Written questions by Cartlidge.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 52037 on F-35 Aircraft: Meteor Missiles, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the delay to the integration of the Meteor air-to-air missile with F-35B aircraft on F-35 capability.

With the F-35 Lightning, the RAF is already equipped with one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, and the integration of METEOR will further improve the aircraft's capability in future years. While Meteor integration is in progress, the UK's fleet of F-35 aircraft already carry AIM-120 AMRAAM. Once operational, Meteor and AMRAAM will offer a complementary capability.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 57297 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, what the total cost to his Department’s budget in the latest spending review arising from the Chagos Treaty is; and if he will provide a breakdown of that cost in each year of the Spending Review.

The Government has acted to secure our national interest, strengthen our national security, and to protect the British people. As set out by the Secretary of State in his statement, this is at a cost of less than 0.2% of the annual defence budget.

With reference to page 18 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what information his Department holds on when it will receive funding to increase the number of active reserves by 20%.

Our Reserve Forces help the UK Armed Forces meet the threats we face at home and overseas, with the scale, skills, agility and connection to society that we need, in a cost-effective way. The diversity of knowledge, skills, experience, and behaviours that Reserves bring from their outside jobs are an invaluable strength. We have received the recommendation and are looking at how to undertake this in due course.

With reference to page 18 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025 what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of increasing the number of active reserves by 20%.

Our Reserve Forces help the UK Armed Forces meet the threats we face at home and overseas, with the scale, skills, agility and connection to society that we need, in a cost-effective way. The diversity of knowledge, skills, experience, and behaviours that Reserves bring from their outside jobs are an invaluable strength. The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) presents an exciting opportunity to invest in our Active Reserve, and the Secretary of State for Defence has agreed to all the SDR recommendations. We anticipate it will become necessary to increase the UK’s Active Reserve forces by at least 20%. We have received the recommendation and are looking at how to undertake this in due course.The Ministry of Defence is not in a position to comment on when exactly that will be, as this will be dictated by a range of internal and external factors. In the meantime, to restore mass and resilience in a crisis, Defence must make much better use of the resources available by urgently reinvigorating how it engages with the Strategic Reserve and improving recruitment and retention within the Active Reserves.

With reference to page 18 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, which back-office functions will be transferred to front-line roles.

The Government is endorsing the vision and accepting the Strategic Defence Reviews's 62 recommendations, including the recommendation that the MOD should seek to release all Regular personnel from administrative into front-line roles and should automate at least 20% of Human Resources, Finance, and Commercial functions by July 2028. Military personnel in administrative roles perform them with pride and skill. As we return to rebuilding warfighting readiness, it is important that we are using our highly trained and highly skilled military personnel for the roles only they can do. The Strategic Defence Review sets the vision; more detailed workforce planning will now be conducted within the department to make these changes in a deliberate, phased way.

With reference to page 16 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, how frequently the Defence Investors’ Advisory Group will meet.

The frequency of meetings of the Defence Investors' Advisory Group has yet to be determined. The Defence Investors’ Advisory Group will be an important element in supporting the Government’s aim of boosting private investment in the defence and dual-use technology sectors, and in supporting new entrants and innovation.

With reference to page 16 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what the requirements are for membership of the Defence Investors’ Advisory Group.

The SDR recognises that today, much of the best innovation is found in the private sector, while the increasing prevalence of dual-use technologies has widened the net of potential suppliers that can contribute to Defence outcomes. The Review is clear that Defence must embrace its role in seeding innovation and growth, rapidly adopting new technology to keep the Integrated Force at the forefront of warfare. It specifically recommends that external expertise should be systematically accessed through a new Defence Investors' Advisory Group. This will be an important starting point in boosting private investment in the defence and dual-use technology sectors, and in supporting new entrants and innovation.

With reference to page 16 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, who will sit on the Defence Investors’ Advisory Group.

As set out when the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was published, the Government accepts the vision and recommendations of the Review, including the establishment of a Defence Investors' Advisory Group. The SDR suggests that Defence should build relationships with the investors behind the innovators. The Review recommends that external expertise should be systematically accessed through a new Defence Investors' Advisory Group whose membership includes venture capital and private equity investors.

With reference to page 16 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, what the cost of establishing the Defence Research and Evaluation organisation will be.

In response to the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommendations, and as part of Defence Reform, the department is currently making substantive changes to the end-to-end process for Science, Technology, Innovation, Integration, Acquisition and Support. These changes will ensure Defence: better adopts leading edge research from academia, allies and wider government; works more closely with UK based industry especially SMEs to mature leading edge technology; better leverages the UK’s leading financial sector for the benefit of defence; and catalyses UK based industry to execute differentiating innovation; all at a pace to enable us to react to the threats faced by the nation. The DRE will be formed by an evolution of Dstl and Defence Science and Technology. There is still design work to be completed and will be announced in due course. The intention remains to focus the organisation on that work that must be done in Government for UK defence and security, including: early-stage research that must be led by officials; maintaining critical national capabilities in essential areas such as chemical and biological defence, novel and unconventional weapons, explosives and energetics and counter-terrorism technology where the market cannot sustain; and ensure Ministry of Defence is an intelligent customer for Science and Technology. The SDR stated that the department may wish to keep the Dstl brand. Dstl is a widely respected brand internationally and nationally.

With reference to page 16 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, when the Defence Research and Evaluation organisation will be established.

