Written questions by Cartlidge.

With reference to the Declaration of Intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, reconstruction and strategic sustainability of Ukraine, published on 7 January 2026, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Multinational Force Ukraine on UK capability.

As detailed planning continues, we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, due to operational reasons.

With reference to the Declaration of Intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, reconstruction and strategic sustainability of Ukraine, published on 7 January 2026, whether he has held discussions with his international counterparts on the length of the deployment of UK service personnel operating as part of the Multinational Force Ukraine.

As detailed planning continues, we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, due to operational reasons.

With reference to the Declaration of Intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, reconstruction and strategic sustainability of Ukraine, published on 7 January 2026, whether plans are in place for the subsequent withdrawal of UK service personnel deployed as part of the Multinational Force Ukraine.

As detailed planning continues, we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, due to operational reasons.

With reference to the Declaration of Intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, reconstruction and strategic sustainability of Ukraine, published on 7 January 2026, whether the deployment of UK service personnel as part of the Multinational Force Ukraine would occur under any form of ceasefire.

As detailed planning continues, we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, due to operational reasons.

If he will state when HM Treasury approved the budget for the MOD Palantir Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025.

There was no requirement for HM Treasury to approve a budget for the Palantir Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025.

Whether the £240,600,000 cost of the MOD Palantir Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025 was budgeted in the (a) previous or (b) current financial year.

The £240,600,000 cost of the Palantir Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025 falls within the Department’s existing delegated budgets for the next three financial years. No separate HM Treasury approval was required, and the Agreement was funded through the Ministry of Defence’s established financial planning and governance processes.

When he expects the experimental stage of Atlantic Bastion to conclude.

Atlantic Bastion combines the latest autonomous and AI technologies with world-class warships and aircraft to create a highly advanced hybrid fighting force that will see ships, submarines, aircraft and uncrewed vessels connected. The scope of the capability enhancements delivered through Atlantic Bastion remains dependent on the Defence Investment Plan.

Whether he has made a cost impact assessment of announcing his Department's strategic partnership with Palantir on 18 September prior to signing a contract with Palantir on 30 December 2025.

The Strategic Partnership Arrangement announced on 18 September 2025 is a nonbinding statement of intent and did not create any financial commitments for the Department. The subsequent contract signed on 30 December 2025 followed the Department’s full commercial and governance processes, including value for money and assurance checks, to ensure the best outcome for Defence and the taxpayer.

Whether he discussed with HM Treasury the cost of the contract signed with Palantir on 30 December prior to its signature.

The Ministry of Defence followed all required approvals processes ahead of signing the Enterprise Agreement with Palantir on 30 December 2025. This included HM Treasury, Cabinet Office and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. All necessary commercial and financial scrutiny was completed before the Department entered into the agreement.

What estimate he has made of the total cost to his Department of running Land Regional Hub Oman for (a) the current financial year and (b) each remaining financial years of the current Parliament.

The forecast spend in financial year 2025-26 for running the Land Regional Hub Oman, now Global Hub Oman (GHO), is circa £11 million. Future costs for the GHO are under review as part of the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) and will be available following the announcement of the DIP.

Whether the British Army is currently utilising the British Army Training Unit Kenya.

British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) continues to be used for both training and testing activity, including for uncrewed systems, and will remain a location for the Army’s testing of such systems throughout the current Parliament. Financial YearNumber of Exercises2015-16*32016-17*42017-1872018-1962019-2062020-2132021-2242022-2342023-2452024-254 Five exercises are scheduled to take place in each of financial years 2025-26 and 2026-27. Regarding future use of BATUK, the Defence Cooperation Agreement limits annual exercising personnel to 8,000. While the number of exercises is likely to reduce, the Army intends to shift towards fewer but larger brigade level exercises involving multiple battlegroups, rather than single battlegroup deployments. This financial year, we forecast expenditure of approximately £56 million for the conduct of military exercises and the maintenance of BATUK, with costs expected to rise to reflect the conduct of larger exercises throughout FY2026-27 and FY 2027-28. Costs beyond FY 2027-28 are not expected to diverge significantly. *Data for FY 2015-16 and 2016-17 may be incomplete due to MOD data retention policy.‑retention policy.

What is the total cost to his Department of running British Army Training Unit Kenya for (a) the current financial year and (b) each remaining financial years of the current Parliament.

British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) continues to be used for both training and testing activity, including for uncrewed systems, and will remain a location for the Army’s testing of such systems throughout the current Parliament. Financial YearNumber of Exercises2015-16*32016-17*42017-1872018-1962019-2062020-2132021-2242022-2342023-2452024-254 Five exercises are scheduled to take place in each of financial years 2025-26 and 2026-27. Regarding future use of BATUK, the Defence Cooperation Agreement limits annual exercising personnel to 8,000. While the number of exercises is likely to reduce, the Army intends to shift towards fewer but larger brigade level exercises involving multiple battlegroups, rather than single battlegroup deployments. This financial year, we forecast expenditure of approximately £56 million for the conduct of military exercises and the maintenance of BATUK, with costs expected to rise to reflect the conduct of larger exercises throughout FY2026-27 and FY 2027-28. Costs beyond FY 2027-28 are not expected to diverge significantly. *Data for FY 2015-16 and 2016-17 may be incomplete due to MOD data retention policy.‑retention policy.

