Written questions by Cartlidge.

With reference to the Declaration of Intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, reconstruction and strategic sustainability of Ukraine, published on 7 January 2026, whether training of service personnel to be deployed as part of the Multinational Force Ukraine has begun.

The UK consistently maintains the training and readiness of its armed forces to deliver against our national interests, and the Government has allocated £200 million of funding to prepare the UK Armed Forces to deploy as part of the Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNF-U).The MNF-U Operational Head Quarters continues to refine specific plans for a deployment in the event of a ceasefire and as and when conditions are met.Whilst planning continues, we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, including any updates on training of Service personnel.As stated by the Prime Minister, he will keep the House updated as the situation develops and were troops to be deployed under the declaration signed [Declaration of Intent], that matter would be put to the House for debate beforehand and for a vote on that deployment.

Whether he plans to increase the Army's use of the Land Regional Hub Germany in this Parliament.

The Land Regional Hub in Germany is a vital asset for the British Army, providing a forward-deployed presence to support NATO's collective defence and enabling rapid responses to potential threats in Europe. It serves as a key logistics and operational hub, supporting training, exercises, and deployments, while fostering interoperability with allied forces. The Hub is actively utilised for multinational training and exercises, and its role in enhancing readiness and collaboration with European partners remains a priority. Future use of the Hub will continue to align with the UK's defence commitments and NATO objectives. Exercises at the Land Regional Hub Germany are recorded by calendar year rather than financial year. In line with the priorities set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the Army continues to adapt its training programme to support NATO requirements, enhance land forces competency, and deliver wider defence engagement. For calendar year 2026, 14 exercises are currently planned. These activities are designed to be larger in scale and longer in duration, reflecting our focus on more complex and demanding training to meet NATO’s evolving needs. Exercise plans are kept under regular review to ensure they remain aligned with Defence priorities. Planning for 2027 is ongoing and final exercise numbers are yet to be confirmed. Uncrewed systems will be utilised in exercises as part of routine Army Training. The Ministry of Defence does not hold centralised records for the overall operating costs of the Land Regional Hub Germany (LRH(G)), as it is comprised of multiple component sites and functions, each managed by different organisations within Defence. Therefore, it is not possible to provide a consolidated figure for the operating costs of the Land Regional Hub in Germany for this financial year or future years of this Parliament.

Whether there has been a reduction in the number of armoured vehicles in use at British Army Training Unit Suffield since 5 July 2024.

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 Suffield (BATUS). Equipment levels remain under regular assessment to support required training outputs.

Whether he plans to introduce the Defence Readiness Bill before May 2026.

Defence Readiness legislation is being considered to ensure the Government has the powers it needs to keep the UK safe in crisis or war, as recommended in the Strategic Defence Review. Legislation will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows.

How many training exercises will take place at the Land Regional Hub Germany in the (a) current and (b) next financial year.

The Land Regional Hub in Germany is a vital asset for the British Army, providing a forward-deployed presence to support NATO's collective defence and enabling rapid responses to potential threats in Europe. It serves as a key logistics and operational hub, supporting training, exercises, and deployments, while fostering interoperability with allied forces. The Hub is actively utilised for multinational training and exercises, and its role in enhancing readiness and collaboration with European partners remains a priority. Future use of the Hub will continue to align with the UK's defence commitments and NATO objectives. Exercises at the Land Regional Hub Germany are recorded by calendar year rather than financial year. In line with the priorities set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the Army continues to adapt its training programme to support NATO requirements, enhance land forces competency, and deliver wider defence engagement. For calendar year 2026, 14 exercises are currently planned. These activities are designed to be larger in scale and longer in duration, reflecting our focus on more complex and demanding training to meet NATO’s evolving needs. Exercise plans are kept under regular review to ensure they remain aligned with Defence priorities. Planning for 2027 is ongoing and final exercise numbers are yet to be confirmed. Uncrewed systems will be utilised in exercises as part of routine Army Training. The Ministry of Defence does not hold centralised records for the overall operating costs of the Land Regional Hub Germany (LRH(G)), as it is comprised of multiple component sites and functions, each managed by different organisations within Defence. Therefore, it is not possible to provide a consolidated figure for the operating costs of the Land Regional Hub in Germany for this financial year or future years of this Parliament.

Whether he has authorised changes to the in-service date of the Tempest Jet as part of the Global Combat Air Programme.

The Secretary of State has authorised no changes to the in-service date for the Global Combat Air Programme.

With reference to the Declaration of Intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, reconstruction and strategic sustainability of Ukraine, what proportion of UK service personnel deployed as part of the Multinational Force Ukraine will be in (a) logistics, (b) training, (c) surveillance and (d) peacekeeping roles.

As detailed planning continues, we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, due to operational reasons.

With reference to the Declaration of Intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, reconstruction and strategic sustainability of Ukraine, published on 7 January 2026, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Multinational Force Ukraine on UK capability.

As detailed planning continues, we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, due to operational reasons.

