Written questions by Cartlidge.

Whether his Department's investors advisory group has been consulted on funding for the Defence Investment Plan.

The Defence Investors Advisory Group (DIAG) exists to help develop and provide expert advice on the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy (DFIS).As part of this work, we are exploring potential new financing options which could apply to specific opportunities identified through the Defence Investment Plan. However, the DIAG is not directly consulting on the funding decisions within the Defence Investment Plan.

Whether he has a formal target date to create an Integrated Force.

The Integrated Force Model as per the Strategic Defence Review has four elements: a single force design; a common set of foundational enablers; digital enablement at its core; and collaboration with other Government Departments in real time. The first element – a single force design – will be delivered through the ongoing work to develop the Defence Investment Plan. The integrated force design will be completed this year, with implementation thereafter. The other three elements will be delivered incrementally as part of continued efforts to modernise and reform Defence.

What role the UK will play in the multinational NATO command in Greenland.

The UK agrees on the need to step up security in the High North and Arctic to deter and defend against the threats posed by adversaries such as Russia. This is why the UK already engages in NATO activity in the region. The UK continues to operate UK Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance and Maritime Patrol Aircraft in support of NATO deterrence activity on a regular basis and continues to deepen its partnerships with key Allies in the region such as Norway. Discussions amongst Allies about NATO’s future role in the Arctic region are ongoing.

Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the mobilisation of the National Health Service in the event of UK involvement in an armed conflict.

The Cabinet Office leads the Government's Home Defence Programme, in which Defence plays an integral role. The programme is enhancing the UK’s national security and resilience through bolstering civilian-military coordination and planning and enhancing public and private preparedness. In a new era of threat, the defence and security of the UK requires a whole-of-society approach: the NHS and private healthcare is no exception. A series of joint exercises involving the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England (NHSE), the Devolved Administrations, Voluntary Aid Societies and allies (USA and Canada) have explored the UK’s ability to deal with casualties across a range of scenarios up to and including warfighting. NHS(E) will lead a further exercise in February 2026 to consider where pressure would be felt most acutely in the NHS system from an increased number of MOD patients.

Whether he plans to increase UK service personnel numbers stationed in Greenland.

The UK agrees on the need to step up security in the High North and Arctic to deter and defend against the threats posed by adversaries such as Russia. This is why the UK already engages in NATO activity in the region. The UK continues to operate UK Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance and Maritime Patrol Aircraft in support of NATO deterrence activity on a regular basis and continues to deepen its partnerships with key Allies in the region such as Norway. Discussions amongst Allies about NATO’s future role in the Arctic region are ongoing.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 September to Question 70768 on Skynet, what were the findings of the National Infrastructure and Services Transformation Authority's November 2025 review into the Skynet 6 programme.

The National Infrastructure and Services Transformation Authority had scheduled a review of the Skynet 6 programme for November 2025 as part of routine monitoring of Category A projects. However, a shift to a conditions-based approach, aligning reviews with key programme milestones, has led to the review moving to a yet-to-be-agreed date later in the year. In the meantime, regular communication between the parties continues.

With reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 22 January on Ajax, HCWS 1269, whether he plans to appoint a new permanent Senior Responsible Owner of the Ajax programme.

As advised in my Written Ministerial Statement on 22 January 2026, a Senior Responsible Owner has been appointed for an initial period of 12 months by the Army and oversight of the programme has been passed to the National Armaments Director. Prior to this announcement, the Army had oversight of the programme.

Whether his Department's spending plans are forecasted to lead to an overspend of his Department's budget in the (a) current financial year and (b) next financial year.

The Department engages in routine budget management to live within our control total. The Department's performance against its control totals for this financial year and the next will be confirmed in the respective Annual Report and Accounts in the usual way.

Whether the Defence Readiness Bill will be legislated for in the current Parliament.

Defence Readiness legislation is being considered to ensure the Government has the powers it needs to keep the UK safe in crisis or war, as recommended in the Strategic Defence Review. Legislation will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows.

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

This financial year, we are forecasting to spend around £17 million on the maintenance of the British Army Training Unit Suffield, which we expect to be consistent in future years – and will be finalised in the Defence Investment Plan. Forecasted costs include:Costs related to the maintenance and management of physical infrastructure, such as buildings and facilities.Costs related to non-physical services, such as cleaning, catering, and waste management.Resource expenditure for delivering infrastructure projects that support capability development.Smaller-scale maintenance or construction projects that fall below a certain financial threshold.Funding allocated for reactive maintenance or urgent requirements that arise unexpectedly.

With reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 22 January on Ajax, HCWS 1269, who previously held oversight of the Ajax programme.

As advised in my Written Ministerial Statement on 22 January 2026, a Senior Responsible Owner has been appointed for an initial period of 12 months by the Army and oversight of the programme has been passed to the National Armaments Director. Prior to this announcement, the Army had oversight of the programme.

What steps he is taking to support British SMEs in light of the delay to the Defence Investment Plan.

The Department is working flat out to deliver the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which will be published as soon as possible. It is underpinned by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, with £270 billion being invested in defence in this Parliament alone. Small and Medium‑sized Enterprises (SMEs) hold a crucial place in UK defence. They are the backbone of the UK economy and provide the innovation, expertise and agility that the sector needs now and in the future. This is recognised in the Defence Industrial Strategy and will be reflected in the DIP. The new Defence Office for Small Business Growth was established on 26 January 2026. It will provide SMEs with a single point of access for advice, support and opportunities in defence. The office will bring together services from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), trade associations and investors in one place, supporting delivery of our target to increase MOD spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion by May 2028.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 70768 on Skynet, when the next Skynet 6 programme review will take place.

