Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Cartlidge this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 181–200 of 3,185 · this parliament
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2026 to Question 116531 on Defence: Finance, whether the UK's return for 2026 has been produced.
The UK will complete its 2026 defence return in line with NATO's standard annual timetable. This will be due in May 2026, and NATO generally publish the returns in late summer.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 116533 on Ministry of Defence: Small Businesses, whether the SME Action Plan will allocate funding to be spent with UK SMEs.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to publishing an annual SME Action Plan. The MOD's Action Plan is a key element of Defence’s work to improve opportunities for SMEs. Work led by a senior civil servant and civil servants from The Defence Office for Small Business Growth (OSBG), are responsible for developing the Plan and its implementation.The forthcoming Plan will set out key priorities on procurement policy and strategy, aligned with the Strategic Defence Review and the Defence Industrial Strategy. Our commitment to SMEs is demonstrated by the new £20 million fund offering accelerated contracts to innovative UK startups with little previous MOD engagement, and our target to increase spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion by May 2028.The OSBG is engaged with SMEs to shape its delivery and ensure it reflects the practical experiences of SMEs seeking to do business with Defence. Once work on the Defence Investment Plan has concluded the plan will be published.Taken together, these measures will substantially improve the support for SMEs from HMG compared to the situation in July 2024.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2026 to Question 116531 on Defence: Finance, when the UK's return for 2027 is due.
The UK will submit its 2027 defence return at the next suitable point. NATO returns are usually required in May each year.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 116533 on Ministry of Defence: Small Businesses, if he will publish terms of reference for the SME Action Plan.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to publishing an annual SME Action Plan. The MOD's Action Plan is a key element of Defence’s work to improve opportunities for SMEs. Work led by a senior civil servant and civil servants from The Defence Office for Small Business Growth (OSBG), are responsible for developing the Plan and its implementation.The forthcoming Plan will set out key priorities on procurement policy and strategy, aligned with the Strategic Defence Review and the Defence Industrial Strategy. Our commitment to SMEs is demonstrated by the new £20 million fund offering accelerated contracts to innovative UK startups with little previous MOD engagement, and our target to increase spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion by May 2028.The OSBG is engaged with SMEs to shape its delivery and ensure it reflects the practical experiences of SMEs seeking to do business with Defence. Once work on the Defence Investment Plan has concluded the plan will be published.Taken together, these measures will substantially improve the support for SMEs from HMG compared to the situation in July 2024.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 116533 on Ministry of Defence: Small Businesses, when the SME Action Plan will be published.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to publishing an annual SME Action Plan. The MOD's Action Plan is a key element of Defence’s work to improve opportunities for SMEs. Work led by a senior civil servant and civil servants from The Defence Office for Small Business Growth (OSBG), are responsible for developing the Plan and its implementation.The forthcoming Plan will set out key priorities on procurement policy and strategy, aligned with the Strategic Defence Review and the Defence Industrial Strategy. Our commitment to SMEs is demonstrated by the new £20 million fund offering accelerated contracts to innovative UK startups with little previous MOD engagement, and our target to increase spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion by May 2028.The OSBG is engaged with SMEs to shape its delivery and ensure it reflects the practical experiences of SMEs seeking to do business with Defence. Once work on the Defence Investment Plan has concluded the plan will be published.Taken together, these measures will substantially improve the support for SMEs from HMG compared to the situation in July 2024.
Pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2026 to Question 116970 on Autonomous Weapons: Procurement, when the concept demonstration phase will conclude.
