Written questions by Evans.

What recent progress his Department has made with General Dynamics to identify issues and solutions to ensure the effective operation of the Ajax Vehicle Fleet.

The Department continues to work closely with General Dynamics on the Ajax Programme. Investigations into Ajax remain ongoing, and time must be given to ensure that all information and evidence is considered. I will continue to keep the house informed of developments as I have done since the issue arose on Exercise TITAN STORM.

What timelines is his Department following with General Dynamics to ensure the effective operation of the Ajax Vehicle Fleet.

The Department continues to work closely with General Dynamics on the Ajax Programme. Investigations into Ajax remain ongoing, and time must be given to ensure that all information and evidence is considered. I will continue to keep the house informed of developments as I have done since the issue arose on Exercise TITAN STORM.

What his planned timeline is for introducing a twice-weekly sitting timetable for the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme Appeal Board.

The Government recognises the profound impact that historic criminal and Service law had on LGBT veterans and is fully committed to ensuring that all veterans affected by the ban receive the recognition they deserve. The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) received a large volume of applications when it opened, and those applicants who are terminally ill, over 80, or in significant financial distress were prioritised. The first payments were issued as planned within 15 weeks of the Scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Applications are now being processed in date order, and we are recruiting additional staff, to speed up the process. As of 8 September 2025, the FRS had made payments of £8.9 million to 237 applicants. Due to the low number of appeals received to date (eight in total), there are currently no plans for the FRS Appeal Board to sit twice weekly. Defence will continue to monitor the number of appeals received and will reassess this approach if required, as was done for the Independent Panel which, due to the volume of applications, now sits twice weekly.

Whether he plans to publish the next report by Alma Economics on the evaluation of the Op FORTITUDE and Reducing Veterans Homelessness programme.

The Government has already published an interim report evaluating these programmes which identified notable successes. As of 24 August 2025, the service has taken over 3,900 referrals and supported 980 veterans into housing. It is the Government's intention to also publish the next evaluation report of these programmes in due course.

Whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on (a) assessing the adequacy and (b) improving the availability of single occupancy for veterans.

This Government is committed to ensuring that veterans have access to the support they need, including with regards to their housing. As the Minister for Veterans and People, I regularly attend the Inter-Ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping which is chaired by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. This group drives progress on Government strategy to get Britain back on track to ending homelessness, ensuring we are working across Government, and in partnership with local authorities and Mayors, to tackle the root causes. I represent the Ministry of Defence at these meetings, ensuring that the needs and experiences of veterans are considered in the development of cross-Government housing and homelessness policy. In response to the second part of the hon. Member's question, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 June 2025 to Question 57385.

If he will facilitate increased sittings of the Independent Panel to assess payments for LGBTQ+ veterans.

As of 23 June 2025, the FRS had made payments totalling £3.4 million to 69 applicants with life-limiting conditions or serious health concerns. We are now processing applications based on date received. The first payments were issued within 15 weeks of the scheme going live. The Ministry of Defence remains committed to ensuring all eligible veterans receive the recognition they deserve.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2025 to Question 57372 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, what the costs were to his Department of the Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia.

As set out by the Secretary of State in his statement on 22 May 2025, the Agreement is at a cost of less than 0.2% of the annual defence budget and secures a base which is vital for UK national security for over a century. It represents good value for UK taxpayers. A bill to implement the Treaty was introduced by the Government to the House of Commons on 15 July 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 54377 on Veterans: Housing, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using data from Op Fortitude to undertake a review of the supply and demand of single occupancy housing for veterans.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 June 2025 to Question 57385.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the United Kingdom's agreement to expeditiously inform Mauritius of any armed attack on a third State directly emanating from the Base on Diego Garcia on UK security.

An agreement to inform a host nation about military action from their territory is standard practice in basing arrangements. Additionally, the UN Charter has a requirement to notify the UN of military action taken in self-defence. Any notification will take place after the event and will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information.

Whether there would be any circumstances in which the UK could opt out from informing Mauritius of an armed attack on a third state.

An agreement to inform a host nation about military action from their territory is standard practice in basing arrangements. Additionally, the UN Charter has a requirement to notify the UN of military action taken in self-defence. Any notification will take place after the event and will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information.

What information would need to be passed to Mauritius in the event of an armed attack on a third State directly emanating from the military base on Diego Garcia.

It is standard practice for basing arrangements to include an agreement to inform a host nation about military action from their territory. Additionally, the UN Charter has a requirement to notify the UN of military action taken in self-defence. Any notification to Mauritius will take place after the event and will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information. The United Kingdom will inform Mauritius through normal diplomatic channels.

What proportion of the 2.5% increase to defence spending on 25 February 2025 will fund the Chagos deal.

The costs of the Chagos Archipelago Treaty will be met from within the FCDO and MOD budgets set out at the spending review. The NATO qualifying status of these costs will be considered in the usual way.

What proportion of the 2.5% increase in Defence spending is accounted for by payments under the UK-Mauritius treaty on the Chagos Islands.

