Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Cartlidge this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 2,421–2,440 of 3,162 · this parliament
How many hours of firing time have been lost at Larkhill ranges due to (a) physical incursion into the range danger area by (i) members of the public and (ii) animals, (b) aerial incursion into the range danger area by drones and (c) for other reasons since 5 July 2024.
The requested information is not held. The time lost due to incursions on Ministry of Defence Ranges, is not recorded.
How many hours of firing time have been lost at Dartmoor Training Area due to (a) physical incursion into the range danger area by (i) members of the public and (ii) animals, (b) aerial incursion into the range danger area by drones and (c) for other reasons since 5 July 2024.
The requested information is not held. The time lost due to incursions on Ministry of Defence Ranges, is not recorded.
How many hours of firing time have been lost at Salisbury Plain Training Area due to (a) physical incursion into the range danger area by (i) members of the public and (ii) animals, (b) aerial incursion into the range danger area by drones and (c) for other reasons since 5 July 2024.
The requested information is not held. The time lost due to incursions on Ministry of Defence Ranges, is not recorded.
How many hours of firing time have been lost at Air Defence Range Manorbier due to (a) physical incursion into the range danger area by (i) members of the public and (ii) animals, (b) aerial incursion into the range danger area by drones and (c) for other reasons since 5 July 2024.
The requested information is not held. The time lost due to incursions on Ministry of Defence Ranges, is not recorded.
How many hours of firing time have been lost at Bodmin Training Area due to (a) physical incursion into the range danger area by (i) members of the public and (ii) animals, (b) aerial incursion into the range danger area by drones and (c) for other reasons since 5 July 2024.
The requested information is not held. The time lost due to incursions on Ministry of Defence Ranges, is not recorded.
How many military drones in (a) logistics, (b) strike and (c) ISR roles were purchased by his Department since 5 July 2024.
An order for three aircraft delivering Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance UK capability was placed at the end of January 2025, through an Urgent Capability Requirement project. Separately, as previously announced, working on behalf of the International Fund for Ukraine and the international Drone Capability Coalition, the UK has placed contracts for a significant number of drones for use by the armed forces of Ukraine.
How many hours of firing time have been lost at Cape Wrath Training Centre due to (a) physical incursion into the range danger area by (i) members of the public and (ii) animals, (b) aerial incursion into the range danger area by drones and (c) for other reasons since 5 July 2024.
The requested information is not held. The time lost due to incursions on Ministry of Defence Ranges, is not recorded.
How many hours of firing time have been lost at Langport Range and dry training area due to (a) physical incursion into the range danger area by (i) members of the public and (ii) animals, (b) aerial incursion into the range danger area by drones and (c) for other reasons since 5 July 2024.
The requested information is not held. The time lost due to incursions on Ministry of Defence Ranges, is not recorded.
What the (a) parameters and (b) performance targets are that will inform whether the new National Armaments Director will be entitled to receive a bonus.
The Secretary of State will meet with the National Armaments Director as often as necessary to deliver the required Defence outputs. The parameters and performance targets will be agreed in line with the salary approval from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. The successful candidate for the National Armaments Director role, like any Civil Service appointment, will be subject to the Civil Service Code, including its standards on political impartiality. They will be required to declare any outside interests as part of the recruitment process in accordance with the policy on declaration and management of outside interests.
If he will publish a list of all senior service posts forecast to earn above £200,000 in financial year 2025-2026.
The Cabinet Office does not make forecasts of the earnings of individuals. Civil Service Statistics (Table 35) provides information on the number of civil servants earning over £200,000 and in other bandings. The latest information can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/civil-service-statistics-2024 The Cabinet Office also publishes an annual ‘high earner’ list of named senior civil servants and senior officials in departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies. The most recently published information can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/senior-officials-high-earners-salaries The previous administration did not update this list prior to the General Election. The Cabinet Office will publish a new 2025 list in due course.
How frequently does he plan to meet with the new National Armaments Director.
