Written questions by Cartlidge.

With reference to paragraph 23 on page 19 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what the expected total cost to the public purse is of his Department's plans to develop the understanding of the Armed Forces among young people in schools.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the importance of the Department for Education (DfE) in increasing understanding and appreciation of our Armed Forces in young people. Ministers and officials from the MOD have met with colleagues in the DfE and discussed how a formal curriculum could be part of their ongoing curriculum review. Both departments have also discussed the vital work of Cadet Forces in schools, membership of which is proven to help develop self-confidence, teamwork, leadership and resilience in young people. Our ongoing discussions with the DfE are crucial to implementing the Cadet ‘30 in 30’ scheme under which this Government is investing £70 million to add 40,000 new Cadets across the UK by 2030.The Strategic Defence Review is clear on the need for a whole of society approach to defence and the ongoing relationship between the MOD and the DfE is a key component of that plan. The Armed Forces enjoy good relationships with schools, primarily in terms of engagement to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) curriculum areas but this also extends to careers engagement. The Armed Forces only visit when they have been invited by a school to support activities and such visits cover a range of activities such as career events, citizenship talks, science and maths challenges and exercises.Regarding the recruitment of young people, it is important to note that the Armed Forces do not target recruitment activity at under-16s, and no visits to schools by the Armed Forces are directly linked to recruitment, other than specific Careers/Jobs Fairs which generally involve a range of employers. While presentations may be given highlighting the careers available in the Armed Forces, no pupil is ever signed up or able to make a commitment to become a recruit in the Armed Forces during the course of a visit.

With reference to page 48 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, how many new staff will be employed as part of the Digital Warfighter group.

The Digital Warfighter Group remains at internal planning and design stages, with options presented to Defence but not yet endorsed by Military Strategic Headquarters. Initially, it is anticipated to be a re-brigading of elements from the Armed Forces, who already operate in this space, into a coherent construct. Design and implementation planning is underway to define the exact military groupings that will be cohered to form the core of this Group. However, we expect this to be a whole force construct, with regular military, reservists and civilian staff, in partnership with Industry and Academia. This work is still in its early stages, which includes consideration as to whether any new staff are required.

With reference to recommendation 32 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, how frequently senior ministers from the National Security Council (Nuclear) committee will meet to discuss the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

The National Endeavour to maintain and renew the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent is a whole of Government effort. The Ministry of Defence works closely with other Government departments, including the Cabinet Office, His Majesty’s Treasury, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, to ensure its effective delivery. The National Security Council (Nuclear) remains committed to regularly reviewing progress on the National Endeavour. It receives comprehensive updates on delivery at least twice each year, with involvement from all relevant Departments.

With reference to page 55 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, who will lead the Defence Research and Evaluation organisation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 June 2025, to Questions 59137, 59138, 59140 and 59143, and to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty) to Question 59406. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-06-11/59137 This evolution of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is in the initial stages of planning and therefore requires substantial design work. The outcome of this, and subsequent details within, will be announced in due course.

With reference to page 55 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, updated on 8 July 2025, what proportion of the Defence Research and Evaluation organisation will be staffed by (a) military and (b) civilian personnel.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 June 2025, to Questions 59137, 59138, 59140 and 59143, and to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty) to Question 59406. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-06-11/59137 This evolution of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is in the initial stages of planning and therefore requires substantial design work. The outcome of this, and subsequent details within, will be announced in due course.

With reference to recommendation 13 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether his Department has set a target for the completion of the digitisation of acquisition and support processes.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) commits Defence to the digitalisation of acquisition and support processes through recommendation 13. From setting our initial requirements, to the disposal of our capabilities, our end-to-end process can be enabled by digital tools - including for contracting, design, test, assurance, and support. The implementation of SDR recommendations is currently forming part of the main business of the Department and is being executed through a whole of UK Defence effort. The development of a new Defence Investment Plan will turn the Review’s vision and recommendations into a delivery plan that we will publish in the autumn. We will ensure that this plan is affordable, considers infrastructure alongside capabilities, enables flexibility to seize new technological opportunities, and maximises the benefits of defence spending to grow the UK economy.

With reference to page 57 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, when he expects the first review into the anchor partnerships between universities and the Defence Research and Evaluation organisation to take place.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 June 2025, to Questions 59137, 59138, 59140 and 59143, and to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty) to Question 59406. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-06-11/59137 This evolution of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is in the initial stages of planning and therefore requires substantial design work. The outcome of this, and subsequent details within, will be announced in due course.

With reference to recommendation 6 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress his Department has made on developing a dedicated strategy for the financial services sector by March 2026.

The Defence Finance and Investment Strategy and the Defence Investors' Advisory Group that will be supporting the strategy will formally meet in early autumn in preparation for the publication in early 2026.