The UK concept demonstration phase of the low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is due to conclude by the end of 2026.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 116533 on Ministry of Defence: Small Businesses, whether work on the SME Action Plan has begun.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to publishing an annual SME Action Plan. The MOD's Action Plan is a key element of Defence’s work to improve opportunities for SMEs. Work led by a senior civil servant and civil servants from The Defence Office for Small Business Growth (OSBG), are responsible for developing the Plan and its implementation.The forthcoming Plan will set out key priorities on procurement policy and strategy, aligned with the Strategic Defence Review and the Defence Industrial Strategy. Our commitment to SMEs is demonstrated by the new £20 million fund offering accelerated contracts to innovative UK startups with little previous MOD engagement, and our target to increase spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion by May 2028.The OSBG is engaged with SMEs to shape its delivery and ensure it reflects the practical experiences of SMEs seeking to do business with Defence. Once work on the Defence Investment Plan has concluded the plan will be published.Taken together, these measures will substantially improve the support for SMEs from HMG compared to the situation in July 2024.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2026 to Question 116533 on Ministry of Defence: Small Businesses, who will write the SME Action Plan.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to publishing an annual SME Action Plan. The MOD's Action Plan is a key element of Defence’s work to improve opportunities for SMEs. Work led by a senior civil servant and civil servants from The Defence Office for Small Business Growth (OSBG), are responsible for developing the Plan and its implementation.The forthcoming Plan will set out key priorities on procurement policy and strategy, aligned with the Strategic Defence Review and the Defence Industrial Strategy. Our commitment to SMEs is demonstrated by the new £20 million fund offering accelerated contracts to innovative UK startups with little previous MOD engagement, and our target to increase spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion by May 2028.The OSBG is engaged with SMEs to shape its delivery and ensure it reflects the practical experiences of SMEs seeking to do business with Defence. Once work on the Defence Investment Plan has concluded the plan will be published.Taken together, these measures will substantially improve the support for SMEs from HMG compared to the situation in July 2024.
With reference to his Oral Statement of 9 March 2026 on Middle East: Defence, Col 78, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the removal of his Department's video on social media of a British-run military repair facility in Ukraine on on the safety of UK personnel.
On 7 March 2026 we further highlighted our support for Ukraine through our maintenance, repair and overhaul systems facilities in Ukraine. These pioneering facilities are helping keep Ukraine’s defiant Armed Forces in the fight against Putin’s brutal attacks and we are rightly proud of that support. All social and press content was approved by Ministry of Defence officials ahead of publication, but because we take security seriously, we took steps to further reassure ourselves after publication of this content.. From the factory floor to the frontline, the UK is standing with Ukraine and we will never waver in that support.
With reference to his Oral Statement of 9 March 2026 on Middle East: Defence, Col 78, whether his Department received external advice to remove the video on social media of a British-run military repair facility in Ukraine.
On 7 March 2026 we further highlighted our support for Ukraine through our maintenance, repair and overhaul systems facilities in Ukraine. These pioneering facilities are helping keep Ukraine’s defiant Armed Forces in the fight against Putin’s brutal attacks and we are rightly proud of that support. All social and press content was approved by Ministry of Defence officials ahead of publication, but because we take security seriously, we took steps to further reassure ourselves after publication of this content. From the factory floor to the frontline, the UK is standing with Ukraine and we will never waver in that support.
How many of the 62 recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review have been implemented.
The Government has made significant progress on Strategic Defence Reviw (SDR) implementation since it was published last June. Examples include: CyberEM Command: The Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force (DCEM Force) was established on time and is now up and running, within the Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (Nov 25). SDR Rec 51 MIS and DCIU: The Military Intelligence Services and Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit were launched on time, as part of major overhaul of Defence’s intelligence organisations amid increasing threats to the UK and to keep Britain ahead of hostile states and terrorists (Dec 25). SDR Rec 54 & 56 Nuclear deterrence: The Prime Minister announced at the NATO Hague Summit (Jun 25) that the UK will purchase 12 new F-35A fighter jets and join NATO’s dual capable aircraft nuclear mission. SDR Rec 30 Atlantic Bastion: The UK’s groundbreaking Atlantic Bastion programme was unveiled (Dec 25), which will make Britain more secure from Russian undersea threats in the North Atlantic through a transformation of the Royal Navy and its submarine-hunting capabilities into an advanced hybrid force. SDR vision: Hybrid Navy UKDI: UK Defence Innovation was launched (Jul 25) to streamline the delivery of innovation technology to Armed Forces personnel through rapid investment, with an annual budget of £400m. SDR Rec 07a Defence Exports: The UK Defence and Security Exports function was transferred from Department for Business and Trade to MOD (Jul 25); all staff have completed their migration to MOD systems. 2025 was the highest year for UK Defence exports in 40 years including landmark deals with Norway, worth £10bn (T26 frigates; Aug 25), and Türkiye, worth £8bn (Typhoons; Oct 25). SDR Rec 12 DIS: The Defence Industrial Strategy was published (Sep 25) to take forward the SDR’s vision for radical reforms, growth, innovation, industrial resilience and warfighting readiness – backed by nearly £800m this parliament. SDR Rec 3 & 8 Always on munitions: Defence announced a new programme to build factories of the future (Nov 25) with at least 13 potential sites identified to manufacture munitions and explosives in the UK to create an always on capability. This is backed by £1.5bn of new investment in this parliament and creating over 1,000 British jobs. SDR Rec 29 Housing: The Defence Housing Strategy 2025 (Nov 25) set out £9bn of investment over the next decade to upgrade 40,000 Forces’ family homes. An ambitious programme of work to urgently fix 1,000 military homes was completed ahead of schedule (Dec 25). The programme of housing improvements, known as Raising the Minimum Standards, has seen significant work take place at service family homes across the UK. Legislation to establish a specialist arm’s length defence housing service is in the Armed Forces Bill, now in the Commons. SDR Rec 60 Gap Year: Plans to launch the new Armed Forces ‘Gap Year’ Foundation Scheme were announced (Dec 25) to give young people in the UK new opportunities to experience military service. SDR Rec 16
With reference to his Oral Statement of 9 March 2026 on Middle East: Defence, Col 78, for how long was his Department's video of a British-run military repair facility in Ukraine on social media before it was removed.
