Written questions by Cartlidge.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December to Question 95126, on Fire and Rescue Services: Workplace Pensions, whether his Department can provide a timeline of when constituents can expect to receive an update on the firefighters’ pension aggregation issue.

The firefighters’ pension aggregation issue remains subject to litigation, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 2026. While we are not yet able to provide a definitive timeline, we will update the sector as soon as we are in a position to do so.

Whether he plans to publish the Defence Investment Plan before 1 March 2026.

The Department is working flat out to finalise the Defence Investment Plan, which will be published as soon as possible.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Armed forces to launch 'Gap Year' scheme for young people to bolster skills and leadership, published on 27 December 2025, how much has been spent on implementing the scheme as of 6 January 2026.

The Armed Forces Foundation Year Scheme (‘Gap Year’) is a response to the Strategic Defence Review 2025’s recommendation that Defence must offer novel ways of entry into the Armed Forces that attract more people from a wider range of backgrounds; options included offering shorter commitments that appeal to more of society. Tranche1, beginning in 2026, is expected to include 150 entrants, with an intention to increase capacity for future tranches. The total cost to Defence to deliver Tranche 1 of the scheme is £13 million. The cost of future tranches will be informed by lessons drawn from Tranche 1.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Armed forces to launch 'Gap Year' scheme for young people to bolster skills and leadership, published on 27 December 2025, what the estimated total cost of implementing the scheme is.

The Armed Forces Foundation Year Scheme (‘Gap Year’) is a response to the Strategic Defence Review 2025’s recommendation that Defence must offer novel ways of entry into the Armed Forces that attract more people from a wider range of backgrounds; options included offering shorter commitments that appeal to more of society. Tranche1, beginning in 2026, is expected to include 150 entrants, with an intention to increase capacity for future tranches. The total cost to Defence to deliver Tranche 1 of the scheme is £13 million. The cost of future tranches will be informed by lessons drawn from Tranche 1.

Whether the Defence Diplomacy Strategy has been completed.

The Defence Diplomacy Strategy’s development was completed in December 2025. The Department plans to launch a public summary of the Strategy early this year.

Whether the CyberEM Command has established initial operating capability.

Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for the Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force (DCEMF) was achieved on 1 December 2025. This followed a public announcement by the Commander, Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC), on 27 November 2025. IOC marks the establishment of the Force Headquarters and the integration of core Cyber and Electromagnetic (CyEM) functions within CSOC. Work continues to scale capability and workforce, including the stand-up of new venture teams to establish several new-to-Defence capabilities, including the nucleus of a Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Centre, as DCEMF matures towards Full Operating Capability.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for the Armed Forces in response to the question from the hon. Member for South Suffolk during the Urgent Question on Northern Ireland Troubles Bill: Armed Forces Recruitment and Retention of 5 January 2026, Official Report, column 63, if he will provide a list of the veterans groups that (a) he and (b) Ministers have met to discuss the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill since 5 July 2024.

The Government has engaged closely with a wide range of military stakeholders in relation to the Troubles Bill to ensure that the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill effectively supports veterans. This has involved meeting with veterans and current serving members of the Armed Forces whose service took place across different time periods, including during Op BANNER, and across a wide range of regiments. This has included myself, and other Ministerial colleagues across Government meeting with members of the Associations on several occasions. It may be helpful to further quantify that since 5 July 2024, in my previous, and current Ministerial role, I have conducted over 70 veterans’ engagements, where I spoke with hundreds of veterans, from all Services and cohorts, from a wide range of different associations, about a number of matters.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact that changes to shotgun licensing will have on the time taken to process shotgun licence renewals in South Suffolk.

The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety. We intend to publish this consultation shortly.We will carefully consider all of the views put forward during the consultation, including the potential impact on those who live and work in rural communities, before taking any decisions on whether changes are necessary in the interests of public safety. We will also provide an impact assessment in relation to any changes that we bring forward after the consultation, in the normal way.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of merging (i) shotgun and (ii) rifle licensing systems will have on constituents in South Suffolk.

