Asked
How many times (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have visited Dhekelia Cantonment in Cyprus since 5 July 2024.
Reply
All Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly online within the Transparency Returns on GOV.UK.
The Westminster lensArchive · Written questions · 3,185 tabled · 3,177 answered
Written questions by Cartlidge.
Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Cartlidge this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Department:All (3,185)Ministry of Defence (2790)Treasury (92)Department of Health and Social Care (56)Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (54)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (31)Cabinet Office (25)Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (21)Department for Culture, Media and Sport (20)Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (19)Department for Transport (15)Department for Education (14)Northern Ireland Office (13)
Showing 221–240 of 3,185 · this parliament
Asked
How many times (a) he and (b) his Ministerial colleagues have visited Episkopi Cantonment in Cyprus since 5 July 2024.
Reply
All Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly online within the Transparency Returns on GOV.UK.
Asked
How many times (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have visited RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus since 5 July 2024.
Reply
All Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly online within the Transparency Returns on GOV.UK.
Asked
How many times (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have visited the UK sovereign base areas on Cyprus since 5 July 2024.
Reply
All Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly online within the Transparency Returns on GOV.UK.
Asked
If he will list the Royal Navy assets that will be sent to support the reopening of the strait of Hormuz.
Reply
We constantly review deployments of Royal Navy assets in line with securing the interests of the UK and our allies. We are continuing to work closely with our allies and partners in the region to mitigate threats to UK shipping. The Strait of Hormuz is a current issue and it would not be appropriate to specify details of any operational planning.
Asked
Whether the Royal Navy made a formal offer for the preposition of a Type 45 Destroyer between 1 January 2026 and 2 February 2026.
Reply
We constantly review deployments of Royal Navy assets in line with securing the interests of the UK and our allies. No formal offer was made by the Royal Navy to deploy a Type 45 Destroyer ahead of HMS Dragon’s deployment at the first available moment on 10 March 2026.
Asked
Whether he held any discussions with (a) officials from his Department or (b) his ministerial colleagues on the deployment of HMS Dragon before 3 March 2026.
Reply
As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on this and other topics, with both officials and Ministerial colleagues. HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on 10 March 2026 and for operational security reasons, we will not comment on the duration of her deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Asked
On what date did he first discuss the deployment of HMS Dragon to Cyprus.
Reply
As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on this and other topics, with both officials and Ministerial colleagues. HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on 10 March 2026 and for operational security reasons, we will not comment on the duration of her deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Asked
When the decision was made to deploy HMS Dragon to Cyprus.
Reply
As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on this and other topics, with both officials and Ministerial colleagues. HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on 10 March 2026 and for operational security reasons, we will not comment on the duration of her deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Asked
When HMS Dragon will be deployed to Cyprus.
Reply
As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on this and other topics, with both officials and Ministerial colleagues. HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on 10 March 2026 and for operational security reasons, we will not comment on the duration of her deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Asked
If he will state the length of HMS Dragon's deployment to Cyprus.
Reply
As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on this and other topics, with both officials and Ministerial colleagues. HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on 10 March 2026 and for operational security reasons, we will not comment on the duration of her deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Asked
Whether DragonFire will be installed on HMS Dragon.
Reply
DragonFire is a cutting-edge Laser Directed Energy Weapon system that remains in its demonstration and evaluation phase. Under current plans, the DragonFire system will commence delivery in 2027.
Asked
If he will list the counter drone capabilities that will be deployed to Cyprus.
Reply
We do not comment on specifics, however, the Government has been increasing the counter-drone capability in Cyprus since January, through the addition of 400 personnel, Typhoon and F-35 jets, air defence missiles, and radar. HMS Dragon is on the way to the region, which will provide additional capability. We will keep the situation under constant review, but I cannot say more than this for operational security reasons.
Asked
Whether he plans to authorise any changes to the deployment of HMS Anson.
Reply
The Ministry of Defence does not comment on the tasks or plans for individual submarines for reasons of national security.
Asked
Whether the Royal Navy's Proteus programme will receive funding allocated in the Defence Investment Plan.
Reply
Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on autonomy, will be prioritised appropriately against the assessed threat picture as part of the future Integrated Force and will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
Asked
Whether he plans to deploy HMS Anson to the Middle East.
Reply
The Ministry of Defence does not comment on the tasks or plans for individual submarines for reasons of national security.
Asked
Whether around-the-clock staffing is in place at HMNB Portsmouth.
Reply
HM Naval Base Portsmouth operates on a continuous 24‑hour basis. Appropriate Duty Staff are in place at all times to maintain the safety, security, and operational availability of the site. He will recall from his time as a Defence Minister that for security reasons, the Ministry of Defence does not comment on specific staffing levels or detailed security arrangements at any defence establishment.
Asked
How many times (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have visited Al-Udeid base in Qatar since 5 July 2024.
Reply
All Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly online within the Transparency Returns on GOV.UK.
Asked
How many times (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have visited the Al Minhad Air Base in UAE since 5 July 2024.
Reply
All Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly online within the Transparency Returns on GOV.UK.
Asked
How many times (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have visited the UK base in Oman since 5 July 2024.
Reply
All Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly online within the Transparency Returns on GOV.UK.
Sources
SourceUK Parliament Members API
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