Written questions by Cartlidge.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled UK to develop new deep strike ballistic missile for Ukraine, published on 19 January 2026, whether he plans to hold discussions with the Chief of the Air Staff on the acceleration of procurement of the Eurofighter Common Radar System Mk2 Radar.

The Chief of the Air Staff continually monitors the timelines for all Air Programmes in coordination with each Programmes' Senior Responsible Owner. This includes any opportunities to accelerate procurement in line with Departmental priorities and international collaboration.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled UK industry support to Ukraine supercharged with new business centre, published on 16 January 2026, how many staff will be employed as part of the business centre.

Cost and staffing details cannot be disclosed at this stage, as revealing commercially sensitive information during an active procurement process could prejudice fair competition among potential delivery partners. The Ministry of Defence will work with the selected delivery partner and relevant stakeholders to develop the hub's operational framework, which will determine resource requirements. These details will be confirmed following contract award and will be subject to normal transparency arrangements.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled UK industry support to Ukraine supercharged with new business centre, published on 16 January 2026, who will lead the business centre.

Cost and staffing details cannot be disclosed at this stage, as revealing commercially sensitive information during an active procurement process could prejudice fair competition among potential delivery partners. The Ministry of Defence will work with the selected delivery partner and relevant stakeholders to develop the hub's operational framework, which will determine resource requirements. These details will be confirmed following contract award and will be subject to normal transparency arrangements.

If he will list the four Royal Navy vessels that will be equipped with the DragonFire laser in 2027.

The Royal Navy sees the adoption of novel technologies as critical to delivering the lethality of the Hybrid Navy. DRAGONFIRE is a cutting-edge Laser Directed Energy Weapon system and the programme remains on schedule to commence delivery from 2027. DRAGONFIRE is a modular capability providing the Royal Navy agility as to when and where it is deployed, therefore it is not possible to list specific ships into which the capability will be installed. The inclusion of the mission modules concept across the Hybrid Navy, which is already being delivered in the Type 26 and Type 31 Frigates, provides maximum tactical flexibility as to where the Navy could deploy this weapon.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and Poland agree enhanced missile defence and helicopter training cooperation, published on 13 January 2026, whether the joint training will involve any live exercises.

The UK and Poland will engage in joint training which will include a mix of live training and Digital Synthetic elements to maximise the benefits to both nations’ service personnel.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed changes to the Biodiversity Net Gain regulations on the workload for local planning authorities.

The Government recently announced its intention to introduce a new 0.2 ha area exemption to ease burdens on small developers and local authorities whilst maintaining nature recovery at scale. A full consultation response is coming shortly, along with an evidence assessment. A full Impact Assessment will follow later in the year. An implementation timeline will also be published along with the consultation response, setting out when changes will take effect. Until this is confirmed, the current BNG requirement remains in place and developers and local authorities should continue to follow existing guidance and legislation when delivering BNG.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the evidential basis is for the proposed 0.2-hectare exemption from mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain.

The Government recently announced its intention to introduce a new 0.2 ha area exemption to ease burdens on small developers and local authorities whilst maintaining nature recovery at scale. A full consultation response is coming shortly, along with an evidence assessment. A full Impact Assessment will follow later in the year. An implementation timeline will also be published along with the consultation response, setting out when changes will take effect. Until this is confirmed, the current BNG requirement remains in place and developers and local authorities should continue to follow existing guidance and legislation when delivering BNG.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take to help ensure that the proposed changes to Biodiversity Net Gain requirements do not delay the development of planning applications.

The Government recently announced its intention to introduce a new 0.2 ha area exemption to ease burdens on small developers and local authorities whilst maintaining nature recovery at scale. A full consultation response is coming shortly, along with an evidence assessment. A full Impact Assessment will follow later in the year. An implementation timeline will also be published along with the consultation response, setting out when changes will take effect. Until this is confirmed, the current BNG requirement remains in place and developers and local authorities should continue to follow existing guidance and legislation when delivering BNG.

What quantum of expenditure was included in UK NATO declared GDP of defence spending arising from VAT receipts in each financial year since 2010.

It is not possible to provide that information within the time available to answer this question. I will write to the hon. Member shortly with an update and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

How many UK staff were employed at NATO headquarters in Brussels in each of the last five financial years.

UK Defence personnel posted to NATO’s headquarters in Brussels include members of the Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence Civil Servants. These figures are captured in the table below. UK Military Staff NATO HQ BrusselsFinancial Year (FY) 2021-22FY 2022-23FY 2023-24FY 2024-25FY 2025-26UK Delegation2020202121International Military Staff (IMS)2425262925Total4445465046* * This will increase to 47 in March 26 UK Civilian Staff NATO HQ BrusselsFY 2021-22FY 2022-23FY 2023-24FY 2024-25FY 2025-26UK Delegation1514101012

Whether he plans to make changes to the headcount of UK staff based at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

The UK is one of the largest contributors of personnel to NATO, underlining our commitment to deterrence and defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area, with personnel deployed over twenty-one countries. The UK will be increasing its footprint within The International Military Staff based at NATO Headquarters, Brussels by seven posts over the next three years.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the changes to Biodiversity Net Gain requirements on nature recovery in South Suffolk.