The resilience and operational relevance of the planned Skynet 6 capabilities continue to be regularly assessed against projected operational demands and emerging threats. The latest review was as part of the Defence Investment Plan considerations. Timing of future ones will depend on the emergence of improved technology, what adversaries do or any other need to adjust capacity, capability or timing. Where necessary, these will result in adjustments across the entire Ministry of Defence Space enterprise to both ground- and space-based elements, wherever its most advantageous.

Whether the Strategic Defence Review was costed before publication.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was presented to the Department by the external reviewers, who were working to the Terms of Reference that the review be deliverable and affordable within the fiscal envelope available to Defence The Department is now working on the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which will take the SDR’s strategic direction and its costed recommendations, including on capabilities, and turn that into a delivery plan to ensure we deliver an affordable programme that delivers on the SDR. Defence spending will see a major sustained increase over the next decade.

Whether the lead reviewers of the Strategic Defence Review were asked to provide costings for their recommendations.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was presented to the Department by the external reviewers, who were working to the Terms of Reference that the review be deliverable and affordable within the fiscal envelope available to Defence The Department is now working on the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which will take the SDR’s strategic direction and its costed recommendations, including on capabilities, and turn that into a delivery plan to ensure we deliver an affordable programme that delivers on the SDR. Defence spending will see a major sustained increase over the next decade.

Whether he held discussions with the lead reviewers of the Strategic Defence Review regarding the cost of implementing its recommendations.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was presented to the Department by the external reviewers, who were working to the Terms of Reference that the review be deliverable and affordable within the fiscal envelope available to Defence The Department is now working on the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which will take the SDR’s strategic direction and its costed recommendations, including on capabilities, and turn that into a delivery plan to ensure we deliver an affordable programme that delivers on the SDR. Defence spending will see a major sustained increase over the next decade.

Whether the New Medium Helicopter will be included in the specific single document of the Defence Investment Plan.

As confirmed to the House we will make a decision on New Medium Helicopter shortly. The Department is working flat out to deliver the Defence Investment Plan, which will be published as soon as possible. It is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Cutting-edge drone degree to train military forces of the future unveiled, published on 21 January, how much has been spent on implementing the undergraduate drone degree as of 22 January 2026.

The Army has provided a one-off payment of £240,000 to the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) to initiate development of the undergraduate drone degree. This funding enabled NMITE to recruit academic staff and design the course which will offer students the opportunity to learn cutting-edge drones technology driven by lessons from Ukraine. On current plans, the Army intends to sponsor serving-military personnel on the three year degree and multiple personnel on shorter modular courses. These costs will be met through existing Defence personnel development budgets, in line with routine investment in our people through training and apprenticeships. The Army will continue to support personnel undertaking this degree as long as the course remains relevant and no suitable alternative exists elsewhere in the UK. This supports the Army’s wider ambition to upskill hundreds of personnel in drone technology over time. Longer term, the vision is to replicate this model in additional UK locations where there is a strong cluster of military, academia, and the drone industry. NMITE, as the accredited provider, is responsible for funding and delivering the course, including any future cohorts. As NMITE is an independent higher education provider, the Ministry of Defence does not hold details of NMITE’s own operating or delivery costs.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Cutting-edge drone degree to train military forces of the future unveiled, published on 21 January, what is the annual cost of delivering the undergraduate drone degree.

The Army has provided a one-off payment of £240,000 to the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) to initiate development of the undergraduate drone degree. This funding enabled NMITE to recruit academic staff and design the course which will offer students the opportunity to learn cutting-edge drones technology driven by lessons from Ukraine. On current plans, the Army intends to sponsor serving-military personnel on the three year degree and multiple personnel on shorter modular courses. These costs will be met through existing Defence personnel development budgets, in line with routine investment in our people through training and apprenticeships. The Army will continue to support personnel undertaking this degree as long as the course remains relevant and no suitable alternative exists elsewhere in the UK. This supports the Army’s wider ambition to upskill hundreds of personnel in drone technology over time. Longer term, the vision is to replicate this model in additional UK locations where there is a strong cluster of military, academia, and the drone industry. NMITE, as the accredited provider, is responsible for funding and delivering the course, including any future cohorts. As NMITE is an independent higher education provider, the Ministry of Defence does not hold details of NMITE’s own operating or delivery costs.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Cutting-edge drone degree to train military forces of the future unveiled, published on 21 January, whether elements of the undergraduate drone degree will involve studying the use of drones in a combat scenario.

The undergraduate drone degree is designed to equip students with the technical skills required to build, upgrade and sustain drone systems, rather than to train them in their operational use. Some elements of the programme will involve students working with industry and defence partners on practical problem solving projects, which may include challenges linked to the operational employment of drones in combat settings. Students on the programme will not participate in military exercises. However, having Army personnel learning alongside civilian students, supported by academic staff and defence contractors, will provide valuable insight into the realities of operating drones in contested environments and supports a collaborative approach to innovation. The course does not provide training in how to operate drones; this is delivered separately through the Army’s existing small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems training pathways. Instead, the degree focuses on ensuring personnel have the technical knowledge and engineering expertise to sustain and adapt drone systems at the pace required by rapidly evolving operational demands, as seen in Ukraine