Written questions by Cartlidge.

What recent progress he has made on Project CABOT.

Project CABOT is the Royal Navy’s plan to develop remotely operated and autonomous Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities, aiming for a “Digitalisation of the North Atlantic”. Project CABOT was launched on 5 of March 2025, and the Royal Navy is now working with industry, academia, allies and Defence partners to seek out potential technologies that could provide a suitable capability. Scaling of any capability identified under Project CABOT is dependent on the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review.

Whether he has placed orders for M500 remote operated vehicles for the Royal Navy.

The Royal Navy (RN) purchased one M500 Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to support the initial capability investigation into autonomous mine hunting concepts leading into Project WILTON in 2015. WILTON informed the capability requirements for the RN's transformation of Mine Countermeasures, under the Mine Hunting Concept (MHC); the first elements of MHC will enter service this year.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2025 to Question 34904 on Defence: Procurement, whether the target for direct SME spending will be published separately to the Strategic Defence Review.

The Ministry of Defence is required, along with all other Government Departments, to agree and publish a target for direct spend with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by June 2025. The Department is committed to publishing a stretching but achievable target to meet this requirement. Work on the SME direct spend target is being undertaken separately but in parallel with development of other departmental publications and the spending review.

What his target date is for the completion of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s Year 3 review.

Work on a new Military Housing Strategy has begun, with plans for publication in Summer 2025. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) Year three Review of the Future Defence Infrastructure Service Accommodation Contracts has started and is on target to complete by Summer 2025. The target date for the launch of the Defence Homes Website is Spring 2025. The Home Hub Portal will be launched this Spring to a closed user group of 200/300 families. The launch date of a Home Hub Portal with Full Operating Capability to all families will follow at the end of the year, once actions following the closed user group testing have been completed.

How many Joint Office Areas are operational in the United Kingdom.

Currently, 15 Joint Office Areas are operational in the United Kingdom. The Ministry of Defence continues to review the number to ensure we best support the families we serve. Currently, there are 120 Housing Officers and 16 Senior Housing Officers employed by Pinnacle on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

What his target date is for the launch of the Defence Homes website.

Work on a new Military Housing Strategy has begun, with plans for publication in Summer 2025. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) Year three Review of the Future Defence Infrastructure Service Accommodation Contracts has started and is on target to complete by Summer 2025. The target date for the launch of the Defence Homes Website is Spring 2025. The Home Hub Portal will be launched this Spring to a closed user group of 200/300 families. The launch date of a Home Hub Portal with Full Operating Capability to all families will follow at the end of the year, once actions following the closed user group testing have been completed.

What his target date is for the publication of the Military Housing Strategy.

Work on a new Military Housing Strategy has begun, with plans for publication in Summer 2025. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) Year three Review of the Future Defence Infrastructure Service Accommodation Contracts has started and is on target to complete by Summer 2025. The target date for the launch of the Defence Homes Website is Spring 2025. The Home Hub Portal will be launched this Spring to a closed user group of 200/300 families. The launch date of a Home Hub Portal with Full Operating Capability to all families will follow at the end of the year, once actions following the closed user group testing have been completed.

Whether he plans to continue the implementation of the Damp and Mould Taskforce.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) Damp and Mould Taskforce is scheduled to maintain operations throughout 2025 and 2026. Since the Damp and Mould Taskforce was established in 2023, over 9,000 Service personnel and their families have benefitted from the delivery of damp and mould packages of works. The severity of damp and mould cases being raised now is has reduced from when the Taskforce was first established with circa 3% of reported cases at the most severe level. The DIO will continue its current approach to ensure cases are addressed on a priority basis.

When he plans to provide an Answer Question 26308 on Army and Marines: Training, tabled on 24 January 2025.

I will respond to the hon. Member shortly.

When he plans to provide an Answer to Question 28549 on Ministry of Defence: Pay, tabled on 4 February 2025.

I will respond to the hon. Member shortly.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision by the US to pause intelligence sharing with Ukraine on the use of UK RC-135W Rivet Joint to support intelligence gathering for Ukraine.

