Written questions by Cartlidge.

How many 155mm artillery shells were manufactured in the UK (a) between 11 July 2023 and 4 July 2024 and (b) since 5 July 2024.

This information is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

How many 9mm rounds were manufactured in the UK (a) between 11 July 2023 and 4 July 2024 and (b) since 5 July 2024.

This information is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

How many 30mm cannon rounds were manufactured in the UK (a) between 11 July 2023 and 4 July 2024 and (b) since 5 July 2024.

This information is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

Whether any new orders have been placed as part of the Next Generation Munitions Solution agreement since 5 July 2024.

This information is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment on the potential impact of a planning authority being subsumed into a new unitary authority as part of local government reorganisation on housing number targets.

Local planning authorities are expected to use the government's revised standard method to assess housing needs. This is a starting point used by councils to inform the preparation of their local development plans.The government is clear all local planning authorities should continue work on local plans and get them in place as soon as possible.The implications of local government reorganisation, including the impact of reorganisation on local housing targets, will be considered in light of the specific circumstances of any given area. Local plans should still be progressed in all areas, as they will act as the foundation for any new plans as required.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the decision by the US to pause military aid to Ukraine.

Our immediate focus is putting Ukraine in a position of strength and bringing the US and Ukraine together for the benefit of our collective security.NATO Allies pledged 40 billion Euros in military aid for Ukraine in 2024 and then went on to deliver 50 billion. 60% of that aid to Ukraine last year came from non-US Allies.The UK will continue to support Ukraine and is stepping up and speeding up its military assistance, spending £4.5 billion on military support for Ukraine this year which is more than ever before. We have also earmarked an additional £2.26 billion contribution under the ERA loan for military spending.

Whether he has placed any new orders for 155mm shells since 5 July 2024.

This information is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

How many 7.62mm rounds were manufactured in the UK (a) between 11 July 2023 and 4 July 2024 and (b) since 5 July 2024.

This information is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

What the planned military aid budget provided by the UK to Ukraine is for the 2025-26 financial year.

This Government is committed to providing at least £3 billion a year in military support to Ukraine for as long as it takes.Additional support is being provided through the UK's contribution to the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration loans and UK Export Finance guaranteed loans.

How many manufacturing jobs have been created to support the Next Generation Munitions Solution agreement (a) between 11 July 2023 and 4 July 2024 and (b) since 5 July 2024 in (i) Washington in Tyne & Wear and (ii) Glascoed, Wales.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not currently hold the number of manufacturing jobs created to support the Next Generation Munitions Solution agreement in the specified time period.The Department has requested BAE Systems, (who deliver the Next Generation Munitions Solution for the MOD) to provide updated figures, and once they are received I will write to the hon. Member and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

How many new jobs have been created to support the Next Generation Munitions Solution agreement (a) between 11 July 2023 and 4 July 2024 and (b) since 5 July 2024 in (i) Washington in Tyne & Wear, (ii) Glascoed, Wales and (iii) the UK.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not currently hold information about the number of jobs created to support the Next Generation Munitions Solution agreement in the specified time period. The Department has requested BAE Systems, who deliver the Next Generation Munitions Solution for MOD, to provide updated figures. Once they are received, I will write to the hon. Member and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

What proportion of the work undertaken on the development of the RCH 155 will be British; and whether this proportion has changed since 5 July 2024.

The Mobile Fires Project (MFP), delivering the Remote Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155), is currently in its Assessment Phase. I am withholding further information relating to the number of RCH 155 platforms being procured as it is commercially sensitive. I can confirm, however, that the number is subject to ongoing commercial negotiations and will also be guided by the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review. The proportion of work undertaken on the production of RCH 155, including manufacturing workshare, by the United Kingdom and Germany will be subject to contractual arrangements with industry following commercial negotiations. Throughout this process the Department will seek opportunities to maximise the nation’s workshare in support of UK prosperity and realisation of benefits to the Land Industrial Strategy.

How many and what proportion of the RCH 155 will be primarily manufactured in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Germany.

The Mobile Fires Project (MFP), delivering the Remote Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155), is currently in its Assessment Phase. I am withholding further information relating to the number of RCH 155 platforms being procured as it is commercially sensitive. I can confirm, however, that the number is subject to ongoing commercial negotiations and will also be guided by the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review. The proportion of work undertaken on the production of RCH 155, including manufacturing workshare, by the United Kingdom and Germany will be subject to contractual arrangements with industry following commercial negotiations. Throughout this process the Department will seek opportunities to maximise the nation’s workshare in support of UK prosperity and realisation of benefits to the Land Industrial Strategy.

