Written questions by Cartlidge.

Whether a programme similar to the Army Officer Internship scheme exists in the Royal Marines.

Neither the Royal Navy (RN) nor Royal Marines (RM) currently offer an Officer Internship scheme similar to the Army. However, the RN does offer several different schemes such as A-Level Scholarships, Accelerated Apprenticeship Schemes, Defence Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Undergraduate Schemes and Cadetship Entry. All of these give generous annual bursary payments and the opportunity to complete Naval Service training every year alongside their studies.

How many people have subsequently joined the Army Reserve after completing the (a) Gap Year Commission or (b) Army Officer Internship since 2015.

This information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as practical and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Whether the Army Officer Internship has replaced the Gap Year Commission.

Since 2021, the Gap Year Commission has been integrated into the Army Internship Programme, which has provided individuals with the opportunity to experience a challenging and rewarding year with the Army in the role of an Army Officer for 12 months before, during or after University. The Army offers up to 30 places per year on the Internship programme. 52 different opportunities are provided to allow applicants their choice of role. Whilst we do not hold data for the entire period requested, below are the number of completions for each academic year since 2017-18. Courses start in September and conclude the following year. YearInternship completions2017-2018112018-2019142019-2020142020-2021162021-2022102022-2023102023-202411 There are currently fewer than 10 active Service personnel enrolled on an internship for the 2024-25 scheme. Those awarded an internship are paid a spot rate at Pre-Career officer rates and are non-pensionable. These rates are reviewed annually on the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. Internship officers are also provided with an accommodation solution in accordance with Joint Service Policy. Furthermore, any internship officers who become ill or are injured are eligible to receive benefits from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. There have been no recent discussions or proposed changes to the Internship scheme.

Whether he plans to expedite the publication of the Strategic Defence Review in the context of proposals to send a British peacekeeping force to Ukraine.

As the Prime Minister reported in his Statement on Defence and Security in the House of Commons, the Strategic Defence Review is advanced, and he will lay it in Parliament as soon as he can. The Report, which will be published in the Spring, will help set the path for Britain’s defence for the next decade.

With reference to the oral Answer to the hon. Member for Dumfries and Galloway of 24 March 2025, Official Report, Column 632, if he will list all British candidates he has met with regarding a Jet Trainer replacement since 5th July 2024.

Ministers and officials from the Ministry of Defence regularly meet for routine discussions with a range of defence sector aerospace companies, including those who produce jet trainer aircraft. The UK’s Hawk T1 aircraft is scheduled to remain in service until 2030 and the Hawk T2 aircraft out-of-service date is in 2040. A decision on the production, sustainment and replacement of the aircraft will not be taken until after the Strategic Defence Review is completed.

With reference to the oral Answer to the hon. Member for Dumfries and Galloway of 24 March 2025, Official Report, Column 632, if he will list all the candidates he has met with regarding a Jet Trainer replacement from the (a) United Kingdom, (b) United States and (c) any other nation since 5 July 2024.

Ministers and officials from the Ministry of Defence regularly meet for routine discussions with a range of defence sector aerospace companies, including those who produce jet trainer aircraft. The UK’s Hawk T1 aircraft is scheduled to remain in service until 2030 and the Hawk T2 aircraft out-of-service date is in 2040. A decision on the production, sustainment and replacement of the aircraft will not be taken until after the Strategic Defence Review is completed.

If he will launch an investigation into the potential medical impact of work in the bomb disposal portfolio on service personnel.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the health and safety of our people and we have robust policies and processes in place to ensure Defence activities are conducted in a safe manner. We will keep the evidence base for associations between military occupational exposures and bladder cancers under review, consulting with independent external medical experts as required to determine if there are any risks to Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Ammunitions personnel which need to be addressed. All activities across Defence, including bomb disposal, must be conducted within the elements of a Safe System of Work (SSW). A SSW is a method of work which puts in place control measures arising from a risk assessment, in order to manage identified hazards. In accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, the MOD ensures it supplies its people with suitable PPE, and training, to ensure they are protected against risks to their health and safety for the activity they are undertaking. Additionally, Defence ensures it has procedures in place for the testing, inspection, maintenance and storage of PPE. For bomb disposal, Defence has the UK’s in-house experts in chemical, biological, and radiological threats. These experts are employed in the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories (DSTL) which provide constant operational support and advice to the bomb disposal community and wider Defence. When faced with unknown substances, new threats or known contamination, DSTL are there to provide expert guidance and advice.

What the annual cost to the public purse is of substitute service single accommodation broken down by region.

The information is not held in the format requested. The total number of Substitute Service Single Accommodation is not held by region.

How many Substitute Service Single Accommodation properties are in use.

As at 25 March 2025, 4,551 Service personnel live in Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA). This figure is based on Regular and Reserve Personnel. 2,792 properties are used as SSSA to house Service personnel.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of his Department’s stockpile levels in the context of proposals to send a British peacekeeping force to Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence remains fully engaged with industry, allies and partners to ensure that stockpile levels are sufficient to support current and future operations. Defence stockpile levels are classified and therefore any further commentary would be inappropriate.

How many service personnel live in Substitute Service Single Accommodation as of 25 March 2025.

As at 25 March 2025, 4,551 Service personnel live in Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA). This figure is based on Regular and Reserve Personnel. 2,792 properties are used as SSSA to house Service personnel.

What the annual cost to the public purse is of substitute service single accommodation.

The total cost to the public purse for Substitute Single Service Accommodation for Financial Year 2024-25 is £75,240,044. This figure includes rent, monthly service fees and utilities costs. However, utilities data for March 2025 is not yet available.