On 7 March 2026 we further highlighted our support for Ukraine through our maintenance, repair and overhaul systems facilities in Ukraine. These pioneering facilities are helping keep Ukraine’s defiant Armed Forces in the fight against Putin’s brutal attacks and we are rightly proud of that support. All social and press content was approved by Ministry of Defence officials ahead of publication, but because we take security seriously, we took steps to further reassure ourselves after publication of this content. From the factory floor to the frontline, the UK is standing with Ukraine and we will never waver in that support.
With reference to his Oral Statement of 9 March 2026 on Middle East: Defence, Col 78, whether additional security measures were put in place following the removal of his Department's video on social media of a British-run military repair facility in Ukraine.
On 7 March 2026 we further highlighted our support for Ukraine through our maintenance, repair and overhaul systems facilities in Ukraine. These pioneering facilities are helping keep Ukraine’s defiant Armed Forces in the fight against Putin’s brutal attacks and we are rightly proud of that support. All social and press content was approved by Ministry of Defence officials ahead of publication, but because we take security seriously, we took steps to further reassure ourselves after publication of this content. From the factory floor to the frontline, the UK is standing with Ukraine and we will never waver in that support.
With reference to his Oral Statement of 9 March 2026 on Middle East: Defence, Col 78, who issued the instruction to remove the video on social media of a British-run military repair facility in Ukraine.
On 7 March 2026 we further highlighted our support for Ukraine through our maintenance, repair and overhaul systems facilities in Ukraine. These pioneering facilities are helping keep Ukraine’s defiant Armed Forces in the fight against Putin’s brutal attacks and we are rightly proud of that support. All social and press content was approved by Ministry of Defence officials ahead of publication, but because we take security seriously, we took steps to further reassure ourselves after publication of this content. From the factory floor to the frontline, the UK is standing with Ukraine and we will never waver in that support.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March to Question 115531 on Defence: Finance, whether (a) his Department or (b) other Government Departments identified where 0.47% of GDP spent not included in the table will come from.
The Ministry of Defence compiles and submits the return to NATO setting out the UK's core qualifying defence spend. As the return to NATO reflects the UK's position, its contents represent the agreed position across Government, involving other Departments as necessary.
Why the publication of the latest Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics has been delayed.
The publication of UK Armed Forces Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics for 1 Jan 2026 has been delayed due to technical issues affecting data quality and has a release date of 2 April 2026. This is stated in the Statistics release calendar: Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics: 1 January 2026 - Accredited official statistics announcement - GOV.UK
Whether the Cyprus Government has made representations to his Department on the sovereignty of UK military bases since 1 March 2026.
The Government of the Republic of Cyprus has not made any representations to the Ministry of Defence on the sovereignty of the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia since 1 March 2026.
Pursuant to the Answer of 6 March to Question 115855, whether there has been more than one version of the Defence Investment Plan.
We are working flat out to finalise the Defence Investment Plan and it will be published as soon as possible.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March to Question 116021 on Mauritius: Ministers, whether any meetings have taken place between ministers from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius since August 2025.
No.
Whether he has authorised any changes to the deployment of British service personnel in the High North since 28 February 2026.
We do not comment on specific deployments for reasons of safeguarding operational security.