Written questions by Francois.

For what reason the Boxer armoured vehicle programme has been further delayed in reaching its Initial Operating Capability.

The approved Initial Operating Capability of the Mechanised Infantry (Boxer) programme is currently Q4 2025. It is under review and an update will be provided shortly. The programme has faced some delays that have primarily resulted from global supply chain issues which are not unique to Boxer or Defence. These have, therefore, impacted industry manufacture, delivery and training timelines. Trials have, however, progressed well; training and support work is underway, and a steady progression of vehicles are being received month on month for acceptance before being fielded to Field Army units. Once in service, maintenance and support for the Boxer vehicle in 3rd (UK) Division will be initially led by the holding units and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers maintainers along with support from Field Service Representatives from industry. Spares and support will be provisioned through our NATO Support and Procurement Agency membership in collaboration with other Boxer Nations, which provides reach back to industry for deeper maintenance if required.

Which organisation will be responsible for the maintenance and support of Boxer vehicles within 3 (UK) Division.

The approved Initial Operating Capability of the Mechanised Infantry (Boxer) programme is currently Q4 2025. It is under review and an update will be provided shortly. The programme has faced some delays that have primarily resulted from global supply chain issues which are not unique to Boxer or Defence. These have, therefore, impacted industry manufacture, delivery and training timelines. Trials have, however, progressed well; training and support work is underway, and a steady progression of vehicles are being received month on month for acceptance before being fielded to Field Army units. Once in service, maintenance and support for the Boxer vehicle in 3rd (UK) Division will be initially led by the holding units and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers maintainers along with support from Field Service Representatives from industry. Spares and support will be provisioned through our NATO Support and Procurement Agency membership in collaboration with other Boxer Nations, which provides reach back to industry for deeper maintenance if required.

Whether he plans to lay before Parliament (a) communications and (b) records of the former UK Ambassador to the United States' discussions with his Department on the (i) purchasing and (ii) procurement of American military equipment.

As former Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson met regularly with senior Defence officials to discuss a range of issues across the UK-US relationship, including opportunities for closer collaboration on our technology partnership, defence capabilities, AUKUS and other ways to deepen the UK-US bilateral relationship.

Whether dismounted infantry companies in 3 (UK) Division are now planned to transition from Warrior vehicles to ARES rather than to Boxer.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on 21 July 2025 to Question 68120 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty). The statement remains extant and explains that the Army intends to equip the Regular Infantry Units within 3 (UK) Division with ARES in the infantry troop carrying role.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of Lord Peter Mandelson’s involvement in discussions on the procurement of American defence systems.

As former Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson met regularly with senior Defence officials to discuss a range of issues across the UK-US relationship, including opportunities for closer collaboration on our technology partnership, defence capabilities, AUKUS and other ways to deepen the UK-US bilateral relationship.

What plans his Department has for the future of the Warrior armoured vehicle fleet.

I can confirm that the Army has recently established a Disposals team which is working on next steps for all in-service equipment, including the Warrior fleet of vehicles. Options planning is ongoing, which includes programming against the expected drawdown of in-service equipment. A balance of readiness risk against sales opportunity is being carefully considered under scoping of future plans.

Whether the Defence Investment Plan will consist of a single document.

The Defence Investment Plan will be a single document that sets out how the Ministry of Defence will deliver the vision of the Strategic Defence Review over the next 10 years.

Whether his Department has introduced procurement control measures for spending levels that require clearance by the Secretary of State.

In year controls are used across the Department to manage its performance against the Defence budget as part of good financial management. The Secretary of State for Defence continues to have oversight of this process.

Whether Andy Start will remain the Acting National Armaments Director for the whole length of his contract.

Andy Start was appointed acting National Armaments Director (NAD) as part of the establishment of the wider NAD Group in March 2025. Recruitment of a permanent NAD is ongoing and an appointment will be made in due course.

