Written questions by Cartlidge.

If he will publish the rules of engagement for British service personnel deployed to Israel to monitor the ceasefire in Gaza.

A small team of UK planning officers, led by a 2* deputy commander, have embedded in the US-led Civil Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) in Israel to ensure that the UK remains integrated into the US-led planning efforts for Gaza post-conflict stability. This team is not monitoring the ceasefire in Gaza. The UK continues to work with international partners to support the Gaza ceasefire to see where the UK can best contribute to the peace process.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of levels of protection of British satellites from (a) stalking and (b) disruption.

The Strategic Defenvce Review reinforced this Government's commitment to increasing defence spending and strengthening the UK's space capabilities, with clear recommendations to invest in nationally separable capability to control the domain at a time and place of our choosing, global decision advantage, and space-based sensors to understand and act.Owing to the sensitive nature of UK Space Command's mission and work, we cannot disclose details on its capabilities or assessments on the resilience of UK military space systems.The Ministry of Defence cannot comment on the decisions made by other British satellite manufacturers and operators regarding measures to protect against stalking and disruption.

Whether he has had discussions with (a) NATO allies and (b) his European counterparts on plans to develop a defence space shield to protect British (a) military and (b) communication satellites.

The UK works closely with its NATO and European Allies to improve collective understanding of evolving threats, integrate space more effectively into defence operations, and pursue interoperability and resilience across our space assets and space-based services. In addition to working with partners, the UK continues to invest in its national capabilities, including through the work of UK Space Command and the development of advanced satellite technologies. These efforts are aimed at enhancing Space Domain Awareness strengthening the resilience of critical space assets, and ensuring the UK can respond effectively to emerging threats in the space domain. Working nationally and with Allies and partners, the UK remains committed to maintaining the security and operational integrity of British satellites, as part of a broader strategy to safeguard and ensure we can deter and, if necessary, protect our interests in space.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Groundbreaking Ukraine tech sharing agreement to deliver drones and support jobs, published on 10 September 2025, what the in-service date is for the new air defence interceptor drone.

The new industrial partnership between UK and Ukraine has already made significant progress. We have agreed project arrangements and we expect to start UK manufacturing of OCTOPUS drones within weeks.. Through project Octopus, our Ukrainian friends will share the technology and intellectual property with the UK – in turn we’ll develop this further and mass produce it to supply thousands of interceptor drones back to Ukraine monthly.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Groundbreaking Ukraine tech sharing agreement to deliver drones and support jobs, published on 10 September 2025, whether Project Octopus will solely produce interceptor drones.

As part of the groundbreaking new technology sharing agreement with Ukraine, the first project, Octopus, will focus solely on the joint development of an advanced new air defence interceptor drone.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Groundbreaking Ukraine tech sharing agreement to deliver drones and support jobs, published on 10 September 2025, how many drones will be manufactured as part of that partnership.

As part of the groundbreaking new technology sharing agreement with Ukraine, an advanced air defence interceptor drone, named Project Octopus, will be mass-produced in the UK. The programme targets the production of thousands of drones each month to support Ukraine in its ongoing fight for freedom against President Putin’s illegal full-scale invasion, while also strengthening the UK defence industry.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Groundbreaking Ukraine tech sharing agreement to deliver drones and support jobs, published on 10 September 2025, how many UK jobs will be created as a result of that partnership.

UK support to Ukraine has already generated hundreds of new British jobs. The partnership will enable the UK to manufacture and jointly develop cutting-edge military equipment in collaboration with Ukrainian industry. This will continue to support hundreds of British jobs and strengthen the national security of both the UK and Ukraine.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Groundbreaking Ukraine tech sharing agreement to deliver drones and support jobs, published on 10 September 2025, what proportion of the manufacture of drones will take place in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Ukraine.

The advanced new air defence interceptor drone, named Project Octopus, will be mass produced in the UK with a target to produced thousands per month to provide to Ukraine to support its ongoing fight for freedom against Russia’s illegal full scale invasion. No decision has yet been made on the proportion of manufacturing to be conducted in the UK and in Ukraine.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Groundbreaking Ukraine tech sharing agreement to deliver drones and support jobs, published on 10 September 2025, how many drones have been manufactured as part of that partnership since 10 September 2025.

