Written questions by Cartlidge.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled New 2,000 km “deep precision strike” weapon to be developed by UK and Germany as Trinity House Agreement delivers first major milestones, published on 15 May 2025, whether the weapon will be a (a) cruise, (b) ballistic and (c) hypersonic missile.

UK and Germany are considering several concepts and technologies to address emerging threats and have defined a joint range requirement of over 2,000 km. Specific characteristics, in-service dates and launch platforms are to be confirmed.

When he expects the defence industrial joint council to first meet.

On 2 December 2024, as part of the Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, it was announced by the Secretary of State that the Defence Suppliers Forum (DSF) will be replaced by a new Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC). At this point the Defence Suppliers Forum was disbanded, but strategic engagement with Industry and the Defence Sector has continued via the Defence Industrial Strategy Consultation and at Official level to continue delivering relevant work managed under the DSF. The inaugural DIJC meeting is planned to take place in June 2025.

Whether the Defence Suppliers Forum has been disbanded.

On 2 December 2024, as part of the Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, it was announced by the Secretary of State that the Defence Suppliers Forum (DSF) will be replaced by a new Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC). At this point the Defence Suppliers Forum was disbanded, but strategic engagement with Industry and the Defence Sector has continued via the Defence Industrial Strategy Consultation and at Official level to continue delivering relevant work managed under the DSF. The inaugural DIJC meeting is planned to take place in June 2025.

What the requirements are for membership of the defence industrial joint council.

The Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC) incorporates representation from the breadth of the defence sector, including defence primes, Small and Medium Enterprises, mid-tiers, investors, academia, trade unions and trade associations. The membership composition of the DIJC includes subject matter experts that reflect the diversity of the defence sector. An announcement of the initial membership composition for the Top Level Council will be provided in due course.

What proportion of the cost of maintaining the nuclear programme was spent in the UK in each of the last five years.

The Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) consists of a range of interdependent programmes to support, maintain and renew the United Kingdom’s independent nuclear deterrent. For the past two years, over 90% of DNE spend was directly with UK suppliers.The DNE was established in financial year 2023-24. Due to organisational changes, comparable information is not held centrally for earlier years and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

When the defence suppliers forum main meeting last took place.

The Defence Suppliers Forum (DSF) has been replaced by the new Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC). The DSF Main last met on 15 November 2023 and the DSF Executive Group on 25 September 2024.

When the defence suppliers forum executive group last met.

The Defence Suppliers Forum (DSF) has been replaced by the new Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC). The DSF Main last met on 15 November 2023 and the DSF Executive Group on 25 September 2024.

What the membership is of the defence industrial joint council.

The Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC) incorporates representation from the breadth of the defence sector, including defence primes, Small and Medium Enterprises, mid-tiers, investors, academia, trade unions and trade associations. The membership composition of the DIJC includes subject matter experts that reflect the diversity of the defence sector. An announcement of the initial membership composition for the Top Level Council will be provided in due course.

What plans his Department has to improve outcomes for dementia patients in South Suffolk.

The Government is committed to improving dementia care and is empowering local leaders with the autonomy they need to provide the best services to their local community, including for those with dementia.That is why we have published the D100: Assessment Tool Pathway programme, which brings together multiple resources into a single, consolidated tool. This will help simplify best practice for busy system leaders and help create communities and services where the best possible care and support is available to those with dementia. The D100: Pathway Assessment Tool launched in April, with further information available at the following link:https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/improving-care/nccmh/service-design-and-development/dementia-100-pathway-assessment-toolThe 10-Year Health Plan will address the challenges diagnosed by Lord Darzi, and will set the vision for what good joined-up care looks like for people with a combination of complex health and care needs, including people living with dementia. It will set out how we support and enable health and social care services to work together better to provide joined-up care.Through our extensive public engagement as part of the 10-Year Health Plan, including a roundtable on dementia, healthy aging, and digital exclusion that I hosted, we will continue to listen to patients’ priorities and will keep focused on what matters most to the public.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 May to Question 49007 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, whether he has a target for procuring additional strike capabilities for the Queen Elizabeth class.

The Strategic Defence Review will inform any requirement for additional strike capabilities for the Queen Elizabeth Class. In the interim, the Royal Navy continues to investigate emerging technologies to understand how they can contribute to enhancing operational advantage. Fixed Wing Autonomous Collaborative Platforms have the potential to enhance operational advantage, hence, will be evaluated in collaboration with the Royal Air Force.

Whether Foxhound vehicles have been donated to Ukraine (a) before and (b) since 5 July 2024.

Over 240 protected mobility vehicles have been donated to Ukraine since February 2022.

How many Wolfhound vehicles have been donated to Ukraine (a) before 5 July 2024 and (b) since 5 July 2024.

Over 240 protected mobility vehicles have been donated to Ukraine since February 2022.

How many space liaison officers are stationed in the military.

There are two international space liaison officers stationed in UK Space Command.

How many Husky vehicles have been donated to Ukraine (a) before 5 July 2024 and (b) since 5 July 2024.

Over 240 protected mobility vehicles have been donated to Ukraine since February 2022.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of removing targets in the NHS Operational Planning Guidance for local health systems in England on dementia diagnosis times.

The Darzi Investigation found that there were too many targets set for the National Health Service, which made it hard for local systems to prioritise their actions or to be held properly accountable.This is why we have taken a new approach to NHS Planning Guidance this year, reducing the number of national directives from 32 to 18. We will only turn the NHS around by doing things differently. These are the first steps on our journey for the long-term reform of the NHS.NHS Planning Guidance is not an exhaustive list of everything the NHS does, and the absence of a target does not mean it is not an area of focus.We remain committed to increasing dementia diagnosis rates and agree that timely diagnosis is vital to ensure people with dementia can access the treatment and support they need.

Whether Mastiff vehicles have been donated to Ukraine (a) before and (b) since 5 July 2024.

Over 240 protected mobility vehicles have been donated to Ukraine since February 2022.

How many jobs will be supported by the New Medium Helicopter contract during this Parliament.

The New Medium Helicopter procurement remains commercially sensitive, and the evaluation and approval process needs to complete before further details, including estimates of the number of jobs it will support, can be confirmed.

What estimate he has made of the number of jobs that will be supported by the Boxer contract during this Parliament.

The Mechanised Infantry (BOXER) programme supports a network of over 100 UK suppliers. It has created approximately 1,000 direct British jobs and sustains three times as many. 60% by value of the original BOXER production contract is planned to come from the UK.

How many jobs will be supported by the Ajax contract during this Parliament.

The Armoured Cavalry (Ajax) Programme supports 4,100 jobs in the UK supply chain across 230 companies.

How many jobs will be supported by the RCH 155 contract during this Parliament.

The Remote Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) project is currently in the assessment phase with the intention of delivering the system within this decade, therefore, it is not possible to provide a total figure at present. The anticipated new Rheinmetall UK gun barrel factory, that will manufacture RCH 155 and Challenger 3 barrels, will support over 400 jobs.