Whether the application of inheritance tax to death in service payments will apply to (a) fire, (b) police service and (c) any other emergency service payments.

Estates of emergency services personnel will benefit from the normal nil-rate bands, reliefs, and exemptions available. For example, the nil-rate bands mean an estate can pass on up to £1 million with no inheritance tax liability and the general rules mean any transfers, including the payment of death benefits, to a spouse or civil partner are fully exempt from inheritance tax. There is also an existing full exemption from inheritance tax when a member of the emergency services dies from an injury sustained, accident occurring, or disease contracted when that person was responding to emergency circumstances. More information is available at www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/inheritance-tax-manual/ihtm11291. The Government will bring most unused pension funds and death benefits payable from a pension into a person’s estate for inheritance tax purposes from 6 April 2027. Inheritance tax is already applied to death in service benefits for some pension schemes. The expected revenue from reforms to the inheritance tax treatment of unused pension funds and death benefits was set out at Autumn Budget 2024. A specific breakdown of the expected revenue from different forms of death benefits is not readily available.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the decision by the US Defence Secretary to suspend (a) operations and (b) planning for offensive cyber operations against Russia.

The Ministry of Defence maintains a close security partnership with US counterparts. While the UK’s offensive cyber capabilities remain essential to both its and partner nations national security, I hope the hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Minister in the Department that we do not comment on operational matters.

How many Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 mm (RCH 155) he plans to procure; and whether this number has changed since 5 July 2024.

The Mobile Fires Project (MFP), delivering the Remote Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155), is currently in its Assessment Phase. I am withholding further information relating to the number of RCH 155 platforms being procured as it is commercially sensitive. I can confirm, however, that the number is subject to ongoing commercial negotiations and will also be guided by the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review. The proportion of work undertaken on the production of RCH 155, including manufacturing workshare, by the United Kingdom and Germany will be subject to contractual arrangements with industry following commercial negotiations. Throughout this process the Department will seek opportunities to maximise the nation’s workshare in support of UK prosperity and realisation of benefits to the Land Industrial Strategy.

What the revenues to the Exchequer will be from the application of Inheritance Tax to death in service payments in the (a) 2024-25 financial year and (b) each remaining financial year in this Parliament.

Estates of emergency services personnel will benefit from the normal nil-rate bands, reliefs, and exemptions available. For example, the nil-rate bands mean an estate can pass on up to £1 million with no inheritance tax liability and the general rules mean any transfers, including the payment of death benefits, to a spouse or civil partner are fully exempt from inheritance tax. There is also an existing full exemption from inheritance tax when a member of the emergency services dies from an injury sustained, accident occurring, or disease contracted when that person was responding to emergency circumstances. More information is available at www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/inheritance-tax-manual/ihtm11291. The Government will bring most unused pension funds and death benefits payable from a pension into a person’s estate for inheritance tax purposes from 6 April 2027. Inheritance tax is already applied to death in service benefits for some pension schemes. The expected revenue from reforms to the inheritance tax treatment of unused pension funds and death benefits was set out at Autumn Budget 2024. A specific breakdown of the expected revenue from different forms of death benefits is not readily available.

How many and what proportion of Boxer armoured vehicles will be primarily manufactured in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Germany.

The Trinity House Agreement, a defence cooperation agreement between the UK and Germany, was signed in October 2024 and aims to deepen defence cooperation across all domains. As a direct consequence of this agreement, 60% of the original production contract for Boxer is planned to come from the UK, with the additional 40% of production continuing to come from Germany. The first UK manufactured BOXER platform was unveiled at the International Armoured Vehicle conference in January 2025. Whilst the Army’s modernisation will continue over the next decade with a programme of investment worth billions of pounds, future capability development priorities will be guided by the Strategic Defence Review.Current plans see Defence procuring 623 BOXER vehicles, this has not changed since July 2024.

Which countries his Department classifies as threats with regards to offensive cyber operations.

The Ministry of Defence works closely with HMG partners to monitor, understand and counter the cyber threat to the UK from hostile states and organised criminals. In the last year, disruptive cyber activities against the UK and its partners have been attributed to Russian and Chinese state-affiliated actors; others based in Iran and North Korea also remain a threat to the UK.

Whether he is taking steps to allow SMEs greater access to ranges owned by his Department for the testing of uncrewed systems.

Access to the training estate is already permitted for the testing of uncrewed systems, where does this does not impact upon Military Use.Any use of uncrewed systems would be subject to the issue of a Defence Infrastructure Organisation licence. Every request for third party use of the estate is managed through this process.