Written questions by Cartlidge.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 December to Question 95413 on Military Exercises, if he will list the countries in which Royal Navy overseas training exercises will be reduced over the next four years.

Our overseas training programme is kept under review to ensure it reflects Defence priorities and operational requirements, both for the UK and our partners. The programme is inherently dynamic and decisions taken one year do not determine activity in future years. This approach allows the Services to select the most appropriate activities to meet current training needs. This approach ensures flexibility, avoids duplication, and delivers value for money while maintaining our ability to meet NATO and wider operational commitments. The decision of whether to participate in an exercise would not impact plans to retire individual vessels, nor would it impact upon plans to retire military platforms.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October to Question 82702, whether it remains the case that 9 inquests will be able to resume.

The Northern Ireland Office has written to the families of 8 cases to inform them that those inquests will be able to resume under clause 84(3) of the Northern Ireland (Troubles) Bill. These cases are; Dillon, Duffy, McCord, Loughgall, Stalker-Sampson series, Moran, McDaid & Slane, and Patterson. The inquest into the death of Mr Joseph Campbell is included in the ‘9 cases’ allowed to resume as it was part of the ‘Five Year Plan’ for Legacy Inquests, and had started before the Legacy Act came into force. The Government is aware that the coroner in this case has provisionally determined that it can continue as a ‘non Troubles-related’ inquest.

With reference to the letter written to the Defence Committee entitled Ministry of Defence paper providing information on Defence Reform, published on 21 October 2025, if he will list the quarterly reform programme milestones for financial year 2025-26.

Defence Reform continues to make progress against its quarterly deliverables and across a variety of workstreams including the new ways of working between the four areas, design of the strategic cycles, modernised financial flows and agreed portfolio laydown. This will allow Defence Reform to finalise the unified Defence Operating model by the end of financial year 2025-26 for the next phase of implementation during financial year 2026-27. We will continue to keep Parliament updated on the progress of Defence Reform.

Whether there has been a delay to the appointment of the Armed Forces Commissioner.

The Armed Forces Commissioner will play a pivotal role in improving Service life for Service personnel and their families. The Commissioner will be central to delivering a trusted and effective service for our people and it is vital we get the right person for the job. It is expected that the Commissioner will be appointed next year and their office will be operational from April 2026.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 December to Question 95413 on Military Exercises, if he will list the Army overseas training exercises that will be reduced from financial year 2026-27.

Our overseas training programme is kept under review to ensure it reflects Defence priorities and operational requirements, both for the UK and our partners. The programme is inherently dynamic and decisions taken one year do not determine activity in future years. This approach allows the Services to select the most appropriate activities to meet current training needs. This approach ensures flexibility, avoids duplication, and delivers value for money while maintaining our ability to meet NATO and wider operational commitments. The decision of whether to participate in an exercise would not impact plans to retire individual vessels, nor would it impact upon plans to retire military platforms.

Whether he has agreed the roles performed by British troops in the Multinational Force Ukraine.

The Multinational Force - Ukraine will strengthen Ukraine's path to peace and stability by securing Ukraine's skies, supporting safer seas, and regenerating Ukraine's own forces. The focus is on developing a plan to meet the requirements of the peace deal in order to support Ukraine's Armed Forces to regenerate to defend Ukraine and support European security for generations to come. Operational planning is ongoing but any deployment will depend on the conditions of the ceasefire and peace talks.

Whether he has (a) discussed and (b) decided the numbers of British troops that could be sent to Ukraine as part of the Multinational Force Ukraine.

Operational planning is ongoing but any deployment will depend on the conditions of the ceasefire and peace talks. This Government is committed to ensuring our Armed Forces remain ready to respond to all challenges, including deployment to Ukraine.

Whether HMS Lancaster was deemed unfit to conduct a return journey to the United Kingdom for decommissioning.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to Question 98839 on 19 December 2025 HMS Lancaster has exceeded the 18 years lifespan she was originally built for and, with almost 35 years of outstanding service, she has reached her planned out of service date. She has been forward deployed to the Middle East for the last three years where her output has been exceptional.Rather than seek to extend her safety certification further, the Royal Navy is commencing preparations for her final disposal while she is in Bahrain. This decision has maximised operational output whilst ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of the Ships Company is paramount. As is standard practice for decommissioning ships, any material or supplies on HMS Lancaster that can be used elsewhere in the fleet will be repurposed.

How many Class 1 Raybird systems his Department has ordered since 5 July 2024.

The Department has not ordered any Raybird systems since 5 July 2024.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 December to Question 95413 on Military Exercises, whether there will be any change to the amount of training exercises conducted by the Royal Air Force in financial year (a) 2025-2026, (b) 2026-2027, (c) 2027-2028 and (d) 2028-2029.

