Written questions by Cartlidge.

What his Department's recruitment targets for the armed forces are for 2025-26.

As the hon. Gentleman will know, the current Government inherited a crisis in recruitment and retention from the last administration. We have made a series of announcements to improve recruitment since July 2024. The 2025-26 Single Service recruitment targets are detailed below: Royal Navy – 3,890Army – 10,200Royal Air Force – 3,230 These figures are the totals for Regular Service personnel only and are rounded to the nearest 10.

Pursuant to the Answer of 01 April 2025 to Question 41483 on Defence: Procurement, what the (a) eight business cases waiting for approval with His Majesty's Treasury and (b) seven cases waiting for approval with the Cabinet Office are.

The eight cases with HM Treasury are as follows:1) Sheffield Forgemaster Recapitalisation2) Future Maritime Support Programme3) Project BRAMLEY (ICT infrastructure)4) Defence Marine Services – Next Generation5) Astute6) Dreadnought Support7) Future Combat Air System/Global Combat Air Programme8) Submarine Disposal Capability (NB - this case was approved by HM Treasury on 1 Apr 25). The seven cases with Cabinet Office are as follows:1) Defence Marine Services Next Generation2) AWE Client Partnership Framework3) Future Maritime Support Programme4) Land Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) Mounted SHORAD5) HESTIA (Facilities Management) - All regional contracts - UK MOD Estate: South West; South; South East; East; North; Wales & W Midlands; Scotland and North Ireland6) Project “Appivate” - RAF Digital Technology Contract7) Defence Digital ICT manage services project.

When the Prime Minister last met with the lead members of the Strategic Defence Review team.

As the Prime Minister reported in his Statement on Defence and Security in the House of Commons, the Strategic Defence Review is being finalised. The Reviewers are reporting regularly on progress to the Prime Minister, the Defence Secretary, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Review will be published in the Spring. It will help set the path for Britain's defence for the next decade.

How many (a) of his Department's civilian personnel, (b) Armed Forces personnel and (c) external private contractors work on recruitment for the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) British Army, (iii) Royal Air Force and (iv) Royal Marines.

The requested information is presented in the table below. A separate return for the Royal Marines is not available as Royal Navy and Royal Marines recruiting are combined under the Royal Navy Recruit and Attract organisation. ArmyRoyal NavyRoyal Air ForceRegulars417228250Reservists84266105Civil Servants183567Contractors70817*14* *Note: contractors provide a range of outsourced Services, some held jointly. For the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force we hold no details on the numbers of individuals who work for the provider on each contract.

How many (a) full time and (b) reservist armed forces personnel were working on recruitment for the (i) British Army, (ii) Royal Navy, (iii) RAF and (iv) Royal Marines as of 01 April 2025.

The requested information is presented in the table below. A separate return for the Royal Marines is not available as Royal Navy and Royal Marines recruiting are combined under the Royal Navy Recruit and Attract organisation. ArmyRoyal NavyRoyal Air ForceRegulars417228250Reservists84266105Civil Servants183567Contractors70817*14* *Note: contractors provide a range of outsourced Services, some held jointly. For the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force we hold no details on the numbers of individuals who work for the provider on each contract.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 March to Question 39042 on Helicopters: Finance, if he will outline the prioritisation decisions made by the multiple front line commands to lay out an estimated budget for (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

Prioritisation decisions made by front line commands regarding spending on rotary wing will take account of capability requirements, as well as the Accounting Officer principles set out in Managing Public Money.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 38652 on Multi-role Support Ships: Procurement, whether external consultants were involved in the renaming process.

The name change from Multi-role Support Ship to Multi-role Strike Ship (MRSS) took effect on 25 February 2025. No external consultants were involved.

What the total cost to his Department was for bursary schemes in the armed forces for the 2024-25 financial year.

Bursaries are available only for applicants wishing to join the Armed Forces and are not available to existing Service personnel or any others. They are offered to students in full-time education to attract high-calibre individuals to a career in Defence, aiming to mitigate future potential recruiting challenges. Responsibility for bursary schemes is delegated to the single Services and none have current plans to cancel any of the schemes or change the eligibility requirements. The bursary schemes on offer across the Armed Forces are listed below by Service. As at 1 April 2025 there were 740 students in receipt of a bursary; we do not make estimates of how many students could be entitled to a bursary but do not choose to apply for one. The total cost of bursaries for the 2024-25 financial year was £5,641,350.50. ArmyDefence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)Standard Army Undergraduate SchemeEnhanced Army Undergraduate SchemeScholarship SchemeRoyal Army Medical Services SchemeRoyal College for Army Music Scheme Royal Air ForceUniversity Air Squadron Bursary SchemeMedical Cadetship SchemeDefence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship (in partnership with the Defence Academy) Royal Navy / Royal MarinesDefence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (Legacy Bursary Scheme)RN Bursars (Legacy Bursary Scheme)Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37603 on Ammunition: Lost Property and Theft, if he will list incidents recorded on the Defence Incident Management Database since 5 July 2024.