In response to the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommendations, and as part of Defence Reform, the department is currently making substantive changes to the end-to-end process for Science, Technology, Innovation, Integration, Acquisition and Support. These changes will ensure Defence: better adopts leading edge research from academia, allies and wider government; works more closely with UK based industry especially SMEs to mature leading edge technology; better leverages the UK’s leading financial sector for the benefit of defence; and catalyses UK based industry to execute differentiating innovation; all at a pace to enable us to react to the threats faced by the nation. The DRE will be formed by an evolution of Dstl and Defence Science and Technology. There is still design work to be completed and will be announced in due course. The intention remains to focus the organisation on that work that must be done in Government for UK defence and security, including: early-stage research that must be led by officials; maintaining critical national capabilities in essential areas such as chemical and biological defence, novel and unconventional weapons, explosives and energetics and counter-terrorism technology where the market cannot sustain; and ensure Ministry of Defence is an intelligent customer for Science and Technology. The SDR stated that the department may wish to keep the Dstl brand. Dstl is a widely respected brand internationally and nationally.

With reference to page 16 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, who will command the Defence Research and Evaluation organisation.

In response to the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommendations, and as part of Defence Reform, the department is currently making substantive changes to the end-to-end process for Science, Technology, Innovation, Integration, Acquisition and Support. These changes will ensure Defence: better adopts leading edge research from academia, allies and wider government; works more closely with UK based industry especially SMEs to mature leading edge technology; better leverages the UK’s leading financial sector for the benefit of defence; and catalyses UK based industry to execute differentiating innovation; all at a pace to enable us to react to the threats faced by the nation. The DRE will be formed by an evolution of Dstl and Defence Science and Technology. There is still design work to be completed and will be announced in due course. The intention remains to focus the organisation on that work that must be done in Government for UK defence and security, including: early-stage research that must be led by officials; maintaining critical national capabilities in essential areas such as chemical and biological defence, novel and unconventional weapons, explosives and energetics and counter-terrorism technology where the market cannot sustain; and ensure Ministry of Defence is an intelligent customer for Science and Technology. The SDR stated that the department may wish to keep the Dstl brand. Dstl is a widely respected brand internationally and nationally.

With reference to page 16 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, how many staff will be employed as part of the Defence Research and Evaluation organisation.

In response to the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommendations, and as part of Defence Reform, the department is currently making substantive changes to the end-to-end process for Science, Technology, Innovation, Integration, Acquisition and Support. These changes will ensure Defence: better adopts leading edge research from academia, allies and wider government; works more closely with UK based industry especially SMEs to mature leading edge technology; better leverages the UK’s leading financial sector for the benefit of defence; and catalyses UK based industry to execute differentiating innovation; all at a pace to enable us to react to the threats faced by the nation. The DRE will be formed by an evolution of Dstl and Defence Science and Technology. There is still design work to be completed and will be announced in due course. The intention remains to focus the organisation on that work that must be done in Government for UK defence and security, including: early-stage research that must be led by officials; maintaining critical national capabilities in essential areas such as chemical and biological defence, novel and unconventional weapons, explosives and energetics and counter-terrorism technology where the market cannot sustain; and ensure Ministry of Defence is an intelligent customer for Science and Technology. The SDR stated that the department may wish to keep the Dstl brand. Dstl is a widely respected brand internationally and nationally.

When he plans to publish the Defence Industrial Strategy.

This Government is committed to bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy which ensures the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned. The Defence Industrial Strategy will be published in the coming months.

With reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, when he plans to produce the first attack submarine.

The SSNA Programme is currently in the detailed design phase, which includes determining crew numbers. The aim is to deliver the first UK submarines into service in the late 2030s to replace the current Astute-Class vessels.

What is timetable is for the publication of the Defence Investment Plan.

As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the Defence Investment Plan will be published in the Autumn.

With reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, how many crew are required to staff the announced production of up to 12 submarines.

The SSNA Programme is currently in the detailed design phase, which includes determining crew numbers. The aim is to deliver the first UK submarines into service in the late 2030s to replace the current Astute-Class vessels.

What steps he is taking to ensure that critical components of military drones manufactured in the UK and supplied to Ukraine are sourced from UK suppliers.

Where the UK’s drone industry can meet Ukraine’s drone requirements, Task Force KINDRED try to source from UK industry. This has been reaffirmed by the Defence Secretary’s announcement at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group on 4 June 2025, where he pledged £350 million investment into drones this financial year, with the majority of the spend to be with British companies. The UK’s military support to Ukraine is based upon Ukraine’s needs, prioritising speed of delivery for equipment. When drone production or their performance is constrained by supply of components, the Ministry of Defence has worked with UK companies to develop and produce new components.

With reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025 in which year the new £11bn Invest annual budget will commence.

Under Defence Reform, the Department's investment funding has been brought together in one place under the National Armaments Director Group from this financial year. Further details of this invest budget will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan this autumn.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 19731 on Poland: Guided Weapons, what the planned in service date is for the Future Common Missile.

We are continuing to work with Poland to develop our plans for future Integrated Air and Missile Defence capabilities. The planned in-service dates of those capabilities will be determined in due course.

With reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, how many years will be covered by the £1.5bn always on pipeline for munitions.

Defence is investing £6 billion in munitions this Parliament, including an extra £1.5 billion in an 'always on' pipeline for munitions and building at least six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK, generating over 1,000 jobs, and boosting export potential.