Written questions by Cartlidge.

What has been the total cost of issuing operational tour bonuses in each of the ten previous financial years.

The total cost of Operational Allowance paid to Service Personnel in each Financial Year since 2015-16, and the numbers in receipt, are set out below: Financial YearNumbers in receipt of Op Allowance Total Op Allowance2015-164,290£10,709,745.542016-175,748£14,668,691.792017-186,972£21,038,734.632018-197,653£24,554,593.592019-207,886£26,621,504.812020-216,140£18,587,048.822021-226,399£16,596,044.662022-235,164£13,673,498.622023-244,916£13,663,602.682024-255,330£13,091,473.382025-26 to date6,625£12,896,081.72Total44,439£186,101,020.24

With reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, whether his Department will procure the new surface-to-air missile.

The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is entering the concept demonstration phase. Once that initial phase of work has been completed, a decision will be taken on whether to progress to procurement.

What discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the use of the (a) Diego Garcia and (b) RAF Fairford military bases since 28 February 2026.

The US is the UK’s principal defence and security partner. The Secretary of State and his officials are in regular contact with US counterparts on a range of topics to ensure coherence and alignment between our two nations. As announced by the Prime Minister on 1 March, the Government agreed to a US request to use British bases for specific and limited defensive purposes.

How many live firing exercises have taken place at the Land Regional Hub Oman in each of the last ten financial years.

The Land Regional Hub Oman has transitioned into the Global Hub Oman (GHO) providing Land, Sea and Air capabilities. The Land Training Area: Ras Madrakah Training Area, is part of GHO’s capabilities. The following table provides the number of live firing exercises conducted on Ras Madrakah Training Area, in each of the last 10 financial years. Financial Year (FY)Number of Live Fire ExercisesFY2025-260FY2024-250FY2023-244FY2022-232FY2021-222FY2020-210FY2019-200FY2018-191FY2017-180FY2016-170

What military equipment is stationed at the Land Regional Hub Oman.

The Land Regional Hub Oman has transitioned into the Global Hub Oman (GHO) providing Land, Sea and Air capabilities. For operational security reasons, we do not release details of equipment holdings, changes in quantities, or future allocations at specific locations.

Whether he plans to reduce the quantity of military equipment used at the Land Regional Hub Germany in any of the remaining years of the current Parliament.

The Army continually reviews equipment allocations to ensure training needs are met. For operational security reasons, we do not release details of equipment holdings, changes in quantities, or future allocations at specific locations, including the Land Regional Hub Germany.

If he will list the military equipment currently stationed at the Land Regional Hub Germany.

The Army continually reviews equipment allocations to ensure training needs are met. For operational security reasons, we do not release details of equipment holdings, changes in quantities, or future allocations at specific locations, including the Land Regional Hub Germany.

How many live firing exercises have taken place at the Land Regional Hub Germany in each of the 10 previous financial years.

Live Firing exercises that took place at the Land Regional Hub Germany over the last ten years are recorded by calendar year rather than financial year. The number of Live Firing exercises that all took place on the Sennelager Training area in each of the last 10 year are as follows: Training YearNumber of Live Firing Exercises20251720241120238202282021720205201915201834201719201635

What steps he has taken to protect (a) service personnel and (b) their families at RAF Akrotiri since 1 March 2026.

We are providing non‑essential personnel and their families with supported temporary accommodation elsewhere on the island of Cyprus. For essential personnel who remain on site, our force protection measures are maintained at the highest level. Throughout January and February, we were moving defensive assets to Cyprus and Qatar such as fighter jets, air defence missiles, advanced radar, and systems to take down drones.

How many individuals does he expect to receive an operational tour bonus in each remaining financial year of the current Parliament.

Operational Allowance (OA) is a location‑driven allowance that recognises increased and enduring danger in Specified Operational Locations (SOLs). The number of Service Personnel in receipt of OA reflects the number of Service Personnel deployed to SOLs. SOL status is kept under regular review and is considered by the Permanent Joint Headquarters’ (PJHQ) Operational Records Board on a six‑monthly basis. As operational activity varies according to Defence commitments, entitlement to OA fluctuates accordingly. It is not possible to forecast how many individuals will receive OA in future financial years, nor the cost. Forecasting would require assumptions about the scale, location, and duration of future operational activity.

How many UK service personnel are permanently stationed at the Land Regional Hub Germany.

