Written questions by Cartlidge.

With reference to recommendation 32 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, when the first review by senior Ministers from the National Security Council (Nuclear) committee on progress on the National Endeavour for delivering the UK’s nuclear deterrent will (a) begin and (b) conclude.

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 paragraph 31 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, how many new staff will be employed for the CyberEM Command.

The Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force (DCEMF) remains in internal planning and design stages, with options presented to Defence but not yet endorsed by Military Strategic Headquarters. Resource and capability decisions are subject to the Defence annual planning cycle and the Defence Investment Plan, which will ultimately shape the design of the DCEMF and the speed, scale, and nature of implementation. I hope that the Hon. Gentleman will understand that until these processes are complete, details such as basing, costs, and workforce mix remain undecided and would be speculative.

With reference to recommendation 57 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, updated on 8 July 2025, when the sprint review into the partnership between Defence Medical Services and the National Health Service will (a) commence and (b) conclude.

The Strategic Defence Review recognises the interdependencies between the Defence Medical Services and the National Health Service and the need to strengthen this partnership to meet Defence medical needs, including in the most extreme circumstances. The Government endorses the Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations, including the recommendation for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to conduct a sprint review of system-wide capacity and capability. The MOD will work closely with DHSC to create a shared understanding of current capacity, current and potential future need, and shared plans for delivery. The implementation of the Review’s recommendations is underway. Implementation will be priority business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort.

With reference to recommendation 57 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, updated on 8 July 2025, what will be the requirements to sit on the independent review board.

The Strategic Defence Review recognises Ministers in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) must have direct access to information on the collective readiness of Defence, the NHS, and private healthcare to meet the demands of warfighting and other strategic health emergencies involving DMS. The Government endorses the Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations, including the recommendation an independent review board, akin to the US Defense Health Board, should assure ecosystem readiness, reporting periodically to Ministers, the Defence Board, and Parliament. The implementation of the Review’s recommendations is underway. Implementation will be priority business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort.

With reference to page 65 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what steps he is taking to reduce his Department's civil service costs by 2030.

The ambition set out in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) is to reduce Civil Service-related costs by at least 10% by 2030. As part of the Defence Reform and Efficiency Plan (which is one of the foundations of our Defence Investment Plan) we are developing plans to reduce these costs. We are working across Defence to review the workforce we need to deliver Defence outcomes, making sure we have got the requirement right, whether that is Regular or Reserve personnel, Civil Servants or contractors. We will also use this as an opportunity for prioritisation, As set out in the SDR, we are developing plans for how to use the latest automation, and AI technology to reduce costs. Importantly, this is a productivity-driven ambition, not a headcount target. Civil Servants are integral to success; therefore, we will invest in performance, skills, and productivity. This will support building a stronger, more agile organisation to deliver better outcomes through smarter use of technology, less bureaucracy, and higher productivity.​

With reference to recommendation 17 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, whether he has a formal target for the reduction in the frequency with which people move locations during service in the armed forces.

Defence fully recognises the impact of moving its people and their families. Whilst there are no formal targets to reduce the frequency with which Service personnel must move location, we will endeavour to support requests to reduce the number of moves experienced and are actively pursuing opportunities to provide increased stability in some areas. Ultimately, the needs of the Services are the priority and Kings Regulations empower the Armed Forces to move the workforce to fulfil the policies of the Government. This provides the flexibility and agility required to meet operational demands and deliver military outputs.

With reference to page 90 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, whether he plans to form a new force to connect local communities with Defence.

On Strategic Defence Review recommendation 27, the Ministry of Defence will develop options for the protection of Critical National Infrastructure in the event of crisis or conflict, including exploring the development of a new force that is modelled on the Reserves and connects local communities with Defence. Plans will be presented to the Secretary of State by December 2026.

With reference to recommendation 29 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, where the new defence uncrewed systems centre will be based.

The Strategic Defence Review recommends that a new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre (DUSC) should be established at IOC by February 2026, with centralised authority to accelerate the adoption of Uncrewed System technologies across all three services. Cost, staffing, governance and basing options are currently under development in tandem with the Defence Investment Plan due to be published in the Autumn.

With reference to page 131 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, updated on 8 July 2025, what his planned timetable is for establishing a single Defence Medical Enterprise as part of Defence Medical Services.

The Government endorses the Strategic Defence Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations, including the recommendation the Defence Medical Services (DMS) should be empowered as the functional lead of a single Defence Medical Enterprise that meets personnel’s healthcare needs in peacetime, on operations, and in war. The implementation of the Review’s recommendations is underway. Implementation will be priority business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort.

With reference to recommendation 29 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, how many new staff will be employed as part of the defence uncrewed systems centre.

The Strategic Defence Review recommends that a new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre (DUSC) should be established at IOC by Feb 26, with centralised authority to accelerate the adoption of Uncrewed System technologies across all three services. Cost, staffing, governance and basing options are currently under development in tandem with the Defence Investment Plan due to be published in the Autumn.

With reference to recommendation 14 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what estimate he has made of the potential savings to the public purse of automating at least 20% of human resources, finance and commercial functions by July 2028; and what proportion of the total current cost of these functions will be saved through automation.

