Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Cartlidge this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 741–760 of 2,790 · Ministry of Defence
With reference to the Minister of State's answer to Urgent Question on 8 December 2025 from the Hon. Member for South Suffolk, Official Report, col 46, what form the expertise and challenge from the team of experts from organisations outside the GD production line will take.
For reasons of commercial sensitivity, it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of the Ministry of Defence’s work with external experts and organisations, which is in progress.
With reference to the Minister of State's answer to Urgent Question on 8 December 2025 from the Hon. Member for South Suffolk, Official Report, col 46, whether the work conducted by the team of experts from organisations outside the GD production line on the Ajax programme will be made public.
For reasons of commercial sensitivity, it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of the Ministry of Defence’s work with external experts and organisations, which is in progress.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 December to Question 94229 on Autonomous Weapons: Procurement, what percentage of the £450 million on Uncrewed Systems was spent with British companies.
The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) spend of over £450 million on drones does not include spend in support of Ukraine. Over £300 million of the total spend was on uncrewed systems research and development, and the remaining spent on uncrewed system procurement. The MOD has had delivery of over 8,000 uncrewed systems since July 2024. Due to operational security considerations, it is important to guard against the threat of adversary data aggregation regarding the specific detailed breakdown of UK military capability, including platform numbers and types, so it would be inappropriate to comment further. The MOD works with over 60 companies to deliver drones for defence, 17 of which are British Companies. We are unable to provide a figure of total drone contracts at this time.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 December to Question 94229 on Autonomous Weapons: Procurement, what quantity of drones have been procured as part of the £450 million on Uncrewed Systems, broken down by (a) reconnaissance, (b) logistics, (c) FPV and (d) long-range one-way attack.
The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) spend of over £450 million on drones does not include spend in support of Ukraine. Over £300 million of the total spend was on uncrewed systems research and development, and the remaining spent on uncrewed system procurement. The MOD has had delivery of over 8,000 uncrewed systems since July 2024. Due to operational security considerations, it is important to guard against the threat of adversary data aggregation regarding the specific detailed breakdown of UK military capability, including platform numbers and types, so it would be inappropriate to comment further. The MOD works with over 60 companies to deliver drones for defence, 17 of which are British Companies. We are unable to provide a figure of total drone contracts at this time.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 December to Question 94229 on Autonomous Weapons: Procurement, how much of the £450 million spent on Uncrewed Systems was not spent on research and development.
The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) spend of over £450 million on drones does not include spend in support of Ukraine. Over £300 million of the total spend was on uncrewed systems research and development, and the remaining spent on uncrewed system procurement. The MOD has had delivery of over 8,000 uncrewed systems since July 2024. Due to operational security considerations, it is important to guard against the threat of adversary data aggregation regarding the specific detailed breakdown of UK military capability, including platform numbers and types, so it would be inappropriate to comment further. The MOD works with over 60 companies to deliver drones for defence, 17 of which are British Companies. We are unable to provide a figure of total drone contracts at this time.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 December to Question 94229 on Autonomous Weapons: Procurement, what percentage of the £450 million on Uncrewed Systems was spent on funding procurement for Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) spend of over £450 million on drones does not include spend in support of Ukraine. Over £300 million of the total spend was on uncrewed systems research and development, and the remaining spent on uncrewed system procurement. The MOD has had delivery of over 8,000 uncrewed systems since July 2024. Due to operational security considerations, it is important to guard against the threat of adversary data aggregation regarding the specific detailed breakdown of UK military capability, including platform numbers and types, so it would be inappropriate to comment further. The MOD works with over 60 companies to deliver drones for defence, 17 of which are British Companies. We are unable to provide a figure of total drone contracts at this time.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 December to Question 94229 on Autonomous Weapons: Procurement, in relation to the £450 million spent on Uncrewed Systems, what the remaining £150 million that was not spent on research and development was spent on.
The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) spend of over £450 million on drones does not include spend in support of Ukraine. Over £300 million of the total spend was on uncrewed systems research and development, and the remaining spent on uncrewed system procurement. The MOD has had delivery of over 8,000 uncrewed systems since July 2024. Due to operational security considerations, it is important to guard against the threat of adversary data aggregation regarding the specific detailed breakdown of UK military capability, including platform numbers and types, so it would be inappropriate to comment further. The MOD works with over 60 companies to deliver drones for defence, 17 of which are British Companies. We are unable to provide a figure of total drone contracts at this time.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 December to Question 94229 on Autonomous Weapons: Procurement, how many contracts have been signed as a result of the £450 million spent on Uncrewed Systems since 5 July 2024.
The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) spend of over £450 million on drones does not include spend in support of Ukraine. Over £300 million of the total spend was on uncrewed systems research and development, and the remaining spent on uncrewed system procurement. The MOD has had delivery of over 8,000 uncrewed systems since July 2024. Due to operational security considerations, it is important to guard against the threat of adversary data aggregation regarding the specific detailed breakdown of UK military capability, including platform numbers and types, so it would be inappropriate to comment further. The MOD works with over 60 companies to deliver drones for defence, 17 of which are British Companies. We are unable to provide a figure of total drone contracts at this time.