With reference to the Declaration of Intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, reconstruction and strategic sustainability of Ukraine, published on 7 January 2026, whether he has held discussions with his international counterparts on the length of the deployment of UK service personnel operating as part of the Multinational Force Ukraine.

As detailed planning continues, we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, due to operational reasons.

With reference to the Declaration of Intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, reconstruction and strategic sustainability of Ukraine, published on 7 January 2026, whether plans are in place for the subsequent withdrawal of UK service personnel deployed as part of the Multinational Force Ukraine.

As detailed planning continues, we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, due to operational reasons.

With reference to the Declaration of Intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, reconstruction and strategic sustainability of Ukraine, published on 7 January 2026, whether the deployment of UK service personnel as part of the Multinational Force Ukraine would occur under any form of ceasefire.

As detailed planning continues, we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, due to operational reasons.

With reference to the Declaration of Intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, reconstruction and strategic sustainability of Ukraine, published on 7 January 2026, what his proposed timeline is for the deployment of UK service personnel to Ukraine as part of the Multinational Force Ukraine once a ceasefire has been agreed.

As detailed planning continues, we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, due to operational reasons.

If he will state when HM Treasury approved the budget for the MOD Palantir Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025.

There was no requirement for HM Treasury to approve a budget for the Palantir Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025.

Whether he has made a cost impact assessment of announcing his Department's strategic partnership with Palantir on 18 September prior to signing a contract with Palantir on 30 December 2025.

The Strategic Partnership Arrangement announced on 18 September 2025 is a nonbinding statement of intent and did not create any financial commitments for the Department. The subsequent contract signed on 30 December 2025 followed the Department’s full commercial and governance processes, including value for money and assurance checks, to ensure the best outcome for Defence and the taxpayer.

Whether the £240,600,000 cost of the MOD Palantir Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025 was budgeted in the (a) previous or (b) current financial year.

The £240,600,000 cost of the Palantir Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025 falls within the Department’s existing delegated budgets for the next three financial years. No separate HM Treasury approval was required, and the Agreement was funded through the Ministry of Defence’s established financial planning and governance processes.

When he expects the experimental stage of Atlantic Bastion to conclude.

Atlantic Bastion combines the latest autonomous and AI technologies with world-class warships and aircraft to create a highly advanced hybrid fighting force that will see ships, submarines, aircraft and uncrewed vessels connected. The scope of the capability enhancements delivered through Atlantic Bastion remains dependent on the Defence Investment Plan.

Whether he discussed with HM Treasury the cost of the contract signed with Palantir on 30 December prior to its signature.

The Ministry of Defence followed all required approvals processes ahead of signing the Enterprise Agreement with Palantir on 30 December 2025. This included HM Treasury, Cabinet Office and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. All necessary commercial and financial scrutiny was completed before the Department entered into the agreement.

How many training exercises will take place at the Land Regional Hub Oman in (a) the current financial year and (b) the next financial year.

The information requested is shown below. Financial YearNumber of Exercises2026-2732025-2602024-2512023-2442022-2322021-2222020-2102019-2002018-1912017-1802016-170 Although the Land Regional Hub was originally an Army Unit, since October 2023 it has transitioned into the Global Hub Oman (GHO), providing Land, Sea and Air capabilities. The Land Training Area titled ‘Ras Madrakah Training Area’, is part of GHO’s capabilities.

Whether he discussed the contract signed by his Department with Palantir on 30 December 2025 with the CEO of Palantir in his meeting in London on 28 September 2025 when the strategic partnership with Palantir was announced.

No. The internal briefing provided to the Defence Secretary ahead of the 28 September meeting referenced the subsequent Enterprise Agreement. However, it was not discussed in the meeting itself on the 28 September. This meeting related solely to the announcement of the non-binding Strategic Partnership Arrangement (SPA), which does not constitute a contract, and does not commit the Department to any programme or expenditure. The subsequent Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025 was negotiated following the SPA, through the Department’s formal commercial and governance processes, separate from the earlier SPA announcement.

Whether the British Army is currently utilising the British Army Training Unit Kenya.

British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) continues to be used for both training and testing activity, including for uncrewed systems, and will remain a location for the Army’s testing of such systems throughout the current Parliament. Financial YearNumber of Exercises2015-16*32016-17*42017-1872018-1962019-2062020-2132021-2242022-2342023-2452024-254 Five exercises are scheduled to take place in each of financial years 2025-26 and 2026-27. Regarding future use of BATUK, the Defence Cooperation Agreement limits annual exercising personnel to 8,000. While the number of exercises is likely to reduce, the Army intends to shift towards fewer but larger brigade level exercises involving multiple battlegroups, rather than single battlegroup deployments. This financial year, we forecast expenditure of approximately £56 million for the conduct of military exercises and the maintenance of BATUK, with costs expected to rise to reflect the conduct of larger exercises throughout FY2026-27 and FY 2027-28. Costs beyond FY 2027-28 are not expected to diverge significantly. *Data for FY 2015-16 and 2016-17 may be incomplete due to MOD data retention policy.‑retention policy.