Written questions by Cartlidge.

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 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)

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

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.

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

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.

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)

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 Middleton 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 Chiddingfold 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 Hurworth 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 Archer 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 Biter 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 Smiter 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 Dauntless 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 Pursuer 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 Vigilant 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 Blazer 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.