All of the data provided in this response is as at 31 October 2025 as this is the latest data available. There are currently 310 Regular Service personnel stationed at the ‘Land Regional Hub’ in Germany. The numbers of Regular service personnel stationed permanently at the ‘Land Regional Hub’ in Germany in each of the last 10 financial years is provided in the table below: YearApr-16Apr-17Apr-18Apr-19Apr-20Apr-21Apr-22Apr-23Apr-24Apr-25 Regulars3440276025501960250200200250270300 The numbers of service personnel deployed temporarily at the ‘Land Regional Hub’ in Germany in each of the last 10 financial years is provided in the table below: Financial Year2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25 Deployments000[c]80[c]202206030 Notes UK Regulars comprise full time service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas, Mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Includes trained and untrained personnel. The figures are based on Service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence - where personnel work isn't necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship. 'Land Regional Hub' Germany has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA). Land Regional Hub has been defined as sites in Germany administered by the UK. This primarily includes sites in Paderborn and Moenchengladbach. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias. [c] - less than 5 Deployment data are derived from the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) `Move and Track` system. Due to ongoing validation of data from JPA, figures provided are provisional and subject to change. Figures have been derived from the January 2026 deployment extract. Deployed personnel are Military personnel who are deployed on Operations. The Move and Track database records all personnel who enter a deployment theatre for over 24hrs. Each individual has a new record for each change in deployed unit, location, operation or date. ‘UK Forces Service Personnel’ comprises UK Regular Forces, Gurkhas, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Volunteer Reserve, Serving Regular Reserve, Sponsored Reserve, and Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS). Service personnel data is derived from the JPA system, which is a combination of mandatory and non-mandatory fields populated by unit administrators and voluntary fields that Armed Forces personnel can choose to complete based on their perceptions. The Date of Deployment is the 'deployed date in' as recorded on JPA 'Move and Track' system. This is the date personnel deployed into the respective count. Please note: the total does not include repeat tours within the same calendar year so each individual is only recorded once per financial year. If personnel began a deployment in multiple financial years, then they would be reported in each financial year they were deployed in. Hence, figures can not be combined to give an overall number of unique personnel deployed over this whole period. The Financial Year for Defence Statistics purposes starts on 1 April and ends on 31 March.

How many UK service personnel have been stationed at the Land Regional Hub Germany in each of the last 10 financial years in a (a) permanent and (b) temporary capacity.

All of the data provided in this response is as at 31 October 2025 as this is the latest data available. There are currently 310 Regular Service personnel stationed at the ‘Land Regional Hub’ in Germany. The numbers of Regular service personnel stationed permanently at the ‘Land Regional Hub’ in Germany in each of the last 10 financial years is provided in the table below: YearApr-16Apr-17Apr-18Apr-19Apr-20Apr-21Apr-22Apr-23Apr-24Apr-25 Regulars3440276025501960250200200250270300 The numbers of service personnel deployed temporarily at the ‘Land Regional Hub’ in Germany in each of the last 10 financial years is provided in the table below: Financial Year2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25 Deployments000[c]80[c]202206030 Notes UK Regulars comprise full time service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas, Mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Includes trained and untrained personnel. The figures are based on Service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence - where personnel work isn't necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship. 'Land Regional Hub' Germany has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA). Land Regional Hub has been defined as sites in Germany administered by the UK. This primarily includes sites in Paderborn and Moenchengladbach. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias. [c] - less than 5 Deployment data are derived from the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) `Move and Track` system. Due to ongoing validation of data from JPA, figures provided are provisional and subject to change. Figures have been derived from the January 2026 deployment extract. Deployed personnel are Military personnel who are deployed on Operations. The Move and Track database records all personnel who enter a deployment theatre for over 24hrs. Each individual has a new record for each change in deployed unit, location, operation or date. ‘UK Forces Service Personnel’ comprises UK Regular Forces, Gurkhas, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Volunteer Reserve, Serving Regular Reserve, Sponsored Reserve, and Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS). Service personnel data is derived from the JPA system, which is a combination of mandatory and non-mandatory fields populated by unit administrators and voluntary fields that Armed Forces personnel can choose to complete based on their perceptions. The Date of Deployment is the 'deployed date in' as recorded on JPA 'Move and Track' system. This is the date personnel deployed into the respective count. Please note: the total does not include repeat tours within the same calendar year so each individual is only recorded once per financial year. If personnel began a deployment in multiple financial years, then they would be reported in each financial year they were deployed in. Hence, figures can not be combined to give an overall number of unique personnel deployed over this whole period. The Financial Year for Defence Statistics purposes starts on 1 April and ends on 31 March.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, how much money has been allocated by his Department for the Low-Cost Effectors and Platforms initiative.

The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is entering the concept demonstration phase.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the security in place at RAF Akrotiri.

