Written questions by Cartlidge.

Whether he plans to issue an Urgent Capability Requirement to procure security enhancements for RAF bases.

The review of security across Defence is ongoing and includes looking at all options to deliver appropriate and robust security solutions. I will report updates to the House in due course.

With reference to the press release entitled Major £5 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first, published on 2 June 2025, how much of the funding for autonomous systems will be spent on drones for use by the armed forces in this financial year.

The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the UK's conventional forces. Uncrewed and autonomous systems will be incorporated into the Integrated Force in high numbers over the next five years as part of a 'high-low' mix of capabilities whether undersea, at sea, on land, or over land. Exact numbers and investment apportioned to these systems will be determined as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

With reference to the Government press release entitled Major £5 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first, published on 2 June 2025, how the £4 billion for autonomous systems will be spent in each financial year until 2028-29.

The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the UK's conventional forces. Uncrewed and autonomous systems will be incorporated into the Integrated Force in high numbers over the next five years as part of a 'high-low' mix of capabilities whether undersea, at sea, on land, or over land. Exact numbers and investment apportioned to these systems will be determined as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

With reference to the press release entitled Major £5 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first, published on 2 June 2025, whether the £4 billion to be spent on autonomous systems includes funding for procurement for Ukraine.

The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the UK's conventional forces. Uncrewed and autonomous systems will be incorporated into the Integrated Force in high numbers over the next five years as part of a 'high-low' mix of capabilities whether undersea, at sea, on land, or over land. Exact numbers and investment apportioned to these systems will be determined as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

How many scalable tactical vests his Department has ordered since 5 July 2024.

To meet the ongoing demand for scalable tactical vests (STV) in August 2024, 1,980 STV textile covers in civilian blue (No Multi-Terrain Pattern) and without the Soft Armour Filler(SAF), were ordered. Defence Equipment and Support have ordered 15 Special Measure bespoke STV (SAF and MTP cover) since July 2024 for those that do not fit in any of the 12 standard sizes.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 July to Question 62703 on Defence: Finance, what the total financial quantum was of the elements of the single intelligence account which will be included in the Ministry of Defence budget from 2027.

The Single Intelligence Account plays a vital role in our national defence, hence it has received an increase of funding in the Spending Review, and it will make a greater contribution to the UK’s total NATO qualifying defence spending from 2027.This does not mean that the intelligence and security services will be added to the MOD budget; they remain distinct budgets reflecting spend on different departments.NATO qualifying defence spending has always included elements beyond the MOD TDEL budget.

What recent assessment he has made of trends in the numbers of cadets in the combined Cadet Force since the 5 July 2024.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes annual accredited official statistics on the strength of MOD-sponsored Cadet Forces. The latest statistics can be found at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-sponsored-cadet-forces-statistics-2025 and as at 1 April 2025, there were 50,350 cadets in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). A specific monthly figure for July 2024 is not published. It should be noted that during this period, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) numbers have increased. CFAVs are the life blood of the Cadet Forces, without whom the cadet experience could not be enjoyed by thousands of young people across the country. We want more young people to be able to gain the fantastic benefits of being cadets, and we are pleased that the Strategic Defence Review has recommended a significant growth in numbers. We will be growing both in the community and in schools by 30% by 2030. The increase of CFAVs will only support this expansion and further detail will come out in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 July to Question 64518 on Armed Forces: Housing, whether the Defence Housing Strategy will be published before the rise of the House on 22 July 2025.

The Defence Housing Strategy will not be published before the rise of the House on 22 July 2025. However, it will be published later this year.

With reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, whether there was an official application process for the appointment of the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge.

As the hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Defence Minister, Ministers are entitled to directly appoint ‘eminent’ or qualified individuals to provide advice, champion an issue or undertake a review. Such appointments have been made under successive administrations and those holding these roles play a vital role in providing expert, independent advice to the government on a range of matters.

With reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, what the remuneration package for the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge will be.

Malcolm Chalmers will be given remuneration for work in-line with agreed and existing SCS pay bands. The position is non-pensionable.

Whether he plans to abolish the Secretary of State’s Office for Net Assessment and Challenge.

We have no plans to abolish the Secretary of State’s Office of Net Assessment and Challenge, known as SONAC. As the Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State and Head of Review and Challenge, Malcolm Chalmers will be responsible for providing expert strategic advice to the Secretary of State and as appropriate to the PUS, CDS and NAD as well as the Ministerial team. He will lead, providing senior oversight and tasking, but not line management of SONAC’s approx. thirty staff, who will continue their expert work. SONAC will continue to work with top external experts, running red teams and wargames to test and challenge departmental thinking, as well as continuing their long-term Net Assessment program to ensure we understand the problems we’re facing. These will be vital inputs to Malcolm Chalmers as he provides advice to the Secretary of State.

With reference to Q43 of the oral evidence he gave to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, if the Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge is a direct replacement for the Director of the Secretary of State’s Office for Net Assessment and Challenge.

