Written questions by Cartlidge.

What discussions he has held with international allies regarding Britain’s role in the Joint Expeditionary Force, in the context of his attendance at the Munich Security Conference 2025.

The UK is the framework nation for the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). Since the Munich Security Conference, the Secretary of State has discussed the JEF with his Norwegian counterpart during a visit to Norway from 19 - 20 February 2025 and at a meeting of JEF Defence Ministers by VTC on 27 February 2025. The Secretary of State will also host a meeting of JEF Defence Ministers in London on 26 March 2025. Additionally, I discussed matters relating to JEF on visits to Finland, Lithuania, Denmark and the Netherland last week.

Whether the proposed increase in defence spending will be a real terms increase of £6bn.

The Government's commitment to increase defence investment to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 will result in a £13.4 billion increase to defence spending in cash terms in 2027-28 compared to 2024-25.

What assessment he has made of the potential (a) size and (b) scale of a British peacekeeping force for Ukraine.

We are not going to get into any further details at this stage, our focus is on ensuring Ukraine is in as strong a position as possible. We will continue our dialogue with allies to secure a path to a lasting peace in Ukraine.

Wheat information his Department holds on the number of (a) computers, (b) USBs, (c) phones and (d) laptops used by MOD staff have been (i) misplaced or (ii) stolen since 5 July 2024.

The Ministry of Defence takes the security of its devices seriously and requires all losses and thefts to be reported. The figures for the period requested are: ComputersUSBsPhonesLaptopsFrom 5th July 24112148August 2400611September- 2401198October 24023719November 240142December 240073January 25051247Up to 27th February 25021454Total111335662 It is important to note that not all the above incidents have resulted in actual losses or thefts. There are occasions where devices couldn't be accounted for, so were reported, but have subsequently been found. The number of phones misplaced, lost or stolen is high due to 2 incidents being submitted by one art of Defence regarding the mustering of assets. Although it appears likely that the cause is poor accounting, the phones are still recorded here. The discrepancy came to light following the strengthening of mobile device accounting processes within that organisation, which will ensure improved record keeping and improve utilisation of these devices in future, with associated costs and wastage minimised. Whilst we have seen significant improvements around laptops, due to the accounting errors in relation to phones, we have not seen similar improvements in this area at this time.

Whether the British Army is currently of appropriate (a) scale and (b) capability to provide a potential peacekeeping force to Ukraine.

The UK is ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine Our focus is ensuring Ukraine is in as strong a position as possible. When, how and on what terms this war comes to an end can only be decided by negotiations with Ukraine at the heart of them.

When he expects to appoint a permanent National Armaments Director.

The National Armaments Director will ensure the Armed Forces are properly equipped to defence Britain, to build up the British defence industry and to crack down on waste. The recruitment process for the role has begun, with a search for candidates underway. The new National Armaments Director will take up the role once the appropriate notice period from any previous employment has been served.

With reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, whether responsibility for the intelligence security services will be moved to his Department.

There are no plans for the Ministry of Defence to have responsibility for the intelligence and security services.

With reference to the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, whether the cost of the Chagos settlement will be funded from the announced rise to 2.5% of GDP for his Department’s budget.

The terms of the treaty are still being finalised, once the treaty is finalised it will be put before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual way.

With reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, whether the Defence Industrial Strategy will be included in the National Security Strategy or published separately.

This Government is committed to bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy which ensures the imperatives of national security, and a high-growth economy are aligned. The Statement of Intent outlined that the Defence Industrial Strategy will be published in late-Spring 2025.

With reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, if he will provide a cost breakdown of the funding announced for defence spending from 2027.

The announced pathway to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027 has not changed the Ministry of Defence's budgets for 2024-25 and 2025-26 as set out in the Autumn Budget. His Majesty's Treasury is currently undertaking the second phase of the Spending Review, which will be announced on 11 June 2025. This will set Departmental budgets for three years from 2026-27 for RDEL and four years for CDEL. The 2.5% commitment will be funded by reductions in ODA to 0.3% of GNI from 2026-27 onwards and does not require the Government to change the spending envelope.

With reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, if he will make an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of the increase in defence spending for financial year (a) 2024-25, (b) 2025-26 and (c) 2026-27.