When he plans to respond to Questions 75477, 75478, 75479 on National Armaments Director Group: Costs.

I responded to the right hon. Member on 24 September 2025.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact the pause in Project MORPHEUS on warfighter effectiveness; and what interim measures are in place to extend the service life of the BOWMAN system.

It will take time to collate and review the information required to answer the hon. Member’s question. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

What assessment he has made of the factors which contributed to the delivery confidence assessment rating for the LETacCIS programme decreasing from amber to red between financial year 2023-24-Q4 and 2024-25-Q4; and what steps he is taking to address those factors.

It will take time to collate and review the information required to answer the hon. Member’s question. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

What estimate he has made of the total costs incurred on Project MORPHEUS up to the decision to pause its original plans including a breakdown of expenditure on (a) development, (b) industry partnerships, (c) external advice and (d) sustainment activities.

It will take time to collate and review the information required to answer the hon. Member’s question. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

What estimate he has made of the total cost to the public purse of establishing the National Armaments Director Group since March 2025; and what the breakdown of those costs are.

This Government is delivering the deepest defence reforms in over 50 years. On 31 March 2025 the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group was stood up – creating a new export to end acquisition system design to cut waste and fix the broken procurement system this Government inherited. Andy Start was appointed interim NAD and had been acting as NAD since the NAD Group was stood up on 31 March 2025. He conducts, all of the responsibilities the Head of the NAD Group must, regardless of the fact he is an interim appointment. To the end of August 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) expended £4.2 million in workforce costs on the establishment of the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. This expenditure was drawn from existing resource within MOD, and is not a net increase for the Department. This expenditure is broken down into Enabling Workstreams (£3.1 million) and Organisational Change (£1.1 million).In addition, in the same period the Department spent £0.5 million on external assistance in support of the establishment of the NAD Group.The NAD Group design phased is scheduled to conclude on 31 March 2026, at which point costing will be able to be confirmed.The Department has incurred no additional cost as a result of operating the NAD Group under Andy Start.

What estimate he has made of the costs of the design phase of the National Armaments Director Group; and when that phase is will conclude.

This Government is delivering the deepest defence reforms in over 50 years. On 31 March 2025 the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group was stood up – creating a new export to end acquisition system design to cut waste and fix the broken procurement system this Government inherited. Andy Start was appointed interim NAD and had been acting as NAD since the NAD Group was stood up on 31 March 2025. He conducts, all of the responsibilities the Head of the NAD Group must, regardless of the fact he is an interim appointment. To the end of August 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) expended £4.2 million in workforce costs on the establishment of the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. This expenditure was drawn from existing resource within MOD, and is not a net increase for the Department. This expenditure is broken down into Enabling Workstreams (£3.1 million) and Organisational Change (£1.1 million).In addition, in the same period the Department spent £0.5 million on external assistance in support of the establishment of the NAD Group.The NAD Group design phased is scheduled to conclude on 31 March 2026, at which point costing will be able to be confirmed.The Department has incurred no additional cost as a result of operating the NAD Group under Andy Start.

Whether his Department has incurred additional costs as a result of operating the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group under an acting director rather than a permanent one.

This Government is delivering the deepest defence reforms in over 50 years. On 31 March 2025 the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group was stood up – creating a new export to end acquisition system design to cut waste and fix the broken procurement system this Government inherited. Andy Start was appointed interim NAD and had been acting as NAD since the NAD Group was stood up on 31 March 2025. He conducts, all of the responsibilities the Head of the NAD Group must, regardless of the fact he is an interim appointment. To the end of August 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) expended £4.2 million in workforce costs on the establishment of the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. This expenditure was drawn from existing resource within MOD, and is not a net increase for the Department. This expenditure is broken down into Enabling Workstreams (£3.1 million) and Organisational Change (£1.1 million).In addition, in the same period the Department spent £0.5 million on external assistance in support of the establishment of the NAD Group.The NAD Group design phased is scheduled to conclude on 31 March 2026, at which point costing will be able to be confirmed.The Department has incurred no additional cost as a result of operating the NAD Group under Andy Start.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 62175, when his Department plans to hold the next Ajax-specific event at Bovington to which journalists will be invited.