The costs of the Chagos Archipelago Treaty will be met from within the FCDO and MOD budgets set out at the spending review. The NATO qualifying status of these costs will be considered in the usual way.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 54377 on Veterans: Housing, if he will (a) make an assessment of the adequacy of trends in levels of Op FORTITUDE caseload and (b) review levels of (i) supply and (ii) demand for single occupancy housing for veterans.

We remain fully committed to ensuring the right support is in place for veterans, including housing support. As of June 2025, Op FORTITUDE has received a cumulative total of over 3,500 referrals and supported over 900 veterans into housing. The Government has committed £500,000 to supporting Op FORTITUDE's operation this financial year. We have also funded an evaluation of Op FORTITUDE and the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme, which has been commissioned by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. The Government is taking steps to increase affordable housebuilding, and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 41721 on 3 April 2025.

Where housing stock is being sourced from for refurbishment through the Veterans' Capital Housing Fund.

The majority of the organisations that receive funding from the Veterans' Capital Housing Fund already own or rent the properties they wish to improve. The funding is used to refurbish or expand to enhance accommodation quality or increase capacity. This programme will ensure there will be a long-term and sustainable supply of high-quality properties for veterans.

What discussions he is having with local authorities on the development of single occupancy housing for veterans.

This Government is committed to ensuring veterans across the UK have access to the housing support they need. We have introduced several measures to assist veterans with housing provision. This includes reforms to exempt all veterans applying for social housing from local connection and residency tests to improve their access to housing in England.In addition, Op FORTITUDE provides a single point of contact and dedicated referral scheme for single veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness across the UK. The Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme funds housing organisations to deliver wraparound care and support services. The Government’s £20 million Veterans Capital Housing Fund is used to refurbish or expand to enhance accommodation quality or increase capacity. This programme will ensure there will be a long-term and sustainable supply of high-quality properties for veterans.

What steps he is taking through the Veterans' Capital Housing Fund to supply affordable and social housing for veterans in (a) Leicestershire and (b) Hinckley and Bosworth constituency.

Organisations across the UK are eligible to apply for funding under the Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund. This funding is used to refurbish or expand to enhance accommodation quality or increase capacity. This programme will ensure there will be a long-term and sustainable supply of high-quality properties, with access to wraparound support for veterans. To date and in support of this programme, one organisation in Leicester has been awarded a major capital grant of £295,039.

What discussions he has had with local cadet forces on increasing the (a) offer and (b) size of those forces.

We want more young people to be able to become Cadets given the tremendous benefits which can be gained from the experience. We are committed to sustaining Cadet Forces across the UK, and we are looking to significantly grow Cadet numbers and support youngsters throughout the UK to enrich their lives by choosing to join the Cadets. To this end, I have directed that a review is carried out to look at how we can increase the size and offer of the Cadet Forces. Defence officials have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to consider how we can deliver these aims. Input has been provided by advocates and subject matter experts including Cadet leaders within the Ministry of Defence, Lords Lieutenants, Cadet Honorary Colonels, through the Cadet Force chains of command, and from many other interested parties. The review is closely aligned with the Strategic Defence Review and is undertaken in the context of recent announcements of increases in Defence spending. The resource requirements of any expansion will be evaluated in light of competing priorities, but our investment in Cadets is fantastic value for money. The total annual cost of the Cadets is fully covered if the life outcomes of just 1% of Cadets change each year so that they are in education, training, or employment.

If he will take steps to increase the (a) offer and (b) size of cadet forces in the context of proposed increases to defence expenditure.

We want more young people to be able to become Cadets given the tremendous benefits which can be gained from the experience. We are committed to sustaining Cadet Forces across the UK, and we are looking to significantly grow Cadet numbers and support youngsters throughout the UK to enrich their lives by choosing to join the Cadets. To this end, I have directed that a review is carried out to look at how we can increase the size and offer of the Cadet Forces. Defence officials have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to consider how we can deliver these aims. Input has been provided by advocates and subject matter experts including Cadet leaders within the Ministry of Defence, Lords Lieutenants, Cadet Honorary Colonels, through the Cadet Force chains of command, and from many other interested parties. The review is closely aligned with the Strategic Defence Review and is undertaken in the context of recent announcements of increases in Defence spending. The resource requirements of any expansion will be evaluated in light of competing priorities, but our investment in Cadets is fantastic value for money. The total annual cost of the Cadets is fully covered if the life outcomes of just 1% of Cadets change each year so that they are in education, training, or employment.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 11294 on Armed Forces: Cadets, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the ending of the additional SSI grant on the long term sustainability of school cadet forces.

The development and sustainability of school cadet units depends on a range of factors including senior leadership team support and the ability to attract and retain adult volunteers to manage and deliver cadet activities. Our commitment to supporting the school-based Combined Cadet Force and the Cadet Expansion Programme in schools remains unchanged. We are very aware of the benefits that cadet activity brings to the young people themselves and of the positive contribution that having a cadet unit makes to schools. Therefore, we continue to invest £3.6 million per year in the programme so that more young people can enjoy the benefits of the cadet experience, but I have also directed that a review be undertaken to ascertain how we can deliver more cadet activity both in schools and in the wider community settings. The role and support to the SSI will figure in this review.