Written questions by Cartlidge.

If he will state what will be spent on Defence this Parliament as a percentage of GDP in each remaining year of the current Parliament.

Awaiting answer.

If he will state what his Department's budget will be as a percentage of GDP in 2030.

Awaiting answer.

What will the spending envelope for the Defence Investment Plan be.

Awaiting answer.

What estimate he has made of the financial settlement required to deliver the Defence Investment Plan.

The Defence Investment Plan will be fully costed, ensuring that it is both affordable and deliverable.

Whether he has authorised a change to the Initial Operating Capability for Challenger 3.

The Challenger 3 manufacture phase timing will be confirmed after the demonstration phase trials prove the performance of the tanks. This complex programme has been impacted by some supply chain delays; the Initial Operating Capability and Full Operating ...

Whether he has discussed the spending envelope for the Defence Investment Plan with the Chief of the Defence Staff.

The Chief of Defence Staff has been and continues to be closely involved in the development of an affordable and deliverable Defence Investment Plan.

What is the total expected cost of delivering the Challenger 3 programme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 41789, which remains extant. The total approved cost of delivering the Challenger 3 programme remains at £1.9 billion. The programme’s forecast cost remains within the approved project estimate. https://q...

When will the Challenger 3 programme reach (a) Initial Operating Capability and (b) Full Operating Capability.

The Challenger 3 manufacture phase timing will be confirmed after the demonstration phase trials prove the performance of the tanks. This complex programme has been impacted by some supply chain delays; the Initial Operating Capability and Full Operating ...

How much has his Department spent on the delivery of Challenger 3 as of 16 June 2026.

As of 31 May 2026, total expenditure on the Challenger 3 programme is approximately £615 million.

Whether he has been instructed to authorise efficiency savings in each of the remaining financial years of this Parliament.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 April 2026 to Question 128871.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-04-21/128871

What assessment he has made of the Defence Investment Plan's impact on UK armed forces readiness.

Work to finalise the Defence Investment Plan continues with the new Defence Secretary, and the Prime Minister has been clear that we are determined to publish the DIP before the NATO summit in July. It is a credible plan that will fund major UK defence ca...

Whether he has been instructed to authorise efficiency savings in each of the remaining financial years of this Parliament for (a) maintenance, (b) training, (c) reserves training.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 April 2026 to Question 128871.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-04-21/128871

What progress his Department has made on the decision on procuring a long-range Precision Strike Missile.

I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to him on 8 June 2026 in response to Question 6453 which remains extant: A review of credible options to fulfil the Land Deep Fires requirement has been undertaken and is being considered as part of the Defen...

Whether there will be a reduction in training exercises for the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy in the (i) current and (ii) next financial year.

The single Services remain committed to prioritising training exercises in line with both UK and partner operational requirements, as well as the priorities set out in the Strategic Defence Review. Across Defence, training activity is kept under continuou...

What estimate he has made of the proportion of his Department's budget that will be been spent on the Chagos treaty in each remaining year of the current Parliament.

Awaiting answer.

What proportion of his Department's budget has been spent on the Chagos treaty.

The Department has not incurred any expenditure in respect of the Chagos treaty to date as the legislation to enable the Treaty has not become law.

What discussions he has had with industry representatives regarding the procurement of a long-range Precision Strike Missile since 1 January 2026.

Officials have engaged with industry representatives during the Department’s review of credible options to fulfil the Land Deep Fires requirement.

What his planned timetable is for renewing the Armed Forces Recruitment Service contract.

The Armed Forces Recruiting Service (AFRS) continues to progress as scheduled and remains committed to delivery from January 2027. Following a transition period that will conclude on 31 March 2027, the AFRS contract initial terms are seven years from 1 Ap...

When the Armed Forces Recruitment Service contract will conclude.

The Armed Forces Recruiting Service (AFRS) continues to progress as scheduled and remains committed to delivery from January 2027. Following a transition period that will conclude on 31 March 2027, the AFRS contract initial terms are seven years from 1 Ap...

What the average number of years served was of personnel leaving the reserve forces in each of the last 10 financial years.

Service personnel statistics on strengths, requirements, intake, applications and outflow, by service is published as part of the Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics (SPS) publication. The latest publication as at 1 April 2026 can be found at the follo...