Written questions by Cartlidge.

Whether there is a contracted end date for staff employed as part of Defence Reform.

Contract end dates for Ministry of Defence staff engaged in Defence Reform vary by individual.

If he will set out recent amendments he has made to the Royal Navy's rules of engagement.

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.

Whether he has held recent discussions with the Cabinet Office on the Home Defence Programme.

The Secretary of State for Defence has regular discussions with the Cabinet Office colleagues on a range of issues, including national security and resilience. As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, Defence has an integral role in the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme. The Ministry of Defence is therefore working closely with the Cabinet Office across all appropriate levelsto ensure alignment between civil and military planning for some of the most serious risks we face.

How many people are employed as part of Defence Reform.

As of 1 November 2025, a total of 41 individuals are employed within Defence Reform, based on headcount.

Whether he plans to appoint a Minister for Homeland Security.

Overall responsibility for national resilience, national security and cross-government coordination sits with the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister in the Cabinet Office. In addition, the Security Minister’s role is now split across the Cabinet Office and the Home Office, the purpose of which is to improve coordination across Government on national security. The Government's priorities for these areas are detailed in the Resilience Action Plan and the National Security Strategy.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact on national security of the Russian spy vessel Yantar entering British waters.

Russia’s Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research is developing capabilities intended to survey underwater infrastructure during peacetime and damage, or even destroy, it during a conflict. These capabilities are deployed from submarines and specialist surface vessels, including Yantar. MOD takes this threat extremely seriously. The Royal Navy closely track and monitor the activities of the Yantar, and have military options ready to respond if needed.

Whether he considered providing information to Parliament on the attempt by a Russian spy vessel to blind RAF pilots on 19 November 2025.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to updating Parliament on all matters related to national security, including the use of lasers by the Russian spy ship YANTAR The Minister for the Armed Forces answered an Urgent Question in Parliament about this incident on 20 November.

What assessment he has made of the Defence Committee's report entitled The UK contribution to European security, published on 19 November 2025, HC 520.

The government welcomes the Committee’s report. NATO is the bedrock of our defence, with the UK committed alongside our Allies to our collective security. With our NATO First approach, the UK is stepping up to strengthen European security further, and will continue to do so. Backed by the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, the outcomes of our Strategic Defence Review will ensure our Armed Forces are moving to warfighting readiness, so that Britain is secure at home and strong abroad. We will respond to the Committee’s recommendations in full in due course.

What recent steps he has taken to protect British military pilots from lasers fired from Russian spy vessels.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him (column 844) and the answer I gave to the Rt hon. Member for New Forest East (column 847) on 20 November 2025 for the Urgent Question on Russian Ship Yantar.

When he plans to respond to Question 70779 on Defence: Intelligence Services.

I responded to the hon. Member on 20 November 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November to Question 85232 on Defence: Contracts, whether his Department will rent private office space to be used by the Defence Office for Small Business Growth.

Planning for the new Defence Office for Small Business Growth continues at pace. The Office will reflect modern ways of working and will not be restricted by a physical location. By using a networked approach that utilizes services provided by existing organisations including the Trade Bodies and Regional Defence and Security Clusters, the Office will address one of the significant barriers to entry for SME support. The offering will be across the country and utilising effective digital tools, enabling small businesses to connect with the Office regardless of location.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November to Question 85232 on Defence: Contracts, whether the Defence Office for Small Business Growth will use occupy any physical locations.

Planning for the new Defence Office for Small Business Growth continues at pace. The Office will reflect modern ways of working and will not be restricted by a physical location. By using a networked approach that utilizes services provided by existing organisations including the Trade Bodies and Regional Defence and Security Clusters, the Office will address one of the significant barriers to entry for SME support. The offering will be across the country and utilising effective digital tools, enabling small businesses to connect with the Office regardless of location.

When he plans to implement the Scotland Defence Growth Deal.

Our ambition is for all five Defence Growth Deals, including the Scotland Defence Growth Deal, to be operational by the end of Summer 2026. This timeline reflects our dedication to ensuring these Deals are implemented effectively, delivering tangible benefits to local economies and the wider defence sector.

When he plans to implement the Plymouth Defence Growth Deal.

Our ambition is for all five Defence Growth Deals, including the Plymouth Defence Growth Deal, to be operational by the end of Summer 2026. We have already made tangible progress with the launch of Team Plymouth on 19 September, who will be leading the delivery of the Plymouth Defence Growth Deal.

When he plans to implement the South Yorkshire Defence Growth Deal.

Our ambition is for all five Defence Growth Deals, including the South Yorkshire Defence Growth Deal, to be operational by the end of Summer 2026. This timeline reflects our dedication to ensuring these Deals are implemented effectively, delivering tangible benefits to local economies and the wider defence sector.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November to Question 85232 on Defence: Contracts, whether he held discussions with representatives from British SMEs regarding the location of the Defence Office for Small Business Growth.

Planning for the new Defence Office for Small Business Growth continues at pace. The Office will reflect modern ways of working and will not be restricted by a physical location. By using a networked approach that utilizes services provided by existing organisations including the Trade Bodies and Regional Defence and Security Clusters, the Office will address one of the significant barriers to entry for SME support. The offering will be across the country and utilising effective digital tools, enabling small businesses to connect with the Office regardless of location.

When he plans to implement the Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal.

Our ambition is for all five Defence Growth Deals, including the Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal, to be operational by the end of Summer 2026. This timeline reflects our dedication to ensuring these Deals are implemented effectively, delivering tangible benefits to local economies and the wider defence sector.

When he plans to implement the Wales Defence Growth Deal.

Our ambition is for all five Defence Growth Deals, including the Wales Growth Deal, to be operational by the end of Summer 2026. This timeline reflects our dedication to ensuring these Deals are implemented effectively, delivering tangible benefits to local economies and the wider defence sector.

How the competition for the Battlegroup Small Uncrewed Air System will align with the Defence Drone Strategy's commitment to keep up with relentless cycles of battlefield adaptation.

The information as to who exactly has bid remains commercially sensitive and is currently not for onward release. There are however a number of UK companies involved, providing various different Small Uncrewed Aeriel System (sUAS) solutions. This is testament to the growth of the Uncrewed System development in the UK.

When he plans to respond to Question 70669 on NATO.

I responded to the hon. Member on 28 November 2025.