We expect manufacture of the advanced new air defence interceptor drone, named Project Octopus, to begin within weeks. This Project will see the mass production of these drones with a target to produce thousands per month for Ukraine. At the latest Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting on 15 October, it was announced that over 85,000 military drones have been delivered to Ukraine in the past six months with £600 million invested by the UK to accelerate drone delivery.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Groundbreaking Ukraine tech sharing agreement to deliver drones and support jobs, published on 10 September 2025, what his planned timeframe is for delivering Project Octopus.

The new industrial partnership between UK and Ukraine has already made significant progress. We have agreed project arrangements and we expect to start UK manufacturing of OCTOPUS drones within weeks.. Through project Octopus, our Ukrainian friends will share the technology and intellectual property with the UK – in turn we’ll develop this further and mass produce it to supply thousands of interceptor drones back to Ukraine monthly.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 October 2025 to Question 64587 on Defence Growth Board, on which dates the Defence Growth Board has met since 3 April 2025; and who attended.

The Defence Growth Board met on 30 July 2025. It was attended by the Secretary of State for Defence, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Business, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Permanent Secretary, the MOD interim National Armaments Director and other senior officials from Departments.

How much his Department expects to spend on E-Scan radar procurement in each financial year of the current Parliament.

There is an approved budget of £2.35 billion to deliver the Eurofighter Common Radar System Mk2 within Eurofighter Phase 4 Enhancements to be fitted to RAF Typhoon aircraft. A number of contracts for development have been committed, with production and integration contracts to follow, which will deliver the capability into service by the end of the decade.

What plans he has to accelerate the procurement of E-Scan Radar for the Royal Air Force.

The UK, our partner Nations and Eurofighter industries are working jointly to deliver the Phase 4 Enhancement programme which will enable delivery of European Common Radar System Mk2 into service on RAF Typhoon by the end of the decade. Opportunities are being explored to accelerate development and testing.

Whether his Department had discussions with Lord Mandelson on procurement contracts between 10 February and 11 September 2025.

As former Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson met regularly with senior Defence officials to discuss a range of issues across the UK-US relationship, including opportunities for closer collaboration on our technology partnership, defence capabilities, AUKUS and other ways to deepen the UK-US bilateral relationship.

What discussions he has had with the incoming Chief of the Air Staff on the acceleration of E-Scan Radar procurement.

There have not yet been any discussions between the Secretary of State for Defence and the incoming Chief of the Air Staff on the acceleration of procurement of the Eurofighter Common Radar System Mk2 Radar.

How many students attend the Royal College of Defence Studies from (a) Russia, (b) China, (c) Iran and (d) North Korea.

The provision of professional military education or training to a foreign Governments is dependent on a number of factors, including the nature of our partnerships and course availability, and is kept under regular review. Any decision is made on a case-by-case basis and is underpinned by a robust assessment as to the benefits, risks, and compliance with international human rights law. In the interests of national security and upholding trust and confidentiality in our international partnerships, it is not appropriate for the Government to comment on the current provision of training to individual countries or the numbers of individuals on specific courses.

Which nations have been subject to a ban on personnel attending the Royal College of Defence Studies; and when those bans were put in place.

Any decision to provide professional military education or training to a partner nation is made on a case-by-case basis and is underpinned by a robust assessment as to the benefits, risks, and compliance with international human rights law. In the interests of national security and upholding trust and confidentiality in our international partnerships, it is not appropriate for the Government to comment on the provision of training to individual countries.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 70714 on Defence: Finance, whether the Defence Investment Plan will report on the assumption that the fiscal and economic conditions will allow three per cent to be spent on defence in the next Parliament.

The Defence Investment Plan will be based on the assumption that defence spending will reach 3% of GDP in the next Parliament. This will be finalised in future Spending Reviews.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 June to Question 61525 on RAF Brize Norton: Security, when he plans to publish the security review into the defence estate.

I released a written ministerial statement on this matter today.

With reference to his Oral Statement of 1 September 2025 on Ukraine, Official Report, columns 93-94, whether the conclusions of the armed forces readiness levels review will be broken down by service.

Defence maintains a continual review of Armed Forces readiness levels which are aligned to NATO, Sovereign defence and crisis response requirements. Improvement of warfighting readiness was a key recommendation of the Strategic Defence Review and is being delivered through prudent sequencing of investment that is part of the new Defence Investment Plan that will be completed in the Autumn. The readiness of all three Services will be taken into account.