The Government recently announced its intention to introduce a new 0.2 ha area exemption to ease burdens on small developers and local authorities whilst maintaining nature recovery at scale. A full consultation response is coming shortly, along with an evidence assessment. A full Impact Assessment will follow later in the year. An implementation timeline will also be published along with the consultation response, setting out when changes will take effect. Until this is confirmed, the current BNG requirement remains in place and developers and local authorities should continue to follow existing guidance and legislation when delivering BNG.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled UK to develop new deep strike ballistic missile for Ukraine, published on 11 January 2026, whether the new missiles will also be manufactured for UK armed forces.

The new ballistic missiles developed under Project NIGHTFALL are intended to provide Ukraine with a long range-punch to counter Russian aggression. All decisions on missile capabilities we are acquiring are made in the Defence Investment Plan which will be published shortly.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to provide certainty for people with (a) proposals currently in the planning process and (b) planning permission already granted where Biodiversity Net Gain requirements apply.

The Government recently announced its intention to introduce a new 0.2 ha area exemption to ease burdens on small developers and local authorities whilst maintaining nature recovery at scale. A full consultation response is coming shortly, along with an evidence assessment. A full Impact Assessment will follow later in the year. An implementation timeline will also be published along with the consultation response, setting out when changes will take effect. Until this is confirmed, the current BNG requirement remains in place and developers and local authorities should continue to follow existing guidance and legislation when delivering BNG.

How many drones his Department will purchase for (a) Ukraine and (b) the armed forces in March 2026.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 22 December 2025, to Question 100491. Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on uncrewed systems, will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force and set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan. At the last Ukraine Defence Contact Group in October 2025, the Defence Secretary confirmed that £600 million has been invested by the UK this year to accelerate drone delivery to Ukraine, with more than 85,000 military drones delivered in between April and October 2025 out of our aim of 100,000 in this financial year.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled UK to develop new deep strike ballistic missile for Ukraine, published on 11 January 2026, whether any of the new deep strike ballistic missiles will be stockpiled in the United Kingdom.

The new ballistic missiles developed under Project Nightfall are intended to provide Ukraine with a long range-punch to counter Russian aggression as rapidly as possible. At this stage of the project, the Department does not envision stockpiling significant number of Nightfall effectors for long periods of time in the UK.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the costs for rural authorities of delivering services across large and dispersed communities.

The government published the Local government finance policy statement 2026-27 to 2028-29 and response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 on Thursday 20 November, which set out the government's plans to introduce a fairer and evidence-led funding system. The government also published the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2026-2027 to 2028-2029 on Wednesday 17 December 2025. The government is committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural communities. Our updates will account for local circumstances, including the variation in cost of delivering services, such as between rural and urban areas. We are including a journey times adjustment, which is within the area cost adjustment applied to our funding formulas, which accounts for the impact on the cost of labour of the difference in travel times to provide services. We are also including a remoteness adjustment within the adult social care formula and increasing the cap within the home to school transport formula from 20 miles to 50 miles. In addition, we are using updated deprivation data in our assessment of need, to help ensure that deprivation in rural areas is captured more accurately. The government is considering the responses received following the consultation of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2026 to 2027 and will set out a position when the final Settlement is published in early February.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled UK to develop new deep strike ballistic missile for Ukraine, published on 11 January 2026, how Nightfall will inform future Armed Forces' long range strike projects.

At this stage, there is no plan to procure Nightfall for the UK Armed Forces, however it will inform future UK Armed Forces' long range strike projects by showing a high risk, rapid process for developing long-range capabilities, as well as de-risking key technologies such as propulsion systems, material science and terminal phase accuracy.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled UK to develop new deep strike ballistic missile for Ukraine, published on 11 January 2026, which future Armed Forces' long range strike projects Nightfall will inform.

The new ballistic missiles developed under Project Nightfall are intended to provide Ukraine with a long range-punch to counter Russian aggression. At this stage, there is no plan to procure Nightfall for the UK Armed Forces, however it will inform future UK Armed Forces' long range strike projects, such as the deep precision strike capability.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the designation of life sciences infrastructure on the life sciences sector.

The designation of Life sciences as key national infrastructure will ensure that the Life Science sector can effectively operate in the UK, ensuring that the UK can maintain necessary health and resilience capabilities.