Since 5 July 2024 to 31 March 2025 11,763 security incidents have been raised and recorded in the Defence Incident Management Database. When any type of security incident is raised, it is reviewed by security personnel and subjected to an initial security risk assessment, with further action taken on a proportionate basis. As has been the policy for successive Governments, for security reasons we would not publish details of suspected or reported security incidents.

What bursaries were available in the (a) Army, (b) RAF, (c) Royal Navy and (d) Royal Marines on 1 April 2025.

Bursaries are available only for applicants wishing to join the Armed Forces and are not available to existing Service personnel or any others. They are offered to students in full-time education to attract high-calibre individuals to a career in Defence, aiming to mitigate future potential recruiting challenges. Responsibility for bursary schemes is delegated to the single Services and none have current plans to cancel any of the schemes or change the eligibility requirements. The bursary schemes on offer across the Armed Forces are listed below by Service. As at 1 April 2025 there were 740 students in receipt of a bursary; we do not make estimates of how many students could be entitled to a bursary but do not choose to apply for one. The total cost of bursaries for the 2024-25 financial year was £5,641,350.50. ArmyDefence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)Standard Army Undergraduate SchemeEnhanced Army Undergraduate SchemeScholarship SchemeRoyal Army Medical Services SchemeRoyal College for Army Music Scheme Royal Air ForceUniversity Air Squadron Bursary SchemeMedical Cadetship SchemeDefence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship (in partnership with the Defence Academy) Royal Navy / Royal MarinesDefence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (Legacy Bursary Scheme)RN Bursars (Legacy Bursary Scheme)Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

What the total value is of the contracts managed by Defence Business Services.

The total value of the contracts managed by Defence Business Services (DBS) is £957,204,131.21, this sum represents the total forecast value of each contract at its end. All the contracts DBS manage are listed below. Disclosure & Barring Service eBrokerDBS Daily Shuttle BusFor the Provision of CR Recruitment AdvertisingCLA Education Licence RenewalOccupational Health, Employee Assistance ProgrammesProvision of Childcare Voucher SchemeMaintenance and Repair of Grade 3 Intruder Detection SystemRM3080-Provision of WIFI and Telephony Services at Ilford Park Polish Home (IPPH)Provision & Fixing of Military Pattern Memorials for Armed Forces PersonnelTranslations Services for AFCS/AFPS/WPSMOD Corporate EyecareDigital Information & Technology (DIT) Professional Services Support (PSS)Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) ACD Upgrade.Legal Support Services to Service Delivery Contract (SDC) HOCS4/00015Automation Garage - DBSProvision of Online Standards, Databases and PublicationsMOD Badges and CoinsMOD Medals, Awards and Associated ItemsProvision of DNA, Anthropology & Genealogy ServicesThe Provision of the Services of a Polish Catholic PriestPrincipal Civil Service Pension Scheme – new Scheme Medical Advisor-PseudoProvision of Employee Relocation ServicesProvision of Repatriation ServicesSystems Evolution - Migration to CloudDigital and Technology Solutions Specialist level 7Provision of General Practitioner (GP) Services for Ilford Park Polish Home (IPPH).Level 3 Payroll Assistant Administration ApprenticeshipCONTRACT NO: HOCS4/00015 FUTURE SERVICES DELIVERY CONTRACT relating to the provision of Armed Forces Pay, Pensions, other Military HR Services and Administrative ServicesProvision of Cost-of-Living InformationPayroll Giving - Armed Forces CharitiesPan Govt Copyright Licence Agency Renewal (Pseudo)DBS Debt Management Legal Support and Tracing ServicesIPPH - NEWCROSSPan Government Records Management & Archive services700004980 - Provision of 2 x Laser Engraving machines, all associated equipment and a 10-year Maintenance and support package.The provision of physiotherapy service for all NI Veterans Aftercare ServiceOutsourced Investigation Service – Conflict ManagementDigital and Technology Solutions Specialist level 7

How many (a) serving personnel, (b) students, (c) others were (i) entitled to and (ii) in receipt of a bursary on 1 April 2025.

Bursaries are available only for applicants wishing to join the Armed Forces and are not available to existing Service personnel or any others. They are offered to students in full-time education to attract high-calibre individuals to a career in Defence, aiming to mitigate future potential recruiting challenges. Responsibility for bursary schemes is delegated to the single Services and none have current plans to cancel any of the schemes or change the eligibility requirements. The bursary schemes on offer across the Armed Forces are listed below by Service. As at 1 April 2025 there were 740 students in receipt of a bursary; we do not make estimates of how many students could be entitled to a bursary but do not choose to apply for one. The total cost of bursaries for the 2024-25 financial year was £5,641,350.50. ArmyDefence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)Standard Army Undergraduate SchemeEnhanced Army Undergraduate SchemeScholarship SchemeRoyal Army Medical Services SchemeRoyal College for Army Music Scheme Royal Air ForceUniversity Air Squadron Bursary SchemeMedical Cadetship SchemeDefence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship (in partnership with the Defence Academy) Royal Navy / Royal MarinesDefence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (Legacy Bursary Scheme)RN Bursars (Legacy Bursary Scheme)Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Whether his Department has used artificial intelligence to respond to written parliamentary questions since 5 July 2024.

