Written questions by Cartlidge.

What his target date is for the launch of the Home Hub portal.

Work on a new Military Housing Strategy has begun, with plans for publication in Summer 2025. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) Year three Review of the Future Defence Infrastructure Service Accommodation Contracts has started and is on target to complete by Summer 2025. The target date for the launch of the Defence Homes Website is Spring 2025. The Home Hub Portal will be launched this Spring to a closed user group of 200/300 families. The launch date of a Home Hub Portal with Full Operating Capability to all families will follow at the end of the year, once actions following the closed user group testing have been completed.

Whether he plans to introduce higher minimum standards for energy efficiency for Service Family Accommodation by 2029.

Work on a new Military Housing Strategy has begun, with plans for publication in Summer 2025. This will set out the Ministry of Defence’s intent for energy efficiency in Service Family Accommodation.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2025 to Question 34904 on Defence: Procurement, whether the target for direct SME spending will be published separately to the Strategic Defence Review.

The Ministry of Defence is required, along with all other Government Departments, to agree and publish a target for direct spend with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by June 2025. The Department is committed to publishing a stretching but achievable target to meet this requirement. Work on the SME direct spend target is being undertaken separately but in parallel with development of other departmental publications and the spending review.

Whether she has had discussions with pension firms on investment in the defence sector.

Ministers meet a wide range of pension firms regularly. Trustees and fund managers are responsible for making investment decisions in line with their fiduciary duty and member preferences. The Government has been actively engaging with the defence industry, trade associations and the financial services sector regarding access to financial services for defence companies. In a time of increasing geopolitical instability, maintaining a robust and thriving defence sector is essential to our national security.

When he plans to conduct the next Learning from Experience exercise into Service Family Accommodation.

The Department has scheduled the next Learning from Experience exercise into Service Family Accommodation this Spring with outcomes available during early Summer.

Whether he plans to continue the implementation of the Damp and Mould Taskforce.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) Damp and Mould Taskforce is scheduled to maintain operations throughout 2025 and 2026. Since the Damp and Mould Taskforce was established in 2023, over 9,000 Service personnel and their families have benefitted from the delivery of damp and mould packages of works. The severity of damp and mould cases being raised now is has reduced from when the Taskforce was first established with circa 3% of reported cases at the most severe level. The DIO will continue its current approach to ensure cases are addressed on a priority basis.

What his target date is for the publication of the Military Housing Strategy.

Work on a new Military Housing Strategy has begun, with plans for publication in Summer 2025. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) Year three Review of the Future Defence Infrastructure Service Accommodation Contracts has started and is on target to complete by Summer 2025. The target date for the launch of the Defence Homes Website is Spring 2025. The Home Hub Portal will be launched this Spring to a closed user group of 200/300 families. The launch date of a Home Hub Portal with Full Operating Capability to all families will follow at the end of the year, once actions following the closed user group testing have been completed.

What his target date is for the launch of the Defence Homes website.

Work on a new Military Housing Strategy has begun, with plans for publication in Summer 2025. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) Year three Review of the Future Defence Infrastructure Service Accommodation Contracts has started and is on target to complete by Summer 2025. The target date for the launch of the Defence Homes Website is Spring 2025. The Home Hub Portal will be launched this Spring to a closed user group of 200/300 families. The launch date of a Home Hub Portal with Full Operating Capability to all families will follow at the end of the year, once actions following the closed user group testing have been completed.

How many Joint Office Areas are operational in the United Kingdom.

Currently, 15 Joint Office Areas are operational in the United Kingdom. The Ministry of Defence continues to review the number to ensure we best support the families we serve. Currently, there are 120 Housing Officers and 16 Senior Housing Officers employed by Pinnacle on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

What recent progress he has made on Project CABOT.

Project CABOT is the Royal Navy’s plan to develop remotely operated and autonomous Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities, aiming for a “Digitalisation of the North Atlantic”. Project CABOT was launched on 5 of March 2025, and the Royal Navy is now working with industry, academia, allies and Defence partners to seek out potential technologies that could provide a suitable capability. Scaling of any capability identified under Project CABOT is dependent on the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review.

How many housing officers were employed by the Ministry of Defence as of 10 March 2025.

Currently, 15 Joint Office Areas are operational in the United Kingdom. The Ministry of Defence continues to review the number to ensure we best support the families we serve. Currently, there are 120 Housing Officers and 16 Senior Housing Officers employed by Pinnacle on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

When he plans to provide an Answer to Question 28549 on Ministry of Defence: Pay, tabled on 4 February 2025.

I will respond to the hon. Member shortly.

When he plans to provide an Answer Question 26308 on Army and Marines: Training, tabled on 24 January 2025.

I will respond to the hon. Member shortly.

With reference to the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, whether all of the announced uplift to defence spending will be allocated to the Ministry of Defence.

On 25 February 2025 the Prime Minister announced that NATO qualifying defence spending will increase to 2.5% GDP by 2027-28. Final budgets for departments for the Spending Review period will be announced on 11 June 2025.

With reference to the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, whether she plans to hold any of the announced uplift to defence spending as a reserve.

On 25 February 2025 the Prime Minister announced that NATO qualifying defence spending will increase to 2.5% GDP by 2027-28. Final budgets for departments for the Spending Review period will be announced on 11 June 2025.

What assessment he has made of the potential implication for his policies of the decision by the US to pause intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

There is a long-standing position of successive Governments not to comment on specific intelligence capabilities or detail concerning intelligence operations.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision by the US to pause intelligence sharing with Ukraine on the use of UK RC-135W Rivet Joint to support intelligence gathering for Ukraine.

There is a long-standing position of successive Governments not to comment on specific intelligence capabilities or detail concerning intelligence operations.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision by the US to pause intelligence sharing with Ukraine on the use of Storm Shadow missiles supplied by Britain.

There is a long-standing position of successive Governments not to comment on specific intelligence capabilities or detail concerning intelligence operations.

What the average time taken was for the issuing of security clearances by his Department for businesses in the defence sector in the latest period for which data is available.

UKSV (Cabinet Office) is the sole provider of National Security Vetting and is responsible for issuing security clearances. Ministry of Defence (MOD), including Defence suppliers accredited by MOD to act as a sponsor for National Security Vetting, is a customer of UKSV. There have been no changes to the process of issuing security clearances to representatives of Defence businesses since 5 July 2024.

With reference to the £1.6bn funding for air defence missiles announced on 2 March 2025, whether he has held discussions with relevant stakeholders on a potential expansion of the Belfast manufacturing site.

Any expansion of the Thales manufacturing site in Belfast would be a matter between the company and the local authorities in Northern Ireland.