Written questions by Cartlidge.

What is HMS Ansons' scheduled departure from Australia.

The Ministry of Defence does not comment on the tasks or plans for individual submarines for reasons of national security.

How many Sea Viper missiles his Department has ordered since 5 July 2024.

I am withholding this information for reasons of safeguarding operational security.

How many Lightweight Multirole Missiles his Department has ordered since 5 July 2024.

I am withholding this information for reasons of safeguarding operational security.

How many Land Ceptor missiles his Department has ordered since 5 July 2024.

I am withholding this information for reasons of safeguarding operational security.

Whether he has authorised the cancellation of around-the-clock staffing at HMNB Portsmouth.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my Rt hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard) to Question 118824.

How many times (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have visited Dhekelia Cantonment in Cyprus since 5 July 2024.

All Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly online within the Transparency Returns on GOV.UK.

How many times (a) he and (b) his Ministerial colleagues have visited Episkopi Cantonment in Cyprus since 5 July 2024.

All Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly online within the Transparency Returns on GOV.UK.

How many times (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have visited RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus since 5 July 2024.

All Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly online within the Transparency Returns on GOV.UK.

How many times (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have visited the UK sovereign base areas on Cyprus since 5 July 2024.

All Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly online within the Transparency Returns on GOV.UK.

If he will list the Royal Navy assets that will be sent to support the reopening of the strait of Hormuz.

We constantly review deployments of Royal Navy assets in line with securing the interests of the UK and our allies. We are continuing to work closely with our allies and partners in the region to mitigate threats to UK shipping. The Strait of Hormuz is a current issue and it would not be appropriate to specify details of any operational planning.

Whether the Royal Navy made a formal offer for the preposition of a Type 45 Destroyer between 1 January 2026 and 2 February 2026.

We constantly review deployments of Royal Navy assets in line with securing the interests of the UK and our allies. No formal offer was made by the Royal Navy to deploy a Type 45 Destroyer ahead of HMS Dragon’s deployment at the first available moment on 10 March 2026.

Whether he held any discussions with (a) officials from his Department or (b) his ministerial colleagues on the deployment of HMS Dragon before 3 March 2026.

As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on this and other topics, with both officials and Ministerial colleagues. HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on 10 March 2026 and for operational security reasons, we will not comment on the duration of her deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.

On what date did he first discuss the deployment of HMS Dragon to Cyprus.

As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on this and other topics, with both officials and Ministerial colleagues. HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on 10 March 2026 and for operational security reasons, we will not comment on the duration of her deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.

When the decision was made to deploy HMS Dragon to Cyprus.

As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on this and other topics, with both officials and Ministerial colleagues. HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on 10 March 2026 and for operational security reasons, we will not comment on the duration of her deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.

When HMS Dragon will be deployed to Cyprus.

As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on this and other topics, with both officials and Ministerial colleagues. HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on 10 March 2026 and for operational security reasons, we will not comment on the duration of her deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.

If he will state the length of HMS Dragon's deployment to Cyprus.

As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on this and other topics, with both officials and Ministerial colleagues. HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on 10 March 2026 and for operational security reasons, we will not comment on the duration of her deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.

Whether the Royal Navy's Proteus programme will receive funding allocated in the Defence Investment Plan.

Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on autonomy, will be prioritised appropriately against the assessed threat picture as part of the future Integrated Force and will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.

Whether around-the-clock staffing is in place at HMNB Portsmouth.

HM Naval Base Portsmouth operates on a continuous 24‑hour basis. Appropriate Duty Staff are in place at all times to maintain the safety, security, and operational availability of the site. He will recall from his time as a Defence Minister that for security reasons, the Ministry of Defence does not comment on specific staffing levels or detailed security arrangements at any defence establishment.

Whether DragonFire will be installed on HMS Dragon.

DragonFire is a cutting-edge Laser Directed Energy Weapon system that remains in its demonstration and evaluation phase. Under current plans, the DragonFire system will commence delivery in 2027.

Whether he plans to authorise any changes to the deployment of HMS Anson.

The Ministry of Defence does not comment on the tasks or plans for individual submarines for reasons of national security.