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 3,061–3,080 of 3,162 · this parliament
What the cost to the public purse was of running the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia in financial year 2023-24.
The direct cost to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for running the UK element of the UK-US military base in the British Indian Ocean Territory in financial year 2023-24 was £3.8 million. This excludes minor costs incurred directly by, for example, visiting units or HQ elements in the UK. Any costs incurred by other Government Departments cannot be provided by the MOD.
Whether his Department will receive additional funding to cover any additional costs arising from the Chagos Island settlement.
Negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago were opened in 2022 under the previous Government. The lead Department for the negotiations was the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence was closely updated and engaged in all the key aspects of the negotiations. The agreement secured with Mauritius protects the effective operation of the joint UK/US base on Diego Garcia for at least the next 99 years. Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.
With reference to his answer to Urgent Question on 11 November 2024 from the Hon. Member for South Suffolk, when he first became aware of the costs to be borne by his Department arising from the agreement with Mauritius on sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.
Negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago were opened in 2022 under the previous Government. The lead Department for the negotiations was the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence was closely updated and engaged in all the key aspects of the negotiations. The agreement secured with Mauritius protects the effective operation of the joint UK/US base on Diego Garcia for at least the next 99 years. Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.
With reference to paragraph 5.52 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to inheritance tax on Death in Service awards for surviving spouses of military personnel.
Most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included within the value of a person’s estate for inheritance tax purposes from 6 April 2027.Transfers to spouses and civil partners are exempt from inheritance tax. This means death benefits paid to spouses or civil partners are unaffected.
On what date he agreed his Department’s contribution to the Chagos Island settlement.
Negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago were opened in 2022 under the previous Government. The lead Department for the negotiations was the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence was closely updated and engaged in all the key aspects of the negotiations. The agreement secured with Mauritius protects the effective operation of the joint UK/US base on Diego Garcia for at least the next 99 years. Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to renew the Community Housing Fund.
The Community Housing Fund was established in 2016 and closed in 2022. The Government recognises that the community-led housing sector delivers a wide range of benefits, including strengthening community participation in local decision-making, engendering community cohesion, achieving high quality design and strengthening the co-operative economy. As we develop our Long Term Housing Strategy, we will consider how the Government may further support the growth of the community-led housing sector.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the formula used to allocate flood funding to rural areas.
Defra will consult in the new year on a new simpler and more flexible approach to floods investment that maximises value for the taxpayer and supports nature-based solutions. This will include a review of the floods funding formula.
Where he plans to locate the private office of the National Armaments Director.
The National Armaments Director (NAD) role will be a civil servant appointment. Private office arrangements are yet to be confirmed.
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to reform funding arrangements for Internal Drainage Board levies.
Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) play a crucial role managing water levels and flood risk.The Government recognises the sustained increases in Internal Drainage Board levies that some local authorities have experienced over the last two years.MHCLG also recognises the need for a long-term solution and are working with Defra to explore potential approaches.
Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to include district councils in the Suffolk devolution deal.
In areas of two-tier local government, as is the case in Suffolk, the Government will continue to seek to establish combined county authorities. The Government recognises the vital role district councils play and strongly encourages their involvement in combined county authorities in a number of ways, including non-constituent membership, positions on overview and scrutiny and audit committees, and via local joint working on key issues.
How many staff members will be employed in the National Armament Director’s private office.
The National Armaments Director (NAD) role will be a civil servant appointment. Private office arrangements are yet to be confirmed.
Whether he categorises the National Armaments Director role as a (a) civil servant or (b) military appointment.
The National Armaments Director (NAD) role will be a civil servant appointment. Private office arrangements are yet to be confirmed.
Communities and Local Government, if she will provide additional support to district councils to reduce levels of homelessness.
As announced at the Budget on 30th October, funding for homelessness services is increasing next year by £233 million compared to this year (2024/25). The increased spending will help to prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation and help to prevent rough sleeping. This brings total spend to nearly a billion pounds in 25/26.As announced on 6th November, the department will also be providing £10 million of Rough Sleeping Winter Pressures Funding to local authorities across England this winter.
Whether she plans to review Public Works Loan Board rates offered to councils.
The PWLB lending facility exists to provide cost effective loans to local authorities to support investments and service delivery. HMT keeps all PWLB rates under review, including the discounted rate for investment in social housing which we extended in Autumn Budget to the end of 2025-26 to give LAs certainty with their capital plans for the year ahead.
With reference to the guidance entitled Appointment of AUKUS Adviser and report: Terms of Reference, published on 29 August 2024, when he plans to publish Sir Stephen Lovegrove's report on AUKUS.
An extension has been provided to allow Sir Stephen Lovegrove to gather all the necessary information. He will now report to the Prime Minister, Defence Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor in November 2024.
With reference to the guidance entitled Appointment of AUKUS Adviser and report: Terms of Reference, published on 29 August 2024, whether Sir Stephen Lovegrove reported his findings on AUKUS before the end of October 2024.
An extension has been provided to allow Sir Stephen Lovegrove to gather all the necessary information. He will now report to the Prime Minister, Defence Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor in November 2024.
With reference to the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of the increase to employer's national insurance contributions on the Ministry of Defence.
The Government will be supporting departments with the cost of additional employer national insurance contributions. This is in line with the Government’s usual approach to supporting the public sector, as was the case with the previous government’s Health and Social Care Levy. The allocation for the Ministry of Defence, along with all other departments, will be set out in due course.
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on helicopter pilot training in the armed forces.
The Government remains committed to setting a path to spending 2.5% of GDP at a future fiscal event. Budget allocations will be set in the usual way and informed by the findings of the Strategic Defence Review.
Whether he plans to continue providing funding for NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic into 2025/26.
The UK remains committed to funding NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), as part of its wider commitment to NATO.As the host of the European Regional Office of DIANA, the UK has been a champion of this initiative, additionally committing an affiliated UK Accelerator and bolstering access to national test centres across the UK to innovators and start-ups.DIANA's success is essential to ensure NATO remains agile and responsive to technological threats and opportunities.
If he will make an estimate of the potential cost of funding pay rises for armed forces personnel in each of the next three financial years.
The cost of funding pay rises for Armed Forces personnel in future years will be subject to the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Board.