Written questions by Cartlidge.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of zero tariffs being applied to pharmaceuticals exports from the UK into the United States on NHS spending on medicines.

We have reached a landmark agreement with the United States of America, which means, unlike anywhere else in the world, life sciences companies exporting medicines from the United Kingdom to the US will face no tariffs to do so, protecting jobs and investment in the UK. This gives the UK a competitive advantage when selling to the global market, and the changes we’re making to increase what we spend on medicines will therefore help UK companies to export to the US, and shores up the investments global players have made in the UK, whilst also attracting further investments.No assessment has been made of the potential impact of zero tariffs on pharmaceuticals exports from the UK to the US on the South Suffolk constituency.No assessment has been made of the potential impact of zero tariffs being applied to pharmaceuticals exports from the UK into the US on National Health Service spending on medicines. The overall US agreement is expected to cost approximately £1 billion over the course of the Spending Review.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of zero tariffs on pharmaceuticals exports from the UK to the US on South Suffolk constituency.

We have reached a landmark agreement with the United States of America, which means, unlike anywhere else in the world, life sciences companies exporting medicines from the United Kingdom to the US will face no tariffs to do so, protecting jobs and investment in the UK. This gives the UK a competitive advantage when selling to the global market, and the changes we’re making to increase what we spend on medicines will therefore help UK companies to export to the US, and shores up the investments global players have made in the UK, whilst also attracting further investments.No assessment has been made of the potential impact of zero tariffs on pharmaceuticals exports from the UK to the US on the South Suffolk constituency.No assessment has been made of the potential impact of zero tariffs being applied to pharmaceuticals exports from the UK into the US on National Health Service spending on medicines. The overall US agreement is expected to cost approximately £1 billion over the course of the Spending Review.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Hypersonic missiles development accelerated by new contract, published on 13 February 2026, what the estimated cost is of delivering the hypersonic missile programme.

Through innovative procurement practices and rapid commercial mechanisms that harness the breadth of the UK's industrial and academic supply chain, the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Hypersonics programme intends to deliver a weapon demonstrator by 2030. With a mandate to "do differently", the programme deviates from traditional (CADMID) procurement sequencing and adopts early technology maturation, prototyping and system testing, This agile, spiral development approach aligned with Defence Industrial Strategy maintains MOD's existing gated approvals process. The programme is at the early Strategic Outline Case; the overall costs for the capability will mature, as will the in-service delivery date.

What discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Mauritian Government on the potential impact of Treaty of Pelindaba on the operation of nuclear weapons on the Diego Garcia military base.

As the hon. Gentleman will recall from me repeatedly saying in the Commons, and again from his time as a Defence Minister, it is longstanding UK policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at any given location. The UK and Mauritius enjoy a strong bilateral relationship, but the Secretary of State has not met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius.

If he will provide information on the (a) number and (b) type of cold weather clothing in use with the Royal Air Force in the (i) current financial year and (ii) in each of the last 10 financial years.

All personnel are provided with appropriate clothing and personal equipment during pre-deployment preparation.However, information regarding the amount and type of cold weather clothing is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Whether he plans to increase the number of generators in use with the Royal Air Force in each remaining year of the current Parliament.

The Royal Air Force currently has no plans to increase the number of generators in use. Any that are unserviceable or require updating will be replaced as necessary.

How many generators are in use with the Royal Air Force in (a) 2025-2026 financial year and (b) in each of the last 10 financial years.

The information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Whether he plans to reduce the quantity of military equipment used at the British Army Training Unit Kenya in this 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 British Army Training Unit Kenya.

If he will list the military equipment currently stationed at the British Army Training Unit Kenya.

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 British Army Training Unit Kenya.

How many UK service personnel have been stationed at the British Army Training Unit Kenya in a (a) permanent and (b) temporary capacity in each of the last 10 financial years.

As at October 2025 (latest available figure) there were 200 UK Regular1 Armed Forces Service personnel permanently stationed2 at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK3). Notes/CaveatsUK 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.BATUK 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. Table 1. Number of UK Regular1 Armed Forces Service Personnel stationed2 at BATUK3 2016 – 2025. YearApr-16Apr-17Apr-18Apr-19Apr-20Apr-21Apr-22Apr-23Apr-24Apr-25Regulars170210210220210220220210220210Source: Analysis(Tri Service) Notes/CaveatsUK 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.BATUK 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. Table 2. Number of unique UK Armed Forces Service Personnel3 Deployed2 to BATUK7 in each of the last 10 Financial Years5,6,8Financial Year2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25Deployments30405306804608090607060Source: Analysis (Tri Service) Notes/CaveatsDeployment 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 October 2025 deployment extract. 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 October 2025 deployment extract.‘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.BATUK 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.