There is a long-standing position of successive Governments not to comment on specific intelligence capabilities or detail concerning intelligence operations.

What assessment he has made of the potential implication for his policies of the decision by the US to pause intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

There is a long-standing position of successive Governments not to comment on specific intelligence capabilities or detail concerning intelligence operations.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision by the US to pause intelligence sharing with Ukraine on the use of Storm Shadow missiles supplied by Britain.

There is a long-standing position of successive Governments not to comment on specific intelligence capabilities or detail concerning intelligence operations.

What progress he has made on Project Tiquila.

Project TIQUILA is delivering next-generation Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) that will enhance decision superiority and enable the delivery of kinetic effects on the modern battlefield. Project TIQUILA has delivered VXE30 and INDAGO 4 equipment to front-line units, who are currently being trained on them ahead of reaching Initial Operating Capability (IOC). The VXE30 RPAS will reach IOC in April 2025, and the INDAGO 4 RPAS will reach IOC in June 2025. The Desert Hawk III Mini-Uncrewed Aerial System exited service at its Out of Service Date in March 2023.

Whether he plans to implement the Modernised Accommodation Offer.

This Government is clear that our people are our greatest strength, and provision of Service accommodation is essential to their operational effectiveness. An attractive accommodation offer helps deliver military capability and contributes to retaining Service personnel. Changes to family accommodation entitlements under the Modernised Accommodation Offer are still under review and will be confirmed in due course. The Ministry of Defence remains committed to widening the entitlement to family accommodation to maintain a mobile, deployable, and winning force, whilst also meeting the varying needs of all its people. This includes widening entitlement to those personnel with children resident over 80 nights per year.

What the out of service date is for Desert Hawk III.

Project TIQUILA is delivering next-generation Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) that will enhance decision superiority and enable the delivery of kinetic effects on the modern battlefield. Project TIQUILA has delivered VXE30 and INDAGO 4 equipment to front-line units, who are currently being trained on them ahead of reaching Initial Operating Capability (IOC). The VXE30 RPAS will reach IOC in April 2025, and the INDAGO 4 RPAS will reach IOC in June 2025. The Desert Hawk III Mini-Uncrewed Aerial System exited service at its Out of Service Date in March 2023.

Whether there have been any changes to the process of issuing security clearances to representatives of defence businesses by his Department since 5 July 2024.

UKSV (Cabinet Office) is the sole provider of National Security Vetting and is responsible for issuing security clearances. Ministry of Defence (MOD), including Defence suppliers accredited by MOD to act as a sponsor for National Security Vetting, is a customer of UKSV. There have been no changes to the process of issuing security clearances to representatives of Defence businesses since 5 July 2024.

With reference to the £1.6bn funding for air defence missiles announced on 2 March 2025, whether he has held discussions with relevant stakeholders on a potential expansion of the Belfast manufacturing site.

Any expansion of the Thales manufacturing site in Belfast would be a matter between the company and the local authorities in Northern Ireland.

When the VXE30 drone will reach minimum deployable capability.

Project TIQUILA is delivering next-generation Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) that will enhance decision superiority and enable the delivery of kinetic effects on the modern battlefield. Project TIQUILA has delivered VXE30 and INDAGO 4 equipment to front-line units, who are currently being trained on them ahead of reaching Initial Operating Capability (IOC). The VXE30 RPAS will reach IOC in April 2025, and the INDAGO 4 RPAS will reach IOC in June 2025. The Desert Hawk III Mini-Uncrewed Aerial System exited service at its Out of Service Date in March 2023.

When Indago 4 will reach minimum deployable capability.

Project TIQUILA is delivering next-generation Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) that will enhance decision superiority and enable the delivery of kinetic effects on the modern battlefield. Project TIQUILA has delivered VXE30 and INDAGO 4 equipment to front-line units, who are currently being trained on them ahead of reaching Initial Operating Capability (IOC). The VXE30 RPAS will reach IOC in April 2025, and the INDAGO 4 RPAS will reach IOC in June 2025. The Desert Hawk III Mini-Uncrewed Aerial System exited service at its Out of Service Date in March 2023.