The announced pathway to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027 has not changed the Ministry of Defence's budgets for 2024-25 and 2025-26 as set out in the Autumn Budget.His Majesty's Treasury is currently undertaking the second phase of the Spending Review, which will be announced on 11 June 2025. This will set Departmental budgets for three years from 2026-27 for RDEL and four years for CDEL.The 2.5% commitment will be funded by reductions in ODA to 0.3% of GNI from 2026-27 onwards and does not require the Government to change the spending envelope.

With reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, what the planned publication date is for the Strategic Defence Review.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) is well underway, and the Reviewers are reporting regularly on progress to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Secretary of State for Defence. The Reviewers will make their final report to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State in the spring of this year. The Secretary of State will then subsequently report to Parliament.

With reference to the Prime Minister’s statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, whether the Strategic Defence Review will include a spending plan which takes into account the planned increased expenditure to 3% in the next Parliament.

The conclusions of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) regarding the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the twenty-first century must be deliverable within the resources available to Defence, which is included in the review terms of reference. This takes account of the commitment to increase spending on defence to 2.5% GDP from April 2027 and the ambition to spend 3% GDP on defence in the next Parliament, as economic and fiscal conditions allow.

With reference to the Prime Minister’s statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, whether any of the 0.2% funding reallocated from the Overseas Development Assistance budget will be used to fund the Chagos settlement.

The terms of the treaty and the associated funding arrangements are still being finalised and no decision has been made at this time.

How many service personnel have been discharged as a result of the Zero Tolerance to Unacceptable Sexual Behaviour policy across Defence.

47 Service personnel were discharged under the Zero Tolerance to Unacceptable Sexual Behaviour policy, between its implementation in November 2022 and the end of the most recent reporting period in September 2024. The policy carries with it a presumption of discharge. 56 Service personnel were discharged under the Zero Tolerance to Sexual Offences (Instructor/Trainee Sexual Relationships) policy, between its implementation in July 2022 and the end of the most recent reporting period in September 2024. Discharge is mandatory under this policy. Defence is committed to preventing unacceptable behaviours from occurring and we have zero tolerance for such behaviour. We are also committed to making the step changes required to create a safe and inclusive environment for all our Service personnel, enabling us to deliver our Defence outputs and enhance our operational effectiveness.

With reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, whether the Strategic Defence Review will report based on a cost envelope of 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence expenditure.

The conclusion of the Strategic Defence Review regarding the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty first century must be deliverable and affordable within the resources available to Defence. This takes account of the commitment to increase spending on defence to 2.5% of GDP, which is included in the Terms of Reference of the Review, and the ambition to reach 3% of GDP in the next Parliament, as economic and fiscal conditions allow.

With reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, whether the announced increase in defence spending will be used to fund the Chagos settlement.

The terms of the treaty and the associated funding arrangements are still being finalised and no decision has been made at this time.

With reference to the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, whether the Strategic Defence Review will be published separately to the National Security Strategy.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) is well underway, and the Reviewers are reporting regularly on progress to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Secretary of State for Defence. The Reviewers will make their final report in the spring and the Defence Secretary will subsequently report to Parliament. The SDR will feed into the national security strategy which brings together the reviews already commissioned across Government.

How many service personnel have been discharged as a result of the Zero Tolerance to Sexual Offences and Sexual Relationships Between Instructors and Trainees policy across Defence.

47 Service personnel were discharged under the Zero Tolerance to Unacceptable Sexual Behaviour policy, between its implementation in November 2022 and the end of the most recent reporting period in September 2024. The policy carries with it a presumption of discharge. 56 Service personnel were discharged under the Zero Tolerance to Sexual Offences (Instructor/Trainee Sexual Relationships) policy, between its implementation in July 2022 and the end of the most recent reporting period in September 2024. Discharge is mandatory under this policy. Defence is committed to preventing unacceptable behaviours from occurring and we have zero tolerance for such behaviour. We are also committed to making the step changes required to create a safe and inclusive environment for all our Service personnel, enabling us to deliver our Defence outputs and enhance our operational effectiveness.

With reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, whether there will be an increase in defence spending for financial year 2024-25.

The announced pathway to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027 has not changed the Ministry of Defence's budgets for 2024-25 and 2025-26 as set out in the Autumn Budget.His Majesty's Treasury is currently undertaking the second phase of the Spending Review, which will be announced on 11 June 2025. This will set Departmental budgets for three years from 2026-27 for RDEL and four years for CDEL.The 2.5% commitment will be funded by reductions in ODA to 0.3% of GNI from 2026-27 onwards and does not require the Government to change the spending envelope.