There are currently no Ajax specific events due to be held at Bovington to which journalists will be invited.

What risks he has identified in the complex integration challenges for the Type 31 frigate programme; and what (a) technical and (b) contractual steps he is taking to help mitigate those risks.

The Type 31 (T31) frigate programme will deliver a maritime security capability at a value for money price, in a timescale that compares favourably with other international warship procurement programmes. In common with other enterprises, the T31 programme is experiencing inflationary pressures, which are understood and remain in line with the latest plans and forecasts. The Red delivery confidence assessment rating reflects this impact and on completion of full assessment and assurance, formal updates will be provided through official channels at the appropriate time. HMS VENTURER is the first in Class of the T31 and is currently scheduled to be in service by the end of the decade. All five of the T31 ships are planned to be in service by the early 2030s and are forecast to meet the Key User Requirements. Three ships are currently in build; HMS VENTURER, which was floated off a launch barge in June 2025, HMS ACTIVE and HMS FORMIDABLE. There has been substantial investment in risk mitigation. For example: significant investment in Babcock’s facilities at Rosyth, which include digitising the shipyard, new manufacturing facilities, and a new purpose-built Assembly Hall. In addition, there has been the generation of a Shore Integration facility at Portsdown Technology Park, to mitigate risks to the integration of the combat system.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the red delivery confidence rating for the Type 31 frigate programme on the (a) overall user requirements and (b) operational readiness of the Royal Navy.

The Type 31 (T31) frigate programme will deliver a maritime security capability at a value for money price, in a timescale that compares favourably with other international warship procurement programmes. In common with other enterprises, the T31 programme is experiencing inflationary pressures, which are understood and remain in line with the latest plans and forecasts. The Red delivery confidence assessment rating reflects this impact and on completion of full assessment and assurance, formal updates will be provided through official channels at the appropriate time. HMS VENTURER is the first in Class of the T31 and is currently scheduled to be in service by the end of the decade. All five of the T31 ships are planned to be in service by the early 2030s and are forecast to meet the Key User Requirements. Three ships are currently in build; HMS VENTURER, which was floated off a launch barge in June 2025, HMS ACTIVE and HMS FORMIDABLE. There has been substantial investment in risk mitigation. For example: significant investment in Babcock’s facilities at Rosyth, which include digitising the shipyard, new manufacturing facilities, and a new purpose-built Assembly Hall. In addition, there has been the generation of a Shore Integration facility at Portsdown Technology Park, to mitigate risks to the integration of the combat system.

What estimate his Department has made of the additional costs arising from inflation on the Type 31 frigate programme.

The Type 31 (T31) frigate programme will deliver a maritime security capability at a value for money price, in a timescale that compares favourably with other international warship procurement programmes. In common with other enterprises, the T31 programme is experiencing inflationary pressures, which are understood and remain in line with the latest plans and forecasts. The Red delivery confidence assessment rating reflects this impact and on completion of full assessment and assurance, formal updates will be provided through official channels at the appropriate time. HMS VENTURER is the first in Class of the T31 and is currently scheduled to be in service by the end of the decade. All five of the T31 ships are planned to be in service by the early 2030s and are forecast to meet the Key User Requirements. Three ships are currently in build; HMS VENTURER, which was floated off a launch barge in June 2025, HMS ACTIVE and HMS FORMIDABLE. There has been substantial investment in risk mitigation. For example: significant investment in Babcock’s facilities at Rosyth, which include digitising the shipyard, new manufacturing facilities, and a new purpose-built Assembly Hall. In addition, there has been the generation of a Shore Integration facility at Portsdown Technology Park, to mitigate risks to the integration of the combat system.