Whether he plans to increase the provision of cold weather clothing for the Royal Air Force in each remaining year of the current Parliament.

We will equip Royal Air Force personnel with the cold weather clothing required to work in cold conditions on exercise or in conflict.

How many UK service personnel are permanently stationed at the British Army Training Unit Kenya.

As at October 2025 (latest available figure) there were 200 UK Regular1 Armed Forces Service personnel permanently stationed2 at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK3). Notes/CaveatsUK 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.BATUK 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. Table 1. Number of UK Regular1 Armed Forces Service Personnel stationed2 at BATUK3 2016 – 2025. YearApr-16Apr-17Apr-18Apr-19Apr-20Apr-21Apr-22Apr-23Apr-24Apr-25Regulars170210210220210220220210220210Source: Analysis(Tri Service) Notes/CaveatsUK 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.BATUK 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. Table 2. Number of unique UK Armed Forces Service Personnel3 Deployed2 to BATUK7 in each of the last 10 Financial Years5,6,8Financial Year2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25Deployments30405306804608090607060Source: Analysis (Tri Service) Notes/CaveatsDeployment 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 October 2025 deployment extract. 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 October 2025 deployment extract.‘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.BATUK 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.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Hypersonic missiles development accelerated by new contract, published on 13 February 2026, whether he has a target date for the hypersonic missile being in service.

Through innovative procurement practices and rapid commercial mechanisms that harness the breadth of the UK's industrial and academic supply chain, the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Hypersonics programme intends to deliver a weapon demonstrator by 2030. With a mandate to "do differently", the programme deviates from traditional (CADMID) procurement sequencing and adopts early technology maturation, prototyping and system testing, This agile, spiral development approach aligned with Defence Industrial Strategy maintains MOD's existing gated approvals process. The programme is at the early Strategic Outline Case; the overall costs for the capability will mature, as will the in-service delivery date.

How many live firing exercises have taken place at the British Army Training Unit Kenya in each of the last 10 financial years.

The number of live firing exercises, by financial year (FY), are below: FY 2015/16FY 2016/17FY 2017/18FY 2018/19FY 2019/20FY 2020/21FY 2021/22FY 2022/23FY 2023/24FY 2024/251254412231

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Hypersonic missiles development accelerated by new contract, published on 13 February 2026, whether he plans to procure a hypersonic missile in this Parliament.

Through innovative procurement practices and rapid commercial mechanisms that harness the breadth of the UK's industrial and academic supply chain, the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Hypersonics programme intends to deliver a weapon demonstrator by 2030. With a mandate to "do differently", the programme deviates from traditional (CADMID) procurement sequencing and adopts early technology maturation, prototyping and system testing, This agile, spiral development approach aligned with Defence Industrial Strategy maintains MOD's existing gated approvals process. The programme is at the early Strategic Outline Case; the overall costs for the capability will mature, as will the in-service delivery date.

Communities and Local Government, when he plans to announce the unitary council model to be adopted in Suffolk.

The Government remains committed to the indicative timetable published in July, with elections to new councils in May 2027. This is with the exception of Surrey, where we have already announced two new councils with elections expected in May 2026.

Communities and Local Government, whether it remains his policy to have elections for the shadow unitary authority in Suffolk in May 2027.

The Government remains committed to the indicative timetable published in July, with elections to new councils in May 2027. This is with the exception of Surrey, where we have already announced two new councils with elections expected in May 2026.

When the next round of Access for All funding will open.

Funding for future rounds of the Access for All (AfA) programme may be made available as part of the next Spending Review and this could provide an opportunity to fully or partially fund accessibility upgrades at stations. The process and timings for identifying future AfA projects have not yet been decided, although we have committed to reforming the AfA programme as we move towards the establishment of Great British Railways.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) she or (b) any of her ministerial colleagues have met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius since (i) 5 July 2024 and (ii) August 2025.

No meetings took place between ministers from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius from the period 5 July 2024 to August 2025.

Whether he has met with the (a) Prime Minister and (b) Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss defence spending since 13 February 2026.

The Ministry of Defence remains in close contact with His Majesty's Treasury and No.10 at all levels of the Department on defence spending.