The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety. We intend to publish this consultation shortly.We will carefully consider all of the views put forward during the consultation, including the potential impact on those who live and work in rural communities, before taking any decisions on whether changes are necessary in the interests of public safety. We will also provide an impact assessment in relation to any changes that we bring forward after the consultation, in the normal way.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Rapid £140 million boost for drone and counter-drone tech from newly-formed UK Defence Innovation, published on 15 December 2025, what will the new uncrewed helicopter be called.

The new uncrewed helicopter is part of the Royal Navy's move towards a future 'hybrid air wing' which includes Project PROTEUS. PROTEUS is a project funded by UK Defence Innovation for the development of a heavy-lift vertical take-off and landing uncrewed aerial system.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Rapid £140 million boost for drone and counter-drone tech from newly-formed UK Defence Innovation, published on 15 December 2025, what will the air-launched collaborative uncrewed air vehicle be called.

The RAF’s Rapid Capability Office are working with industry partners and allies on key underpinning technologies that support the development of Autonomous Collaborative Platforms. The timeline to fielding frontline capability is subject to a range of factors, several of which are dependent on the Defence Investment Plan. However, I am withholding further details as disclosure would prejudice commercial interests and also would prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed Forces.

When he expects Proteus to be deployed.

The Proteus Technology Demonstrator Project (TDP) is testing the efficacy of a large, unmanned helicopter, designed from the outset to incorporate modular payloads and a high degree of autonomy, to fulfil a range of warfighting roles for the Royal Navy. The Proteus TDP will culminate with the first flight of the air vehicle, expected to take place in January 2026. Thereafter, the Royal Navy intends to take the knowledge gained from Proteus to inform the development of an operational rotary wing platform for maritime surveillance and strike roles during the next decade.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Rapid £140 million boost for drone and counter-drone tech from newly-formed UK Defence Innovation, published on 15 December 2025, what weapons will be procured for the new uncrewed helicopter.

No specific effector (or weapon system) has been procured for this project yet. The project aims to determine the most effective means of countering air-to-air threats, which may or may not involve the use of a specific weapon system.

When flight trials for Proteus will conclude.

The Proteus Technology Demonstrator Project (TDP) is testing the efficacy of a large, unmanned helicopter, designed from the outset to incorporate modular payloads and a high degree of autonomy, to fulfil a range of warfighting roles for the Royal Navy. The Proteus TDP will culminate with the first flight of the air vehicle, expected to take place in January 2026. Thereafter, the Royal Navy intends to take the knowledge gained from Proteus to inform the development of an operational rotary wing platform for maritime surveillance and strike roles during the next decade.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Rapid £140 million boost for drone and counter-drone tech from newly-formed UK Defence Innovation, published on 15 December 2025, when will the air-launched collaborative uncrewed air vehicle reach full operating capability.

The RAF’s Rapid Capability Office are working with industry partners and allies on key underpinning technologies that support the development of Autonomous Collaborative Platforms. The timeline to fielding frontline capability is subject to a range of factors, several of which are dependent on the Defence Investment Plan. However, I am withholding further details as disclosure would prejudice commercial interests and also would prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed Forces.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2025 to Question 93964 on Defence: Contracts, what the 177 contracts valued between £100 million and £500 million are for.