How many training exercises have taken place at the Land Regional Hub Germany in each of the last 10 financial years.

Exercises that took place at the Land Regional Hub Germany over the last ten years are recorded by calendar year rather than financial year. The number of field training exercises conducted are as follows: Calendar YearNumber of Exercises2016322017262018222019112020520218202211202312202416202523

How many training exercises have taken place at the Land Regional Hub Oman in each of the last 10 financial years.

The information requested is shown below. Financial YearNumber of Exercises2026-2732025-2602024-2512023-2442022-2322021-2222020-2102019-2002018-1912017-1802016-170 Although the Land Regional Hub was originally an Army Unit, since October 2023 it has transitioned into the Global Hub Oman (GHO), providing Land, Sea and Air capabilities. The Land Training Area titled ‘Ras Madrakah Training Area’, is part of GHO’s capabilities.

Whether he plans to use the Land Regional Hub Oman for the testing of uncrewed systems.

The Global Hub Oman (GHO) has facilitated uncrewed systems testing at Ras Madrakah Training Area.

Whether the Army is using the Land Regional Hub Oman.

Although the Land Regional Hub was originally an Army Unit, since October 2023 it has transitioned into the Global Hub Oman (GHO), providing Land, Sea and Air capabilities. For example, last year, the GHO provided crucial support to Op HIGHMAST, the passage of the UK Carrier Strike Group.

How many training exercises will take place at the British Army Training Unit Kenya in (a) the current financial year and (b) the next financial year.

British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) continues to be used for both training and testing activity, including for uncrewed systems, and will remain a location for the Army’s testing of such systems throughout the current Parliament. Financial YearNumber of Exercises2015-16*32016-17*42017-1872018-1962019-2062020-2132021-2242022-2342023-2452024-254 Five exercises are scheduled to take place in each of financial years 2025-26 and 2026-27. Regarding future use of BATUK, the Defence Cooperation Agreement limits annual exercising personnel to 8,000. While the number of exercises is likely to reduce, the Army intends to shift towards fewer but larger brigade level exercises involving multiple battlegroups, rather than single battlegroup deployments. This financial year, we forecast expenditure of approximately £56 million for the conduct of military exercises and the maintenance of BATUK, with costs expected to rise to reflect the conduct of larger exercises throughout FY2026-27 and FY 2027-28. Costs beyond FY 2027-28 are not expected to diverge significantly. *Data for FY 2015-16 and 2016-17 may be incomplete due to MOD data retention policy.‑retention policy.

Whether he discussed the contract signed by his Department with Palantir on 30 December 2025 with the CEO of Palantir in his meeting in London on 28 September 2025 when the strategic partnership with Palantir was announced.

No. The internal briefing provided to the Defence Secretary ahead of the 28 September meeting referenced the subsequent Enterprise Agreement. However, it was not discussed in the meeting itself on the 28 September. This meeting related solely to the announcement of the non-binding Strategic Partnership Arrangement (SPA), which does not constitute a contract, and does not commit the Department to any programme or expenditure. The subsequent Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025 was negotiated following the SPA, through the Department’s formal commercial and governance processes, separate from the earlier SPA announcement.

Whether he plans to use the British Army Training Unit Kenya for the testing of uncrewed systems in the current Parliament.

British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) continues to be used for both training and testing activity, including for uncrewed systems, and will remain a location for the Army’s testing of such systems throughout the current Parliament. Financial YearNumber of Exercises2015-16*32016-17*42017-1872018-1962019-2062020-2132021-2242022-2342023-2452024-254 Five exercises are scheduled to take place in each of financial years 2025-26 and 2026-27. Regarding future use of BATUK, the Defence Cooperation Agreement limits annual exercising personnel to 8,000. While the number of exercises is likely to reduce, the Army intends to shift towards fewer but larger brigade level exercises involving multiple battlegroups, rather than single battlegroup deployments. This financial year, we forecast expenditure of approximately £56 million for the conduct of military exercises and the maintenance of BATUK, with costs expected to rise to reflect the conduct of larger exercises throughout FY2026-27 and FY 2027-28. Costs beyond FY 2027-28 are not expected to diverge significantly. *Data for FY 2015-16 and 2016-17 may be incomplete due to MOD data retention policy.‑retention policy.

How many training exercises will take place at the Land Regional Hub Oman in (a) the current financial year and (b) the next financial year.

The information requested is shown below. Financial YearNumber of Exercises2026-2732025-2602024-2512023-2442022-2322021-2222020-2102019-2002018-1912017-1802016-170 Although the Land Regional Hub was originally an Army Unit, since October 2023 it has transitioned into the Global Hub Oman (GHO), providing Land, Sea and Air capabilities. The Land Training Area titled ‘Ras Madrakah Training Area’, is part of GHO’s capabilities.