I can provide the hon. Member and the House full assurance that all Parliamentary Questions are signed off by Ministers, and this practice remains in place. The Ministry of Defence continues to explore the use of AI to support routine business operations and policy work, thereby saving time on specific and general tasks.

If he will list the contracts managed by Defence Business Services.

The total value of the contracts managed by Defence Business Services (DBS) is £957,204,131.21, this sum represents the total forecast value of each contract at its end. All the contracts DBS manage are listed below. Disclosure & Barring Service eBrokerDBS Daily Shuttle BusFor the Provision of CR Recruitment AdvertisingCLA Education Licence RenewalOccupational Health, Employee Assistance ProgrammesProvision of Childcare Voucher SchemeMaintenance and Repair of Grade 3 Intruder Detection SystemRM3080-Provision of WIFI and Telephony Services at Ilford Park Polish Home (IPPH)Provision & Fixing of Military Pattern Memorials for Armed Forces PersonnelTranslations Services for AFCS/AFPS/WPSMOD Corporate EyecareDigital Information & Technology (DIT) Professional Services Support (PSS)Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) ACD Upgrade.Legal Support Services to Service Delivery Contract (SDC) HOCS4/00015Automation Garage - DBSProvision of Online Standards, Databases and PublicationsMOD Badges and CoinsMOD Medals, Awards and Associated ItemsProvision of DNA, Anthropology & Genealogy ServicesThe Provision of the Services of a Polish Catholic PriestPrincipal Civil Service Pension Scheme – new Scheme Medical Advisor-PseudoProvision of Employee Relocation ServicesProvision of Repatriation ServicesSystems Evolution - Migration to CloudDigital and Technology Solutions Specialist level 7Provision of General Practitioner (GP) Services for Ilford Park Polish Home (IPPH).Level 3 Payroll Assistant Administration ApprenticeshipCONTRACT NO: HOCS4/00015 FUTURE SERVICES DELIVERY CONTRACT relating to the provision of Armed Forces Pay, Pensions, other Military HR Services and Administrative ServicesProvision of Cost-of-Living InformationPayroll Giving - Armed Forces CharitiesPan Govt Copyright Licence Agency Renewal (Pseudo)DBS Debt Management Legal Support and Tracing ServicesIPPH - NEWCROSSPan Government Records Management & Archive services700004980 - Provision of 2 x Laser Engraving machines, all associated equipment and a 10-year Maintenance and support package.The provision of physiotherapy service for all NI Veterans Aftercare ServiceOutsourced Investigation Service – Conflict ManagementDigital and Technology Solutions Specialist level 7

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 38645 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, whether he plans to procure decoy cruise missile-like weapons.

Defence requirements are kept under constant review to ensure that our Armed Forces have the battle-winning capabilities they need. Due to the sensitive nature of this capability area it would be inappropriate to comment in detail. All capability requirements, are being considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review process.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2025 to Question 34898 on Artillery: Procurement, when he plans to make a decision on the procurement of 15 MLRS and one RRV.

We are currently undertaking a Strategic Defence Review which is looking at the threats we face and the capabilities we need to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the 21st century. It would be inappropriate to prejudge the outcomes of the Review.

With reference to page 18 of the Spring Statement, published on 26 March 2025, how the funding for the regeneration of His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth will be allocated.

The funding for the regeneration of His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth will be allocated towards three main areas: refurbishment and upgrade of accommodation, jetty upgrade programme, and wider estate development. This allocation aims to provide good quality, safe accommodation, ensure the jetties can better meet the demand of the surface fleet, and create a resilient, efficient, and sustainable Naval Base. This funding does not cover the totality of the regeneration needs, and future requirements will be determined following the Strategic Defence Review.

How much his Department has spent on the (a) upkeep and (b) maintenance of HMS Dragon since 5 July 2024.

The volume of detailed information requested is such that it will take time to consider in full. Consequently, I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

How much his Department has spent on the (a) upkeep and (b) maintenance of RFA Fort Victoria since 5 July 2024.

The volume of detailed information requested is such that it will take time to consider in full. Consequently, I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

How much his Department has spent on the (a) upkeep and (b) maintenance of HMS Richmond since 5 July 2024.

The volume of detailed information requested is such that it will take time to consider in full. Consequently, I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.