Written questions by Francois.

What the total estimated a) acquisition cost and b) through life cost is of the Boxer programme.

As published in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25 data. The initial acquisition cost for the contracted Mechanised Infantry Boxer vehicles is £3.1 billion. The forecast whole life cost for the Mechanised Infantry Boxer Programme, covering wider Defence Lines of Development such as support and potential capability uplifts, is £7 billion. https://www.gov.uk/csv-preview/6895fbb63080e72710b2e2ef/nista_annual_report_data_2425.csv

What is the salary band for his Department's new National Armaments Director.

The National Armaments Director role is a Senior Civil Service (SCS) 4 role, the advertised range for the role was up to £400,000 base salary and an annual performance related payment of up to 60% of base salary.

Who is the current SRO for the Boxer programme.

The Senior Responsible Officer for the Mechanised Infantry Boxer Programme is Martyn Williams, as published in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Government Major Projects Portfolio transparency data. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nista-annual-report-2024-2025

Who manufactures the command system for the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.

The command system onboard Boeing E-7 Wedgetail aircraft, referred to as the Mission System, is primarily manufactured and integrated by Boeing and Northrop Grumman.

What his Department's definition is of liquidated damages.

The Department's definition of liquidated damages is a pre-agreed sum to compensate for the financial loss that arises from the contractor’s failure to perform their contractual obligations.

When he last met his US counterpart to discuss the progress of the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail programme.

The Secretary of State for Defence regularly speaks with his US counterpart to discuss critical bilateral topics. Defence ministers, service chiefs, and officials frequently engage with their US counterparts on the E-7 programme. Most recently, the Chief of the Air Staff discussed it with his US counterpart in November 2025.

Whether he has ever sought legal advice from the Treasury Solicitor's Department on Ajax.

I can confirm that legal advice has been sought from the Government Legal Department on Ajax.

What is the salary band of the current Ajax SRO; and whether this has been supplemented by a performance or other bonus within the part three years.

Information regarding paybands for Army Command Senior Civil Servants can be found at the following link: Army staff roles and salaries

Whether he has had discussions with General Dynamics on suing that company for liquidated damages relating to the Ajax programme.

It would not be appropriate to pre-empt the outcome of the ongoing investigations or to comment further at this stage. The investigations must be given adequate time to identify the root cause of the issue.

Whether he has considered inviting the Institute of Naval Medicine to investigate the reasons why medical issues arose during the Ajax-related exercise on Salisbury Plain on 22 November 2025.

As I mentioned in my answer to the Shadow Defence Secretary during the Urgent Question on 8 December 2025, the Department is assembling a group of industry experts to provide external advice to its lines of investigation.

Whether he has received a request from the Defence Select Committee to provide information relating to the Ajax programme over the last twelve months.

During the most recent oral evidence session on the AUKUS inquiry, held on 2 December 2025, the Chair of the Defence Committee asked the Department to share with them the advice given by the Chief of the General Staff and the National Armaments Director regarding the safety of the Ajax programme. The Committee also requested details of the outcomes from the ongoing safety investigations into Ajax. I have agreed to provide as much detail as possible to the Committee on conclusion of the investigations, but this will be subject to the need to protect any commercially sensitive material.

When he last met the a) Corporate Chief Executive Officer of General Dynamics and b) Head of General Dynamics UK.

I met with representatives from General Dynamics on 9 December. The current Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon John Healey MP, has not met with the Corporate Chief Officer or the Head of General Dynamics.

On which date Initial Operating Capability for Ajax was declared; and who signed that declaration.

Initial Operating Capability for Ajax was declared on 5 November 2025. As safety of our personnel is the top priority of the Ministerial Team, prior to Initial Operating Capability, I asked for and was given assurances in writing by senior Ministry of Defence personnel, including the then National Armaments Director and the Chief of the General Staff, that the system was safe.

Who the most senior legal official is in his Department.

There are four senior legal officials in Defence. The highest-ranking legal advisers are: Director Army Legal Services (Major General) Director Legal Services, Royal Air Force (Air Vice Marshal) Director Legal for the Royal Navy (Commodore)Director MOD Legal Advisers (Civil Service Director, SCS2)

Whether the National Armaments Director was consulted prior to the decision to declare IOC for Ajax.

As safety is the top priority of the Ministerial Team, prior to Initial Operating Capability, I asked for and was given assurances in writing by senior Ministry of Defence personnel that the system was safe, including the National Armaments Director.

What the estimated IOC date is for the Boxer armoured vehicle.

The updated Mechanised Infantry Boxer Programme Initial Operating Capability date will be published shortly.

How much his Department has paid to General Dynamics on the Bowman Evolve to Operate programme in the last five years.

The total contract value for the MORPHEUS Evolve to Open Transition Partner contract was £395 million. Due to the confidentiality provisions in the contract protecting commercial interests, we are unable to provide further detail.

Whether his Department has carried out an evaluation of the potential merits of purchasing the CV-90 infantry fighting vehicle.

The Ministry of Defence continually assesses its current and planned capabilities to ensure that it is appropriately equipped to face any adversary. The CV90 was one of the vehicles considered during the competition for the Scout Specialist Vehicle. An evaluation has not occurred since the Ajax contract was awarded.

What the salary bill was for Defence Equipment and Support in 2024-25.

Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) salary information is detailed in the DE&S Annual Report and Accounts (ARAC), which is published annually on the GOV.UK website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-equipment-support-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025The total salary costs for 2024-25 were £583 million, as noted on page 94 of the 2024-25 ARAC.

When the Scimitar reconnaissance vehicle was retired from Army service.

All Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) variants, including the FV107 Scimitar, were officially retired from Army service under the last Government on 31 March 2023.