As outlined in my previous response, the single Services remain committed to prioritising training exercises in alignment with both our own and partners' operational needs, as well as the priorities outlined in the Strategic Defence Review The exact number of training exercises and the scale of the RAF's participation in such exercises vary from year to year due to a range of factors including operational commitments and UK and host nation political considerations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 December to Question 95413 on Military Exercises, if he will list the Royal Navy overseas training exercises that will be reduced over the next four years.

Our overseas training programme is kept under review to ensure it reflects Defence priorities and operational requirements, both for the UK and our partners. The programme is inherently dynamic and decisions taken one year do not determine activity in future years. This approach allows the Services to select the most appropriate activities to meet current training needs. This approach ensures flexibility, avoids duplication, and delivers value for money while maintaining our ability to meet NATO and wider operational commitments. The decision of whether to participate in an exercise would not impact plans to retire individual vessels, nor would it impact upon plans to retire military platforms.

Whether he has changed the Royal Navy's rules of engagements in light of the incursion by the Russian submarine Krasnodar.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 27 November 2025, to Question 93047. The Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence continuously assess our Rules of Engagement to ensure our Armed Forces can act appropriately against malign activities and future threats. For reasons of national security, I am not able to disclose specific detail on Rules of Engagement.

What plans are in place for transportation of the ordnance on board HMS Lancaster.

HMS Lancaster has exceeded the 18 years lifespan she was originally built for and, with almost 35 years of outstanding service, she has reached her planned out of service date. As is standard practice for decommissioning ships, any material or supplies on HMS Lancaster that can be used elsewhere in the fleet will be repurposed. The ammunition will be transported using standard defence logistics pathways for the safe movement of munitions.

What measures are in place to protect British waters from future incursions by the Russian submarine Krasnodar.

The Royal Navy shadowed the Russian Kilo-class submarine Krasnodar and its accompanying tug-boat, Altay, through the English Channel. The Krasnodar remained on the surface for the duration of her transit and operated in line with international obligations. Should the Krasnodar or any other Russian Federation Navy unit enter UK waters, Defence is poised to monitor, track and respond.As part of its core task, the Royal Navy monitors, tracks and responds to any potential threats in the UK's EEZ, through frequent patrolling by British warships, monitoring and shadowing foreign warships in UK waters, and use of the Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance (MROS) programme, among other activity and capabilities. The government has also been clear on its readiness and willingness to respond decisively to any maritime threat to the UK and its interests. More broadly, the recently announced Atlantic Bastion will secure the North Atlantic for the UK and NATO against the persistent and growing underwater threat from a modernising Russian submarine force.

How many AI contracts have been awarded by his Department since 5 July 2024.

The Department can confirm that from 5 July 2024, two AI contracts have been awarded. However, many more contracts, not classified as AI will contain elements of AI as part of a contemporary service offer.

Which Royal Navy vessels Peregrine is currently deployed on.

Peregrine, the Royal Navy’s first Rotary Wing Uncrewed Aerial System is being recovered to the UK having been deployed in HMS Lancaster in the Gulf. Once returned, Peregrine will be reconfigured into a self-contained solution to deploy to other maritime platforms.

When will the decommissioning of HMS Lancaster be completed.

Crew will be required to decommission HMS Lancaster. Disposal options are currently under consideration, therefore I am unable to confirm when this process will be complete. The Royal Navy is committed to reuniting the crew with their loved ones as soon as possible and will maximise the number of personnel that can travel home for Christmas.

Whether any of HMS Lancaster's crew will remain in Bahrain for the period of her decommissioning.

Crew will be required to decommission HMS Lancaster. Disposal options are currently under consideration, therefore I am unable to confirm when this process will be complete. The Royal Navy is committed to reuniting the crew with their loved ones as soon as possible and will maximise the number of personnel that can travel home for Christmas.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled New robots lead the way in bomb disposal innovation, published on 5 February 2025, how many contracts he has placed with AeroVironment since 5 February 2025.

The Department has not awarded any contracts to AeroVironment since 5 February 2025.

With reference to the Minister of State's oral Answer to the Urgent Question on 8 November 2025 from the Hon. Member for South Suffolk, if he will list the other pieces of equipment in relation to which use has been paused since 5 July 2024.

In response to the urgent question, I was referring to the Department’s decision to pause use of the Enhanced Combat Body Armour (ECBA) in January 2025 in response to safety concerns. In this case, I ordered immediate action to replace ECBA on the frontline by flying new body armour to units worldwide.