What steps his Department is taking to help prevent service personnel working in the bomb disposal portfolio from contracting medical diseases.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the health and safety of our people and we have robust policies and processes in place to ensure Defence activities are conducted in a safe manner. We will keep the evidence base for associations between military occupational exposures and bladder cancers under review, consulting with independent external medical experts as required to determine if there are any risks to Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Ammunitions personnel which need to be addressed. All activities across Defence, including bomb disposal, must be conducted within the elements of a Safe System of Work (SSW). A SSW is a method of work which puts in place control measures arising from a risk assessment, in order to manage identified hazards. In accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, the MOD ensures it supplies its people with suitable PPE, and training, to ensure they are protected against risks to their health and safety for the activity they are undertaking. Additionally, Defence ensures it has procedures in place for the testing, inspection, maintenance and storage of PPE. For bomb disposal, Defence has the UK’s in-house experts in chemical, biological, and radiological threats. These experts are employed in the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories (DSTL) which provide constant operational support and advice to the bomb disposal community and wider Defence. When faced with unknown substances, new threats or known contamination, DSTL are there to provide expert guidance and advice.

What discussions he has has with his US counterpart on a security guarantee in the event of a UK peacekeeping or reassurance force in Ukraine.

The Defence Secretary regularly speaks with his US and international counterparts, including on our collective support to Ukraine’s armed forces. The UK, along with a number of allies and partners, held further discussions this week at the Permanent Joint Headquarters to consider in detail how best to ensure Ukraine can defend itself from future Russian aggression. We will continue to keep the US informed on that planning process.

What the entitlement requirements for an application to live in Substitute Service Single Accommodation.

Individuals are permitted to occupy Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA) up to two working days prior to the date of posting to a new place of duty subject to the following criteria: a. Single Living Accommodation (SLA) is not available (at the time of requirement) up to 45 minutes travelling time by public transport (or up to a 10 miles radius when there is no viable public transport at the discretion of the Local Service Commander) of the duty station (60 mins for London only). b. They should expect to occupy SSSA for a minimum of six months and spend not less than four nights each week in the accommodation. c. They are single or Serving unaccompanied; they must either be separated from their family who are residing in Service Family Accommodation (SFA), Substitute Service Family Accommodation (SSFA) or their own property which is more than 50 miles or 1½ hours travelling time (by public transport) from their duty station. If the Commanding Officer considers that due to exceptional circumstances these limits should be reduced, a case is to be submitted through the chain of command to the Ministry of Defence Project Manager. Where the Service Person’s (SP) family occupy surplus SFA and the SP is Serving unaccompanied at the duty station, and Notice to Quit has been served, the SP will be required to Serve accompanied. d. Where both spouse/civil partner are Serving members of the Armed Forces and are Serving unaccompanied at different duty stations, where no SLA exists both have an entitlement to SSSA; they are awaiting allocation of SFA, where no SLA exists providing the waiting period is likely to exceed six months. However, entitlement to SSSA will cease when individuals are allocated SFA at the permanent duty station. e. They are awaiting allocation of SFA, where no SLA exists providing the waiting period is likely to exceed six months. However, entitlement to SSSA will cease when individuals are allocated SFA at the permanent duty station. The full entitlement requirements for Substitute Service Single Accommodation are set out in Joint Service Publication 464 (Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations), Volume 2, Part 1, Chapter 8, Para 8.200; and Annex A to Section 2, Chapter 8 sets out the levels of accommodation entitlement, which differs depending on rank. This information can be found at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-464-tri-service-accommodation-regulations-tsars

Whether his Department has had discussions on the rules of engagement for a potential UK peacekeeping or reassurance force in Ukraine.

The UK is playing a leading role in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine. Operational planning continues but it is long-standing Government policy not to comment on Rules of Engagement. The only person who would benefit from that is Putin.

Whether a UK peacekeeping or reassurance force in Ukraine would in principle cover (a) land, (b) sea, (c) air, (d) space and (e) cyber domains.

The Prime Minister has been clear that we must all come together to support Ukraine to remain in the fight and back US efforts to make real progress to ensure Ukraine can defend itself from future Russian aggression. Planning so far has looked across the full range of European military capabilities including aircraft, tanks, troops, intelligence and logistics capabilities – and discussions have centred on how European nations can contribute their own capabilities to support any future force. Discussions continue around military planning of air, sea and land forces that would be required to support a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

If he will list the other countries in the coalition of the willing that have committed in principle to deploy troops to Ukraine in a peacekeeping or reassurance capacity.

With France, the UK is leading plans to put together a Coalition of the Willing. 31 nations joined a planning meeting last week at the Permanent Joint Headquarters, with over 200 military planners convening this week for further meetings focused on how we keep the skies, the seas and the border safe, looking across the full range of European military capabilities including aircraft, tanks, troops, intelligence and logistics.We can not provide a list of the countries that have committed in principle to deploy troops to Ukraine. That is a matter for those countries to provide details on.

Whether he plans to order additional A400M aircraft this Parliament.

All capability requirements, including those for tactical airlift, are being considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review process.

If he will publish minutes of his meeting with military chiefs and the Prime Minister at Permanent Joint Headquarters on 20 March 2025.

I recognise the importance of this Government's commitment to being open and transparent. However, as a former Defence Minister I hope that the hon. Gentleman will recognise that on this occasion the importance of national security outweighs this interest to ensure the safety of the UK and its citizens remains upheld.