We put in place significant defensive measures between January and February including F35 and Typhoon aircraft, additional radar systems and counter-drone systems. In light of the increasingly indiscriminate and reckless Iranian attacks we are moving quickly to further reinforce our defensive presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. This includes the deployment of HMS Dragon as well as Wildcat helicopters armed with Martlet missiles to counter the threat from drones.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February on Unmanned Air Systems: Training, how many individual units in the Field Army currently train in the use of small uncrewed air systems.

Training pathways for the use of small Uncrewed Air Systems (sUAS) are expanding rapidly as the Army continues to build skills in robotics and autonomous systems, informed by lessons learned from Ukraine. Centralised sUAS training delivered by the Land Warfare Centre has been in development for much of this training year. As pathways mature, the Centre is currently scheduled to deliver 65 courses in Training Year 2026-27, with this number expected to increase or remain consistent in future years depending on uptake. Alongside this, distributed training—delivered by individual units within the Field Army—remains a significant element of the Army’s approach. 283 distributed courses have been scheduled in the current training year, and the number of available course places is expected to grow in future years. Exact figures on the number of units training specifically on small Uncrewed Air Systems (sUAS) are not held centrally. However, as of March 2026, 127 Army units are reported to be conducting training on Uncrewed Air Systems, the vast majority of which relates to sUAS.

With reference to his statement of 22 May 2025 on Diego Garcia Military Base, Official Report, Column 1284, if he will provide the basis for his comments that the UK would face legal rulings within weeks.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 March 2026 to Question 116019 to the hon. Member for New Forest East (Sir Julian Lewis).

How many service personnel have been stationed at the Land Regional Hub Oman in a (a) permanent and (b) temporary capacity in each of the last 10 financial years.

The Land Regional Hub Oman has transitioned into the Global Hub Oman (GHO) providing Land, Sea and Air capabilities. As at October 2025 (latest figures available), the numbers of Service personnel currently stationed at the Hub on a permanent basis were less than five, as shown below: Number of UK Regular1 Armed Forces Service Personnel Stationed2 at Global Hub Oman (GHO)3, as at 1 October 25 YearOct-25 Regulars[c] Notes UK Regulars comprise full time service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas, Mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non-Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Includes trained and untrained personnel. The figures are based on Service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence - where personnel work isn't necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship. GHO has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA). Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.[c] - less than 5 As at October 2025 (latest figures available), the numbers of service personnel stationed permanently at the Hub in each of the last 10 financial years are below: Number of UK Regular1 Armed Forces Service Personnel Stationed2 at Global Hub Oman (GHO)3, 2016 - 2025 YearApr-16Apr-17Apr-18Apr-19Apr-20Apr-21Apr-22Apr-23Apr-24Apr-25 Regulars000000[c][c][c][c] Notes UK Regulars comprise full time service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas, Mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non-Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Includes trained and untrained personnel. The figures are based on Service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence - where personnel work isn't necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship. GHO has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA). Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias. [c] - less than 5 As at October 2025 (latest figures available), the numbers of service personnel deployed temporarily at the Hub in each of the last 10 financial years are below: Number of Unique UK Armed Forces Service Personnel3 Deployed2 to Global Hub Oman (GHO)7 by Financial Year5,6,8 Financial Year2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25 Deployments00[c]2960208807603057040 Notes Deployment data are derived from the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) `Move and Track` system. Due to ongoing validation of data from JPA, figures provided are provisional and subject to change. Figures have been derived from the January 2026 deployment extract.Deployed personnel are Military personnel who are deployed on Operations. The Move and Track database records all personnel who enter a deployment theatre for over 24hrs. Each individual has a new record for each change in deployed unit, location, operation or date. ‘UK Forces Service Personnel’ comprises UK Regular Forces, Gurkhas, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Volunteer Reserve, Serving Regular Reserve, Sponsored Reserve, and Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS). Service personnel data is derived from the JPA system, which is a combination of mandatory and non-mandatory fields populated by unit administrators and voluntary fields that Armed Forces personnel can choose to complete based on their perceptions. The Date of Deployment is the 'deployed date in' as recorded on JPA 'Move and Track' system. This is the date personnel deployed into the respective count. Please note: the total does not include repeat tours within the same calendar year, so each individual is only recorded once per financial year. If personnel began a deployment in multiple financial years, then they would be reported in each financial year they were deployed in. Hence, figures cannot be combined to give an overall number of unique personnel deployed over this whole period. GHO has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA). The Financial Year for Defence Statistics purposes starts on 1 April and ends on 31 March. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias. [c] - less than 5

How many service personnel are permanently stationed at the Land Regional Hub Oman.