The Department confirms that there were only twenty-six contracts valued between £100 million and £500 million. Details of these contracts are provided below.The Department is withholding information on six of these contracts for the purposes of safeguarding national security.1. SODEXO LTD - OPC Cyprus Soft Facilities Management. The OPC SFM contract refers to the UK Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Soft Facilities Management (SFM) services on an overseas estate.2. RHEINMETALL BAE SYSTEMS LAND LIMITED - Heavy Armour Post Design Services (Land Common Pillar.)3. BRIGGS MARINE CONTRACTORS LIMITED - DMS Supply and Maintenance of Authority Moorings, Markers and Targets. The Contract covers the following services: the maintenance of moorings, target moorings and navigation marks owned by the Authority, the replacement of moorings and navigation marks and the sourcing, storage and supply of moorings and navigation mark components.4. SERCO LIMITED – Defence Marine Services Offshore Support to Military Training and Exercises. The contract will provide discrete Defence services for Offshore Support to Military Training and Exercises in UK waters and select overseas territories.5. GENERAL ATOMICS AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS, INC. - Protector Availability Support Solution (PASS.) The provision of spares and logistics support to the Protector Air Vehicle6. BAE SYSTEMS SURFACE SHIPS LIMITED - In Service Support for Combat Management Systems (CMS) SI and Networks. This Contract provides In Service Support (ISS) of CMS, BAES Shared Infrastructure (SI) & Networks for Royal Navy platforms, Land-Based Test Sites & training sites as well as the installation of SI Version 3 on Type 45 Destroyers. The full Contract Award Notice can be found at the link below and provides full details: RECODE - In Service Support for Combat Management Systems (CMS), Shared Infrastructure (SI) and Networks - Contract Awarded - Contracts Finder.7. THALES UK LIMITED – Maritime Communication Capability Support.8. ROKE MANOR RESEARCH LTD - Science & Technology Oriented Research & development in Missile defence (STORM)9. FR AVIATION LIMITED – IMSORTS. The provision of IMSORTS includes medium/fast speed Operational Readiness Training, simulating an enemy airborne threat, principally for the Combat Air Force part of Next Generation Operational Training (NGOT) and RN (FOST).10. GENERAL DYNAMICS UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED - Design Services Contract 2 (DSC2)11. HONEYBEERECRUITMENT.COM LTD - Provision of Temporary Healthcare Workers for Ministry of Defence12. BOVIS CONSTRUCTION (EUROPE) LIMITED - DEO Kendrew Barracks & Bulwell ARC Design & Build. for Infrastructure Design & Build works at Kendrew Barracks and Bulwell ARC.13. THALES UK LIMITED - Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM)14. IBM UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED - Defence Equipment Engineering Asset Management System (DEEAMS)15. KIER CONSTRUCTION LTD - DEO Rock Barracks Design & Build. For Infrastructure Design & Build works at Rock Barracks.16. KIER CONSTRUCTION LTD - Keogh Design & Build. Design & Build for Infrastructure works at Keogh Barracks.17. CORPORATE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT (NORTH) LIMITED – Hotel accommodation and assisted travel costs.18. VITOL AVIATION UK LTD - A-Supply of Fuel to Singapore F-76 Marine Fuel VITOL (2025 to 2029)19. BOXXE LIMITED - Microsoft Enterprise Agreement 2025 to 2028. The Contracting Authority (Defence Digital) has a requirement to contract with a supplier who can support with the renewal and running of Microsoft Enterprise Agreement.20. AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE LIMITED - Project OBERON - Design, build and Launch SAR LEO Cluster of Satellites. Project OBERON is a multi-year Contract that will be for the full design, build, integration, Launch and first year of mission operations for a LEO Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Rapid £140 million boost for drone and counter-drone tech from newly-formed UK Defence Innovation, published on 15 December 2025, whether the new uncrewed helicopter is known as Proteus.

The new uncrewed helicopter is part of the Royal Navy's move towards a future 'hybrid air wing' which includes Project PROTEUS. PROTEUS is a project funded by UK Defence Innovation for the development of a heavy-lift vertical take-off and landing uncrewed aerial system.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Rapid £140 million boost for drone and counter-drone tech from newly-formed UK Defence Innovation, published on 15 December 2025, whether his Department has ordered additional laser weapons to complement the DragonFire system since 5 July 2024.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 100495 on 24 December 2025.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Rapid £140 million boost for drone and counter-drone tech from newly-formed UK Defence Innovation, published on 15 December 2025, what additional laser weapons will be developed to complement the DragonFire system.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 100495 on 24 December 2025.

What his proposed timetable is for issuing contracts for Project Brakestop.

Multiple contracts have already been placed to develop prototype one-way effectors to meet Project BRAKESTOP's requirements.