With reference to page 57 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, if he will list the universities with which the Defence Research and Evaluation organisation will create anchor partnerships.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 June 2025, to Questions 59137, 59138, 59140 and 59143, and to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty) to Question 59406. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-06-11/59137 This evolution of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is in the initial stages of planning and therefore requires substantial design work. The outcome of this, and subsequent details within, will be announced in due course.

With reference to page 47 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer, published on 2 June 2025, when he plans to appoint a data and AI lead within each procurement capability portfolio in his Department.

The Ministry of Defence is introducing service-agnostic capability portfolios to increase flexibility and drive pace in procurement. Portfolios will improve collaboration and integration pan-defence and ensure that cross-cutting aspects such as data and AI are embedded in delivery from the outset and throughout the lifecycle of new capabilities.

With reference to recommendation 4 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, when his Department plans to undertake the first annual evaluation of the effectiveness of the integrated force model.

The Strategic Defence Review considered all aspects of Defence, including the capabilities required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty-first century.The Defence Investment Plan will be published in the Autumn, to take onboard the Review's vision and recommendations and turn them into a delivery plan. We will ensure this plan considers the capabilities we need to deliver a new design for a more lethal and agile Integrated Force, alongside investment in infrastructure and people.The baseline design for the Integrated Force will be finalised after the Defence Investment Plan has been published. Thereafter, the effectiveness of the Integrated Force model will be evaluated on an annual basis.

With reference to recommendation 5 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, when he expects the fundamental capabilities of the core common platform to be fully established.

The fundamental capabilities of the core common platform set out within the Strategic Defence Review already exist and are being used today; however, they are not at the scale or delivering the integrated and innovative capabilities at the speed required to support the Integrated Force model. The regular progress reporting to Ministers will ensure that investment in these essential digital capabilities is closely monitored and prioritised through the Defence Investment Plan. The first progress report is due to be submitted to the Secretary of State in Autumn 2025.

With reference to recommendation 56 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, updated on 8 July 2025, where the single counter-intelligence unit will be based.

The new Defence Counter Intelligence Unit’s (DCIU) mandate is to protect UK Defence from intelligence and espionage threats, at home and overseas, by bringing together expertise and specialist capabilities alongside the UK Intelligence Community. The DCIU will be led by a One Star equivalent Senior Civil Servant. We do not comment on the proportion of manpower figures or specific locations to safeguard national security and strategic Defence interests. The costs relating to the formation and running of the unit are ongoing and will form part of the Defence Investment Plan, due to be published later this year.

With reference to recommendation 56 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, last updated on 8 July 2025, what proportion of the single counter-intelligence unit will be staffed by (a) military and (b) civilian personnel.

The new Defence Counter Intelligence Unit’s (DCIU) mandate is to protect UK Defence from intelligence and espionage threats, at home and overseas, by bringing together expertise and specialist capabilities alongside the UK Intelligence Community. The DCIU will be led by a One Star equivalent Senior Civil Servant. We do not comment on the proportion of manpower figures or specific locations to safeguard national security and strategic Defence interests. The costs relating to the formation and running of the unit are ongoing and will form part of the Defence Investment Plan, due to be published later this year.

With reference to recommendation 56 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, update on 8 July 2025, who will command the single counter-intelligence unit.

The new Defence Counter Intelligence Unit’s (DCIU) mandate is to protect UK Defence from intelligence and espionage threats, at home and overseas, by bringing together expertise and specialist capabilities alongside the UK Intelligence Community. The DCIU will be led by a One Star equivalent Senior Civil Servant. We do not comment on the proportion of manpower figures or specific locations to safeguard national security and strategic Defence interests. The costs relating to the formation and running of the unit are ongoing and will form part of the Defence Investment Plan, due to be published later this year.

With reference to paragraph 31 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, who will lead the CyberEM Command.

Air Vice Marshal Tom Ashbridge will lead the 2* Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force, part of the Cyber and Specialist Operations Command which is led at 4* by General Sir James Hockenhull.

With reference to page 123 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published in June 2025, how many separate policy teams will be established as part of CyberEM Command.

The 2* Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force (DCEMF) will have one policy team to ensure that DCEMF operations and force development activities are consistent with Defence and government policy. The policy team in the DCEMF will work closely with the Military Strategic Headquarters and other Cyber and Specialist Operations Command policy teams.

With reference to page 48 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, when he plans to establish a Digital Warfighter group.

As stated in the referenced section of the Strategic Defence Review, the Digital Warfighter Group, at an Initial Operating Capability, will be established by July 2026.

With reference to recommendation 47 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, whether he plans on establishing a cost-sharing arrangement with NATO allies to expedite the procurement of E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.

The UK remains open to exploring all opportunities for future E-7 Wedgetail procurement, subject to the availability of funding.

With reference to recommendation 54 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, updated on 8 July 2025, when he plans to publish the new Defence Intelligence Charter.

Work on the Defence Intelligence Charter is ongoing. Defence is aiming to publish the Charter as soon as possible to underpin the Military Intelligence Services, however it’s publication will be coordinated with a broad range of activity around Defence Reform and Strategic Defence Review delivery.