The Land Regional Hub Oman has transitioned into the Global Hub Oman (GHO) providing Land, Sea and Air capabilities. As at October 2025 (latest figures available), the numbers of Service personnel currently stationed at the Hub on a permanent basis were less than five, as shown below: Number of UK Regular1 Armed Forces Service Personnel Stationed2 at Global Hub Oman (GHO)3, as at 1 October 25 YearOct-25 Regulars[c] Notes UK Regulars comprise full time service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas, Mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non-Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Includes trained and untrained personnel. The figures are based on Service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence - where personnel work isn't necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship. GHO has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA). Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.[c] - less than 5 As at October 2025 (latest figures available), the numbers of service personnel stationed permanently at the Hub in each of the last 10 financial years are below: Number of UK Regular1 Armed Forces Service Personnel Stationed2 at Global Hub Oman (GHO)3, 2016 - 2025 YearApr-16Apr-17Apr-18Apr-19Apr-20Apr-21Apr-22Apr-23Apr-24Apr-25 Regulars000000[c][c][c][c] Notes UK Regulars comprise full time service personnel, including Nursing Services, but excluding Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) personnel, Gurkhas, Mobilised Reservists, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Non-Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), High Readiness Reserve (HRR) and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) personnel. Includes trained and untrained personnel. The figures are based on Service personnel's stationed location and not their location of residence - where personnel work isn't necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location. The Royal Navy/Royal Marines personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship. GHO has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA). Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias. [c] - less than 5 As at October 2025 (latest figures available), the numbers of service personnel deployed temporarily at the Hub in each of the last 10 financial years are below: Number of Unique UK Armed Forces Service Personnel3 Deployed2 to Global Hub Oman (GHO)7 by Financial Year5,6,8 Financial Year2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25 Deployments00[c]2960208807603057040 Notes Deployment data are derived from the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) `Move and Track` system. Due to ongoing validation of data from JPA, figures provided are provisional and subject to change. Figures have been derived from the January 2026 deployment extract.Deployed personnel are Military personnel who are deployed on Operations. The Move and Track database records all personnel who enter a deployment theatre for over 24hrs. Each individual has a new record for each change in deployed unit, location, operation or date. ‘UK Forces Service Personnel’ comprises UK Regular Forces, Gurkhas, Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS), Locally Engaged Personnel (LEP), Volunteer Reserve, Serving Regular Reserve, Sponsored Reserve, and Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS). Service personnel data is derived from the JPA system, which is a combination of mandatory and non-mandatory fields populated by unit administrators and voluntary fields that Armed Forces personnel can choose to complete based on their perceptions. The Date of Deployment is the 'deployed date in' as recorded on JPA 'Move and Track' system. This is the date personnel deployed into the respective count. Please note: the total does not include repeat tours within the same calendar year, so each individual is only recorded once per financial year. If personnel began a deployment in multiple financial years, then they would be reported in each financial year they were deployed in. Hence, figures cannot be combined to give an overall number of unique personnel deployed over this whole period. GHO has been derived from the Location Unit field in Joint Personnel Administration (JPA). The Financial Year for Defence Statistics purposes starts on 1 April and ends on 31 March. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 to prevent inadvertent disclosure. However, numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias. [c] - less than 5

Whether he plans to increase training of Royal Air Force engineers in extreme cold temperatures in each remaining year of the current Parliament.

ECW training is conducted as required to support operational and exercise commitments, particularly in the High North. The RAF regularly train and operate alongside NATO allies and Nordic partners in extreme cold environments.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February on Unmanned Air Systems: Training, how many individual small uncrewed air systems training programmes are delivered by the Land Warfare Centre each year.

Training pathways for the use of small Uncrewed Air Systems (sUAS) are expanding rapidly as the Army continues to build skills in robotics and autonomous systems, informed by lessons learned from Ukraine. Centralised sUAS training delivered by the Land Warfare Centre has been in development for much of this training year. As pathways mature, the Centre is currently scheduled to deliver 65 courses in Training Year 2026-27, with this number expected to increase or remain consistent in future years depending on uptake. Alongside this, distributed training—delivered by individual units within the Field Army—remains a significant element of the Army’s approach. 283 distributed courses have been scheduled in the current training year, and the number of available course places is expected to grow in future years. Exact figures on the number of units training specifically on small Uncrewed Air Systems (sUAS) are not held centrally. However, as of March 2026, 127 Army units are reported to be conducting training on Uncrewed Air Systems, the vast majority of which relates to sUAS.