund In addition, during FY 2022-23 and 2023-24 the OVA has directly administered grants to veterans’ charities as detailed in the table below. CharityFY 2022-23FY 2023-24Blesma£50,000£150,000Bravo Victor£40,310£178,255Combat Stress-£65,000Dame Kelly Holmes Trust-£500Defence Medical Welfare Service£34,801£304,204Fighting with Pride£15,000£1,500Forward Assist£40,000£76,500LGBT Foundation£10,210£1,500Nuclear Community Charity Fund-£35,000Royal British Legion£250,000-Total£440,321£812,459

If he will make an estimate of the proportionate change in (a) spending on service personnel in (i) real and (ii) cash terms and (b) the number of frontline service personnel in each financial year between 2015-16 and 2024-25.

The information you have requested is set out in the table below. The figures for financial year 2024-25 will be available once the accounts have been closed and audited. All personnel numbers are as at 1 April of the relevant financial year. Financial Year2015-162016-172017-182018-192019-202020-212021-222022-232023-24Spend on Service Personnel in Cash Terms (£million)9,3199,6239,6849,78510,69111,26911,18411,44911,954Spend on Service Personnel in Real Terms (£million at Constant 2023-24 prices)12,05012,16912,05611,93112,73412,73812,71612,15111,954Total UK Regular Forces153,724150,996149,366146,556144,428145,317149,280147,978142,556of which Royal Navy and Royal Marines32,73932,50232,54432,48332,53732,75533,84833,92932,840of which Army87,05885,03883,56181,11679,02979,62482,23180,73077,536of which Royal Air Force33,92733,45633,26132,95732,86232,93833,20133,31932,180

In which constituencies are each (a) base, (b) garrison and (c) barracks located for each of the armed forces in (i) England, (ii) Wales, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland; and which of those bases are designated for use by (A) NATO and (B) US visiting forces.

The information required to answer the hon. Member’s question is not held centrally. Officials are working to produce a consolidated response. I will write to her by late December 2024, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

If he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of NATO's readiness, in the context of potential changes in policy from the incoming United States administration.

NATO is the world’s most successful alliance. It represents 50 per cent of the world’s military capability, with 500,000 troops now on high readiness As NATO allies, the UK-US special relationship is built on a foundation of our deep security partnership and unique historical ties. We look forward to working closely with the new US administration to ensure the Alliance will continue to support the security of the Euro-Atlantic.

If his Department will make an estimate of planned defence spending in the next two years as a share of GDP using NATO's definition of defence expenditure.

Based on the OBR's latest GDP projections, defence spending is currently expected to be 2.29% of GDP in financial year (FY) 2024-25 and 2.30% in 2025-26. Future FYs' figures are subject to the outcome of the second phase of the Spending Review.