The Defence Reform and Efficiency Plan (which is one of the foundations of our Defence Investment Plan) to be published in the autumn, will include several initiatives that will deliver automation across Human Resources, Finance and Commercial functions. This includes initiatives such as a Corporate Services Modernisation programme that will deliver new automated tools and systems across the functions. The specific automation savings and timelines across all workforces are currently being defined in detail to meet the Strategic Defence Review recommendations. The benefits and associated financial savings with these initiatives are currently being worked up in detail as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

With reference to recommendation 12 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, which Departments he plans to coordinate with to support his Department's export goals.

Design work for the Exports function is well underway and building momentum through several pilot government to government exports. Initial stand up is expected no later than end October 2025 with full implementation continuing over the next 12 months. The MOD expects to work closely with FCDO, the Cabinet Office, DBT and HMT through the Defence Growth Board (the FCDO is not a standing member but can be invited).

With reference to recommendation 29 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, who will the new defence uncrewed systems centre be led by.

The Strategic Defence Review recommends that a new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre (DUSC) should be established at IOC by Feb 26, with centralised authority to accelerate the adoption of Uncrewed System technologies across all three services. Cost, staffing, governance and basing options are currently under development in tandem with the Defence Investment Plan due to be published in the Autumn.

With reference to page 136 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, updated on 8 July 2025, which Front Line Commands do not currently have a board member responsible for infrastructure.

Army and Air Command have appointed senior representatives with responsibility for infrastructure as part of their role. Following the Strategic Defence Review and taking into account Defence Reform, the Navy is currently reviewing their position.

With reference to page 68 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what plans he has to supplement live training with virtual training environments for the (a) British Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force.

All of the service commands have plans to supplement live training with virtual training environments. The Royal Navy’s SPARTAN programme aims at modernising and improving the delivery of Royal Navy Collective Training from unit to Joint Battle Staff level through an enhanced Live-Virtual-Constructive simulation approach that incorporates the use of virtual training environments. The British Army has detailed plans to supplement live training with virtual training environments as part of a balanced and evidence-based approach. This is part of an integrated approach through its Collective Training Transformation Programme (CTTP). The RAF uses blended live and virtual training as a matter of routine. The RAF’s Gladiator Distributed Synthetic Training Capability is already delivering for Air personnel and its potential to help integrate across the war-fighting domains is now being pursued. The benefits of the appropriate usage of virtual training environments to supplement live training are clear although the blend varies on a case-by-case basis.

With reference to recommendation 50 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, if he will list the partners he plans to engage with to support the Integrated Air and Missile Defence programme.

The Government's work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan. Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) by nature involves all arms of our Armed Forces, linking with allies and industry to tackle the growing threat - the sensitivities of those relationships and our IAMD capability mean we are unable to publish a list at this time.

With reference to recommendation 17 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, what plans he has to reduce the frequency with which people move locations during service in the armed forces.

Defence fully recognises the impact of moving its people and their families. Whilst there are no formal targets to reduce the frequency with which Service personnel must move location, we will endeavour to support requests to reduce the number of moves experienced and are actively pursuing opportunities to provide increased stability in some areas. Ultimately, the needs of the Services are the priority and Kings Regulations empower the Armed Forces to move the workforce to fulfil the policies of the Government. This provides the flexibility and agility required to meet operational demands and deliver military outputs.

With reference to paragraph 24 on page 19of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether his Department plans to take steps with the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Home Office to publish a formal policy document on the protection and defence of critical national infrastructure.

The Strategic Defence Review set out the need for Defence Readiness legislation this Parliament to give the Government more robust or additional powers to make the UK safe. This could include measures to improve the preparedness of key industries including nuclear, to better protect our Critical National Infrastructure and to support the mobilisation of wider Defence, including industry reserves. As set out to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy on 30 June 2025, a Defence Readiness Bill is potentially a legislative vehicle for the wider Government, not just Defence. We are therefore working closely across Government through the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence programme to shape our key requirements, and understand and identify the measures needed. This will lay the groundwork to introduce legislation when Parliamentary time allows, but we do not yet have a specific timescale for when this will come before Parliament.

With reference to recommendation 27 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, if his Department will hold regular meetings with the Cabinet Office to discuss the protection of UK critical infrastructure.

The Strategic Defence Review set out the need for Defence Readiness legislation this Parliament to give the Government more robust or additional powers to make the UK safe. This could include measures to improve the preparedness of key industries including nuclear, to better protect our Critical National Infrastructure and to support the mobilisation of wider Defence, including industry reserves. As set out to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy on 30 June 2025, a Defence Readiness Bill is potentially a legislative vehicle for the wider Government, not just Defence. We are therefore working closely across Government through the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence programme to shape our key requirements, and understand and identify the measures needed. This will lay the groundwork to introduce legislation when Parliamentary time allows, but we do not yet have a specific timescale for when this will come before Parliament.

With reference to page 90 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, whether the Home Defence Programme will be developed in conjunction with any other government departments.

Defence plays a leading role in the development of the Cabinet Office-led cross-Government Home Defence Programme, overseen centrally by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. As set out in the National Security Strategy and the Resilience Action Plan, this coordinates civil and military preparations across the whole of Government for some of the most serious risks we could face, including communicating, empowering and engaging with all tiers of resilience actors to ensure that all sectors are prepared for and able to respond to the most catastrophic of risks. A broad range of Government Departments are engaged in supporting this work. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK, informed by and reflecting the recommendations from Government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan.