Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Cartlidge this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 2,701–2,720 of 2,778 · Ministry of Defence
With reference to the guidance entitled Appointment of AUKUS Adviser and report: Terms of Reference, published on 29 August 2024, whether Sir Stephen Lovegrove reported his findings on AUKUS before the end of October 2024.
An extension has been provided to allow Sir Stephen Lovegrove to gather all the necessary information. He will now report to the Prime Minister, Defence Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor in November 2024.
With reference to the guidance entitled Appointment of AUKUS Adviser and report: Terms of Reference, published on 29 August 2024, when he plans to publish Sir Stephen Lovegrove's report on AUKUS.
An extension has been provided to allow Sir Stephen Lovegrove to gather all the necessary information. He will now report to the Prime Minister, Defence Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor in November 2024.
What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the ratio of STEM-related MOD Apprenticeship schemes to Civilian MOD Apprenticeship schemes.
There has been no specific assessment undertaken on the policy implications of ratios of Civil Service to Military STEM apprenticeships. Both organisations separately draw upon the government apprenticeship levy reducing the impact of any policy changes relating to the ratio of Military to Civil Service apprenticeships. STEM apprenticeship schemes are strongly supported across both the Civil Service and Military commands and are a priority as we look to the future of apprenticeships.The Ministry of Defence is the largest single deliverer of apprenticeships in the UK, with over 24,000 personnel employed on a nationally recognised apprenticeship programme at any one time. Over 95% of our non-commissioned military recruits are offered an apprenticeship aligned to their trade training and 7.5% of Armed Forces personnel have started an apprenticeship in the last two years. In addition, 3.6% of our Civil Service workforce is currently undertaking an apprenticeship, spanning over 80+ different apprenticeship programmes within a variety of sectors and professional areas, working to build a skilled workforce fit for the future.Defence's commitment to apprenticeship provision is recognised by the Department for Education’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers rankings 2024, with Army (1), RN (2), RAF (4) and Civil Service (33). Collectively, 130 apprenticeships are offered across the three Services and the Civil Service, ranging from Aeronautical Engineering to Clinical Healthcare Support and Nuclear.
Whether the additional funding for Continuity of Education Allowance to compensate for introducing VAT on private school fees will come from the Ministry of Defence budget.
In line with how the Continuity of Education Allowance normally operates, the Ministry of Defence will continue to pay up to 90% of private school fees following the VAT changes on 1 January.
Whether the manufacture of large-calibre gun barrels as part of the Trinity House Agreement will exclusively use recycled British steel.
The Trinity House Agreement will drive investment into the UK, and pave the way for the way for a new artillery gun barrel factory to be opened in the UK. The opening of the Rheinmetall factory will see the UK manufacture artillery gun barrels for the first time in 10 years, using British steel produced by Sheffield Forgemasters. Discussions are ongoing between Rheinmetall and Sheffield Forgemasters on the specific arrangements.
If he will make an estimate of the potential cost of funding pay rises for armed forces personnel in each of the next three financial years.
The cost of funding pay rises for Armed Forces personnel in future years will be subject to the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Board.
Whether he plans to (a) continue and (b) amend the Defence STEM Undergraduate scheme.
Defence is fully committed to encouraging and recruiting high quality STEM graduates. The Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (DSUS) is a key part of that, with enduring funding secured within the Departments Annual Budget Cycle (ABC) 24. Amendments to the DSUS will be considered as demands on Defence require it.
Whether he plans to continue providing funding for NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic into 2025/26.
The UK remains committed to funding NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), as part of its wider commitment to NATO.As the host of the European Regional Office of DIANA, the UK has been a champion of this initiative, additionally committing an affiliated UK Accelerator and bolstering access to national test centres across the UK to innovators and start-ups.DIANA's success is essential to ensure NATO remains agile and responsive to technological threats and opportunities.
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on helicopter pilot training in the armed forces.
The Government remains committed to setting a path to spending 2.5% of GDP at a future fiscal event. Budget allocations will be set in the usual way and informed by the findings of the Strategic Defence Review.
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 October to Question 10454 on Strategic Defence Review, whether all submissions by Parliamentarians will be read in the first instance by human beings, before the use of artificial intelligence.
The Strategic Defence Review received a number of submissions from Parliamentarians, and all have been read by human beings.
When he plans that the GUARDIAN Air Command and Control system based in the UK will reach full operating capability.
The GUARDIAN Air Command and Control system based in the UK is expected to reach Full Operating Capability in 2026.
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on engineer retention in the armed forces.
The Government is committed to setting a path to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence at a future fiscal event. Budget allocations will be set in the usual way and informed by the findings of the Strategic Defence Review.
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies recommendation of the Haythornthwaite Review that the Armed Forces trial new total reward approaches for (a) engineers and (b) other key skills cohorts.
The Government is prioritising its response to the Armed Forces recruitment and retention challenge, and has taken action already to modernise recruitment processes and award our Armed Forces the largest pay increase in over two decades. The Haythornthwaite Review work-streams are being taken forward in our longer-term plans, and will be informed by the findings of the Strategic Defence Review. These include trials aimed at a wide engineering cohort, along with other measures to meet the needs of today’s Service people and their families.
How many helicopter engineers are employed at RAF Shawbury.
Due to commercial sensitivities, we cannot disclose the number of contracted civilian engineers based at RAF Shawbury.There are a number of military engineers based at RAF Shawbury but they are not necessarily employed in direct engineering roles.
How many Research and Development programmes were listed under the Defence Sourcing Portal in the last twelve months.
There were 114 Invitation To Tender (ITTs) published on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) in the last twelve months (01/11/2023 to 31/10/2024). These ITTs were listed under the category of Research and Development services.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact that closing blast furnaces in (a) Port Talbot and (b) Scunthorpe on the UK's (i) virgin steel supply and (ii) defence industry.
This Government recognises the vital role the UK steel industry plays in Defence, to both our national security and economic growth. . It is not anticipated that the closure of the blast furnaces at Port Talbot or Scunthorpe will have any adverse impact on Defence, but we will continue to monitor that situation. The Government will be bringing forward a new Steel Strategy next spring that will ensure a sustainable future for UK steelmaking.
If he will make an estimate of how many helicopter pilots at RAF Shawbury will be unable to complete their training on schedule this year.
There will be a limited short-term impact to the number of trainees completing UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) Rotary Wing aircrew training at RAF Shawbury this year. However, this will not have an impact to the number of Tri-Service aircrew commencing Operational Conversion Unit training or on Front Line units. UKMFTS continues to deliver the number of Rotary Wing aircrew needed by Defence.
When he plans that the GUARDIAN Air Command and Control system based in the Falklands will reach full operating capability.
The GUARDIAN Air Command and Control system based in the Falkland Islands reached Full Operating Capability in April 2024.
If he will provide a breakdown of the additional money he will release for munitions procurement as part of the £2.9bn defence spending announced in the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024.
Future prioritisation will be determined in the usual way and in line with the findings of the Strategic Defence Review.
What is the cost of the Military Strategic Headquarters.
While the design and organisational structure of the future Military Strategic Head Quarters (MSHQ) is still in the development stage, it is expected that the creation of the MSHQ will be cost neutral and contained within the overall Defence budget.