The Secretary of State will meet with the National Armaments Director as often as necessary to deliver the required Defence outputs. The parameters and performance targets will be agreed in line with the salary approval from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. The successful candidate for the National Armaments Director role, like any Civil Service appointment, will be subject to the Civil Service Code, including its standards on political impartiality. They will be required to declare any outside interests as part of the recruitment process in accordance with the policy on declaration and management of outside interests.
Pursuant to the Answer of 13 March to Question 36712 on Ministry of Defence: Public Appointments, whether his Department had (a) agreed and (b) finalised the remuneration package for the new National Armaments Director (i) before or (ii) on 13 March 2025.
The remuneration package for the new National Armaments Director was agreed and finalised before 13 March 2025. The recruitment advert (which includes salary details) was published on 18 March 2025 in accordance with the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles to ensure open and fair competition.
What the estimated initial cost to the public purse is of a single ncrewed Air Vehicle Loyal Wingman platform.
There are several military capabilities which are often publicly referred to as 'Loyal Wingmen', however the UK does not currently have a programme or platform defined as this. There are several projects, mostly at the concepts stage, that are developing Autonomous Collaborative Platforms to deliver a range of additive warfighting capabilities, including in the Air domain. The projects differ markedly in range and scale; which will therefore impact the future costs per platform, which are not yet known.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the expected return on investment from the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
There are now 37,000 live Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreements. This means 4.3 million hectares of land are now in SFI agreements. As a result, returns on these agreements include: 800,000 hectares of arable land being farmed without insecticides reducing harm to pollinators and improving soil health300,000 hectares of low input grassland being managed sustainably helping to protect biodiversity and improve water quality75,000 kilometres of hedgerows being protected and restored providing essential habitats for wildlife, improving carbon storage, and strengthening natural flood defences. We are evolving the SFI offer and are exploring ways to better target the money for instance, potentially towards smaller farmers, the least productive land or delivering specific outcomes. We will provide further details about the reformed SFI offer once the Spending Review has been completed.
With reference to the National Armaments Director Candidate brief, published by his Department, what the restrictions on political activities are.
The Secretary of State will meet with the National Armaments Director as often as necessary to deliver the required Defence outputs. The parameters and performance targets will be agreed in line with the salary approval from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. The successful candidate for the National Armaments Director role, like any Civil Service appointment, will be subject to the Civil Service Code, including its standards on political impartiality. They will be required to declare any outside interests as part of the recruitment process in accordance with the policy on declaration and management of outside interests.
What steps she is taking to support the well-being of children returning to school following a period of home education in South Suffolk constituency.
Supporting the wellbeing of children in schools is central to their ability to achieve and thrive. That is why the department encourages schools to ensure a calm, orderly, safe and supportive environment where all pupils want to be are ready to learn. The department also provides a range of guidance and practical resources on promoting and supporting pupils’ wellbeing, including a resources hub for mental health leads and a toolkit to help choose evidence-based early support for pupils. The information that local authorities will collect through the Children Not in School statutory registers, which the department are introducing under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, will help to build a clearer picture of the child’s individual needs and circumstances and enable the local authority or school to provide the tailored support required to best meet those needs. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill also introduces a duty on local authorities to provide advice and information to parents of children on their registers, should the parents request it.
Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of the Sustainable Farming Initiative was spent on family-owned farms in financial year 2024-2025.
We do not hold information on ownership arrangements.
Whether her Department has plans to establish a new framework for independent institutions.
The department expects independent educational institutions to be regulated under the same framework which exists for independent schools under Part 4 of Chapter 1 of the Education and Skills Act 2008. The department keeps policy regarding independent educational institutions under review to ensure that appropriate action can be taken to provide the best education and opportunities for all children and young people.
Food and Rural Affairs, what number and proportion of farms are part of the Sustainable Farming Incentive in South Suffolk constituency.
As of 21 March 2025, there are 154 farmers with a Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreement (SFI Pilot, SFI 23 and SFI EO) in South Suffolk constituency.
How many hours of firing time have been lost at Chilcomb Range due to (a) physical incursion into the range danger area by (i) members of the public and (ii) animals, (b) aerial incursion into the range danger area by drones and (c) for other reasons since 5 July 2024.
The requested information is not held. The time lost due to incursions on Ministry of Defence Ranges, is not recorded.