Written questions by Cartlidge.

With reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, how many candidates were interviewed as part of the recruiting process to appoint the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge.

As the hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Defence Minister, Ministers are entitled to directly appoint ‘eminent’ or qualified individuals to provide advice, champion an issue or undertake a review. Such appointments have been made under successive administrations and those holding these roles play a vital role in providing expert, independent advice to the government on a range of matters.

With reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, for how long the application process to fill the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge role lasted.

As the hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Defence Minister, Ministers are entitled to directly appoint ‘eminent’ or qualified individuals to provide advice, champion an issue or undertake a review. Such appointments have been made under successive administrations and those holding these roles play a vital role in providing expert, independent advice to the government on a range of matters.

With reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, whether there was an official application process for the appointment of the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge.

As the hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Defence Minister, Ministers are entitled to directly appoint ‘eminent’ or qualified individuals to provide advice, champion an issue or undertake a review. Such appointments have been made under successive administrations and those holding these roles play a vital role in providing expert, independent advice to the government on a range of matters.

Whether he has appointed a Director of the Secretary of State’s Office for Net Assessment and Challenge.

The Ministry of Defence is pleased to welcome Malcom Chalmers as the new Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State (SofS) and Head of Review and Challenge. Malcolm Chalmers will not be a direct replacement for Director SONAC but will have many of the same responsibilities. This model will allow Mr Chalmers to focus on providing expert advice to the SofS, backed by the expertise and intellectual horsepower of SONAC. SONAC will be run day to day by a Civil Servant Deputy Director. This model will allow us to get the best out of the expert - and optimise the strategic value that SONAC delivers to the Defence Secretary and the Department.

With reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, if he will outline the responsibilities of the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge role.

The key responsibilities of the role are: The Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State and Head of Review and Challenge will be responsible for providing expert strategic advice to the Secretary of State and, as appropriate to the PUS, CDS and NAD as well as the Ministerial team. They will lead, provide senior oversight and tasking, but not line management, of the Secretary of State’s Office of Net Assessment and Challenge (SONAC) (circa 30 staff). In this role they will reform the way the Department offers challenge to policy and strategy. They will play a key role in advising strategic coherence of Departmental outcomes and activity. They will work closely with the Strategy Directorate and use their skills, expertise, and network to improve strategic acumen both in the directorate and across the department. They will collaborate with the Director of Communications on strategic communications as required.Provide senior strategic advice to the Secretary of State to assist the strategic coherence and impact of Defence’s activities. Provide strategic challenge to the Defence Board and other senior decision-making boards as appropriate. Provide senior leadership to the internal provision of strategic expertise, helping to improve the quality of advice from both the strategy directorate and from elsewhere in the department. Improve the department’s use of external expertise, including from academia and think tanks.

With reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, what the remuneration package for the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge will be.

Malcolm Chalmers will be given remuneration for work in-line with agreed and existing SCS pay bands. The position is non-pensionable.

Whether he plans to abolish the Secretary of State’s Office for Net Assessment and Challenge.

We have no plans to abolish the Secretary of State’s Office of Net Assessment and Challenge, known as SONAC. As the Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State and Head of Review and Challenge, Malcolm Chalmers will be responsible for providing expert strategic advice to the Secretary of State and as appropriate to the PUS, CDS and NAD as well as the Ministerial team. He will lead, providing senior oversight and tasking, but not line management of SONAC’s approx. thirty staff, who will continue their expert work. SONAC will continue to work with top external experts, running red teams and wargames to test and challenge departmental thinking, as well as continuing their long-term Net Assessment program to ensure we understand the problems we’re facing. These will be vital inputs to Malcolm Chalmers as he provides advice to the Secretary of State.

With reference to his oral contribution during the debate on Defence on 2 July, Official Report, Column 327, whether the additional £5 billion spent on defence includes funding for Ukraine.

The Government is committed to providing Ukraine with £3 billion a year of military support for as long as needed. This year, the UK will provide more financial aid in military support to Ukraine than at any time since the full-scale invasion began: £4.5 billion to deliver military support, enhance training and strengthen industrial collaboration. This is separate from the £5 billion we are investing in the Ministry of Defence budget this financial year. This additional investment will enable us to fix the foundations of defence and support key activities including the UK’s programme of joint exercises with NATO allies, invest in advanced technology such as Directed Energy Weapons and develop and refurbish the defence estate to provide our military families with the homes they deserve.

What discussions he has had with his United States counterpart on that country's decision to pause certain arms supplies to Ukraine.

The Defence Secretary regularly speaks with his US counterpart. Officials are in close touch about what this means for Ukraine, whilst working with all our allies, including through joint leadership of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, to ensure Ukraine gets the military support it needs to defend itself.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the United States' decision to pause certain arms supplies to Ukraine.