The Ministry of Defence is pleased to welcome Malcom Chalmers as the new Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State (SofS) and Head of Review and Challenge. Malcolm Chalmers will not be a direct replacement for Director SONAC but will have many of the same responsibilities. This model will allow Mr Chalmers to focus on providing expert advice to the SofS, backed by the expertise and intellectual horsepower of SONAC. SONAC will be run day to day by a Civil Servant Deputy Director. This model will allow us to get the best out of the expert - and optimise the strategic value that SONAC delivers to the Defence Secretary and the Department.

With reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, for how long the application process to fill the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge role lasted.

As the hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Defence Minister, Ministers are entitled to directly appoint ‘eminent’ or qualified individuals to provide advice, champion an issue or undertake a review. Such appointments have been made under successive administrations and those holding these roles play a vital role in providing expert, independent advice to the government on a range of matters.

With reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, how many candidates were interviewed as part of the recruiting process to appoint the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge.

As the hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Defence Minister, Ministers are entitled to directly appoint ‘eminent’ or qualified individuals to provide advice, champion an issue or undertake a review. Such appointments have been made under successive administrations and those holding these roles play a vital role in providing expert, independent advice to the government on a range of matters.

Whether he has appointed a Director of the Secretary of State’s Office for Net Assessment and Challenge.

The Ministry of Defence is pleased to welcome Malcom Chalmers as the new Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State (SofS) and Head of Review and Challenge. Malcolm Chalmers will not be a direct replacement for Director SONAC but will have many of the same responsibilities. This model will allow Mr Chalmers to focus on providing expert advice to the SofS, backed by the expertise and intellectual horsepower of SONAC. SONAC will be run day to day by a Civil Servant Deputy Director. This model will allow us to get the best out of the expert - and optimise the strategic value that SONAC delivers to the Defence Secretary and the Department.

With reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, if he will outline the responsibilities of the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge role.

The key responsibilities of the role are: The Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State and Head of Review and Challenge will be responsible for providing expert strategic advice to the Secretary of State and, as appropriate to the PUS, CDS and NAD as well as the Ministerial team. They will lead, provide senior oversight and tasking, but not line management, of the Secretary of State’s Office of Net Assessment and Challenge (SONAC) (circa 30 staff). In this role they will reform the way the Department offers challenge to policy and strategy. They will play a key role in advising strategic coherence of Departmental outcomes and activity. They will work closely with the Strategy Directorate and use their skills, expertise, and network to improve strategic acumen both in the directorate and across the department. They will collaborate with the Director of Communications on strategic communications as required.Provide senior strategic advice to the Secretary of State to assist the strategic coherence and impact of Defence’s activities. Provide strategic challenge to the Defence Board and other senior decision-making boards as appropriate. Provide senior leadership to the internal provision of strategic expertise, helping to improve the quality of advice from both the strategy directorate and from elsewhere in the department. Improve the department’s use of external expertise, including from academia and think tanks.

With reference to his oral contribution during the debate on Defence on 2 July, Official Report, Column 327, whether the additional £5 billion spent on defence includes funding for Ukraine.

The Government is committed to providing Ukraine with £3 billion a year of military support for as long as needed. This year, the UK will provide more financial aid in military support to Ukraine than at any time since the full-scale invasion began: £4.5 billion to deliver military support, enhance training and strengthen industrial collaboration. This is separate from the £5 billion we are investing in the Ministry of Defence budget this financial year. This additional investment will enable us to fix the foundations of defence and support key activities including the UK’s programme of joint exercises with NATO allies, invest in advanced technology such as Directed Energy Weapons and develop and refurbish the defence estate to provide our military families with the homes they deserve.

What discussions he has had with his United States counterpart on that country's decision to pause certain arms supplies to Ukraine.

The Defence Secretary regularly speaks with his US counterpart. Officials are in close touch about what this means for Ukraine, whilst working with all our allies, including through joint leadership of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, to ensure Ukraine gets the military support it needs to defend itself.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the United States' decision to pause certain arms supplies to Ukraine.

The UK and our allies have been steadfast in our support for Ukraine and continue to send a wide range of lethal aid alongside continued humanitarian and fiscal support. We work closely with Ukraine and allies, including through our joint leadership of the Ukraine Defence Contact group, to ensure that our collective support meets Ukrainian needs. We welcome US support to Ukraine, including President Trump’s work to secure a just and lasting peace and we will continue to work closely with the US as we have always done.

If he will list the electronic warfare equipment used by the armed forces.

The UK Armed Forces have made, and continue to make, significant investments in advanced Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) capabilities to ensure operational effectiveness in modern combat scenarios. Training exercises routinely integrate EW systems to replicate real-world conditions, enabling personnel to develop critical skills in detecting, countering, and exploiting electromagnetic signals. The quality of such equipment reflects the UK's commitment to maintaining a technologically advanced and highly capable military force. The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) have also conducted specific assessments and evaluations on behalf of the Ministry of Defence regarding the quality and performance of EW equipment utilised by the Services' during training exercises. I am withholding information on the list of electronic warfare equipment used on the grounds of national security as its disclosure would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.