Written questions by Francois.

How many alternative sites are currently being assessed by his Department to accommodate the Crowborough cadets, following their proposed displacement from Crowborough Training Camp, to accommodate asylum seekers.

An alternative temporary venue in Crowborough to deliver weeknight training has been identified by the Army Cadet Force. Its suitability is being reviewed by the Royal Navy Cadet Force and Royal Air Force Air Cadets. The Ministry of Defence continues to work with the Home Office to assess the potential impact that housing asylum seekers on military bases could have on our Cadet Forces and future activities, and to develop any necessary mitigating actions. We have been clear that our priority remains ensuring these developments have limited impact on our Cadets, and we will always apply the appropriate safeguarding measures so that Cadet programmes can continue to be delivered.

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

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.

What the largest sum ever recovered by his Department is following a successful legal action for liquidated damages against a contractor; and for which programme this applied.

The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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

Who is the current SRO for the Le TACSIS programme.

The current Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) of the Land Environment Tactical Communications and Information Systems (LETacCIS) Programme is Major General Mark Purves.

If he will name the officers or officials in the current DE&S Ajax Reporting chain at (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3 and (d) 4 star level.

The key officials in the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Ajax Reporting Chain are as follows: 1* - Head Combat Vehicles, Simon Pearson2* - Director Land Environment, Major General Lizzie Faithfull-Davies3* - Director General Core, Lieutenant General Anna-Lee Reilly3* - DE&S CEO, Lieutenant General Simon Hamilton4* - National Armaments Director, Rupert Pearce The 2* Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) is Chris Bowbrick, who sits within Army HQ, not DE&S.

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.

Whether his Department's outgoing National Armaments Director was paid a bonus or departure payment on leaving his post.

The previous National Armaments Director (NAD) was the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) CEO Andy Start, now Deputy NAD. All previous remuneration for Mr Start since joining the Department in September 2022 is declared in the DE&S Annual Report and Accounts. This includes the following Performance Awards:Financial YearValue of Performance Award (£000)2024-25160-1652023-24165-1702022-2390-95 (prorated)To date Mr Start has only ever received remuneration based upon his DE&S CEO contract of employment and no other bonuses have been paid to Mr Start whilst in the Department’s employ. No bonus or departure payment was made to Mr Start when he relinquished the role of NAD in October 2025.

Whether the previous National Armaments Director was paid any performance or other bonuses within the last five years.

The previous National Armaments Director (NAD) was the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) CEO Andy Start, now Deputy NAD. All previous remuneration for Mr Start since joining the Department in September 2022 is declared in the DE&S Annual Report and Accounts. This includes the following Performance Awards:Financial YearValue of Performance Award (£000)2024-25160-1652023-24165-1702022-2390-95 (prorated)To date Mr Start has only ever received remuneration based upon his DE&S CEO contract of employment and no other bonuses have been paid to Mr Start whilst in the Department’s employ. No bonus or departure payment was made to Mr Start when he relinquished the role of NAD in October 2025.

What legal actions his Department has sought to initiate for liquidated damages from contractors in the last five years, broken down by a) project name, b) original contract value and c) sums recovered by his Department.

The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Which Department or organisation will be responsible for meeting the costs associated with securing and preparing a new site for the Crowborough cadets, now that Crowborough Training Camp has ben earmarked to accommodate asylum seekers.

An alternative temporary venue in Crowborough to deliver weeknight training has been identified by the Army Cadet Force. Its suitability is being reviewed by the Royal Navy Cadet Force and Royal Air Force Air Cadets. The Ministry of Defence continues to work with the Home Office to assess the potential impact that housing asylum seekers on military bases could have on our Cadet Forces and future activities, and to develop any necessary mitigating actions. We have been clear that our priority remains ensuring these developments have limited impact on our Cadets, and we will always apply the appropriate safeguarding measures so that Cadet programmes can continue to be delivered.

When he next expects to provide either an Oral or Written statement to Parliament on the progress of the Ajax programme.

I released a second written ministerial statement (WMS) regarding the Ajax programme on 18 December 2025. In a line with this WMS, I confirm that I will provide further updates to the House in due course.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

What the salary bill was for the Submarine Delivery Agency in 2024-25.

The Submarine Delivery Agency's Annual Report and Accounts for financial year 2024-25 are expected to be published in the New Year. For financial year 2023-24, the total staff salary and wage costs were £128 million.

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.