The UK and our allies have been steadfast in our support for Ukraine and continue to send a wide range of lethal aid alongside continued humanitarian and fiscal support. We work closely with Ukraine and allies, including through our joint leadership of the Ukraine Defence Contact group, to ensure that our collective support meets Ukrainian needs. We welcome US support to Ukraine, including President Trump’s work to secure a just and lasting peace and we will continue to work closely with the US as we have always done.

What approvals process is required by the Military Aviation Authority for the use of (a) reconnaissance and (b) kinetic drones on UK military bases.

The process for Military Aviation Authority (MAA) approvals of Ministry of Defence (MOD) Uncrewed Air System (UAS) [1] activity is detailed in Regulatory Article 1600 with amplification within the UAS Manual available on the www.gov.uk website. The approvals process is proportionate to the operating intent and level of risk to life posed. The approval is a one-off process for a MOD organisation to operate a type of UAS i.e. a licence to operate and not an approval per flight. The majority of MOD UAS used for airborne reconnaissance on MOD bases are small ‘Open category’ UAS requiring submission of a limited safety checklist for MAA approval. The MAA guarantees a response within 60 days, but over 90% of applications are processed in under 30 days and those with higher priority processed in under 24 hours. The agile approach adopted by the MAA has been welcomed. Approvals for weaponised ‘kinetic drones’ is necessarily more complex. Approval timelines are dependent on the technical maturity of the system, risk to life posed, location of use and safety mitigations in place, to ensure an appropriate level of safety to military users and the UK population.[1] MAA Regulations are transitioning to the term ‘Uncrewed Air System’ rather than ‘drone’ or ‘Remotely Piloted Air System’ in order to align with nomenclature of ICAO and NATO nations.

What assessment he has made of the quality of electronic warfare equipment used by the armed forces in training exercises.

The UK Armed Forces have made, and continue to make, significant investments in advanced Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) capabilities to ensure operational effectiveness in modern combat scenarios. Training exercises routinely integrate EW systems to replicate real-world conditions, enabling personnel to develop critical skills in detecting, countering, and exploiting electromagnetic signals. The quality of such equipment reflects the UK's commitment to maintaining a technologically advanced and highly capable military force. The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) have also conducted specific assessments and evaluations on behalf of the Ministry of Defence regarding the quality and performance of EW equipment utilised by the Services' during training exercises. I am withholding information on the list of electronic warfare equipment used on the grounds of national security as its disclosure would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

If he will list the electronic warfare equipment used by the armed forces.

The UK Armed Forces have made, and continue to make, significant investments in advanced Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) capabilities to ensure operational effectiveness in modern combat scenarios. Training exercises routinely integrate EW systems to replicate real-world conditions, enabling personnel to develop critical skills in detecting, countering, and exploiting electromagnetic signals. The quality of such equipment reflects the UK's commitment to maintaining a technologically advanced and highly capable military force. The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) have also conducted specific assessments and evaluations on behalf of the Ministry of Defence regarding the quality and performance of EW equipment utilised by the Services' during training exercises. I am withholding information on the list of electronic warfare equipment used on the grounds of national security as its disclosure would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

How many orders of electronic jamming equipment his Department has made for use by the armed forces since 5 July 2024.

The Department procure a number of systems across all domains, many of which are integrated into larger platforms. Consequently, the information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

How many volunteer reservists completed (a) up to 18, (b) 19 to 26 and (c) over 27 reserve service days in the last five financial years by service.

It will take time to collate the information needed to answer the hon. Member’s questions. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

With reference to the press release entitled UK to purchase F-35As and join NATO mission as Government steps up national security and delivers defence dividend, published on 24 June 2025, whether nuclear certification of the aircraft will take place (a) prior and (b) after the aircraft are delivered.

The detail of F-35 procurement is subject to the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan, which is scheduled to complete in the Autumn. However, we will not be providing detailed updates on the steps required to enable participation in the NATO nuclear mission for national security reasons.

What the cost to his Department was of the volunteer reserve annual bounty in the last five financial years by service.

It will take time to collate the information needed to answer the hon. Member’s questions. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

How many orders of electronic warfare equipment has his Department made for use by the armed forces since 5 July 2024.

The Department procure a number of systems across all domains, many of which are integrated into larger platforms. Consequently, the information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

With reference to the press release entitled UK to purchase F-35As and join NATO mission as Government steps up national security and delivers defence dividend, published on 24 June 2025, what his target date is for the RAF to have access to air launched weapons to use with the purchased F-35A aircraft.

It would not be appropriate to comment on timeframes in which UK F-35A aircraft will have access to US air-launched nuclear weapons for reasons of safeguarding of national security.

What the cost to his Department was of volunteer reserve pay excluding annual bounties in the last five financial years by service.

It will take time to collate the information needed to answer the hon. Member’s questions. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.