Pursuant to the Answer of 1 September to Question 69422, whether it remains his plan to publish the Defence Investment Plan before the rise of the House on 18 December 2025.
We are working flat out between now and the end of the year to finalise the Defence Investment Plan. I am sure the hon. Gentleman will appreciate the scale of the decisions that we need to make including on AJAX. He will also appreciate the scale of the problems that we face, including those to do with a programme of the last Government’s that over-committed, and was underfunded and unsuited to meeting the threats that we will face in the future.
If he will provide a full list of the experts conducting the Ministerial led review into the Ajax programme.
The Ministerial Review has already begun. The review will be supported by an expert challenge panel including the Secretary of State's Strategic Advisor Malcolm Chalmers, and military personnel. I have committed to report progress on the Ajax investigation via a written statement before Christmas recess begins.
Whether the Ministerial led review into the Ajax programme will report to Parliament in the form of an (a) oral or (b) written statement.
The Ministerial Review has already begun. The review will be supported by an expert challenge panel including the Secretary of State's Strategic Advisor Malcolm Chalmers, and military personnel. I have committed to report progress on the Ajax investigation via a written statement before Christmas recess begins.
What measure will the Ministerial led review into the Ajax programme use to assess the effectiveness of the Department in implementing actions of previous reviews.
The Ministerial Review has already begun. The review will be supported by an expert challenge panel including the Secretary of State's Strategic Advisor Malcolm Chalmers, and military personnel. I have committed to report progress on the Ajax investigation via a written statement before Christmas recess begins.
If he will list the previous reviews that will be assessed in the Ministerial led review into the Ajax programme.
The Ministerial Review has already begun. The review will be supported by an expert challenge panel including the Secretary of State's Strategic Advisor Malcolm Chalmers, and military personnel. I have committed to report progress on the Ajax investigation via a written statement before Christmas recess begins.
When the Ministerial led review into the Ajax programme will (a) begin and (b) conclude.
The Ministerial Review has already begun. The review will be supported by an expert challenge panel including the Secretary of State's Strategic Advisor Malcolm Chalmers, and military personnel. I have committed to report progress on the Ajax investigation via a written statement before Christmas recess begins.
When he expects HMS Defender to complete the Power Improvement Project upgrade.
As of December 2025, three Type 45 Destroyers have completed their Power Improvement Project (PIP) upgrades: HMS DAUNTLESS, HMS DARING, and HMS DRAGON, HMS DEFENDER and HMS DIAMOND are currently undergoing PIP upgrades. HMS DUNCAN is operational, pending the start of her PIP upgrade, which will run concurrently with her next docking period at HMNB Portsmouth. We are unable to release further detailed information about the forward integrated PIP schedule and upkeep plans for the Type 45 Destroyers, as to do so could risk revealing future capability levels to our adversaries. Completing the Type 45 PIP work is dependent on the availability of ships to undertake the upgrade, balanced against the Royal Navy’s (RN) current and future operational commitments. Class availability is now maximised to ensure that the RN has been able to fulfil all its operational commitments and PIP remains on target to have all six ships receive their conversions by 2028.
In which financial year will UK NATO declared defence spending will rise above 2.6 per cent of GDP.
The UK's defence spending is expected to rise to 2.6% from 2027. The next Spending Review in 2027 will determine the trajectory beyond the current Spending Review period.
Whether the Ministerial led review into the Ajax programme will be used to guide any future decisions regarding the Ajax programme.
The Ministerial Review has already begun. The review will be supported by an expert challenge panel including the Secretary of State's Strategic Advisor Malcolm Chalmers, and military personnel. I have committed to report progress on the Ajax investigation via a written statement before Christmas recess begins.
What funding is in place for the Ministry of Defence to purchase 8 Type-26 ships.
A £3.7 billion contract was signed with BAE Systems on 29 June 2017 to manufacture the first batch of three Type 26 frigates and a £4.2 billion contract amendment was signed for Batch 2 of the ships on 1 November 2022. A total funding provision of £7.9 billion has been provided to purchase eight Type 26 ships.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 December to Question 95406 on Defence: Procurement, whether the Defence Small and Medium Enterprise Support Hub is also known as the Defence Office for Small Business Growth.
Yes, the Office for Small Business Growth is the enduring title for what was previously referred to as the Defence Small and Medium Enterprise Support Hub.
With reference to his Department's press release entitled Work starts on the future of naval support in boost to British jobs, published on 3 December 2025, when will construction on RFA Resurgent commence.
The Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme cut steel on 3 December 2025, which marks the start of the construction phase for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships. The RFA Resurgent was named at the cut steel ceremony. The core RFA crew is expected to be around 100 in number, with additional military augmentees and specialists embarked for specific tasks and roles. On the current schedule, RFA Resurgent is expected to enter service in 2031 after extended first of class trials and equipment fits. Following the financial distress of Harland and Wolff and its acquisition by Navantia UK, a substantial amount of work has been done to assess and mitigate the impact on the approved schedule. This is subject to ongoing engagement with the relevant authorities, including Ministerial approvals, and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further. Updates will be provided through official channels at the appropriate time.