Written questions by Wood.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2025 to Question 66652 on Military Aircraft: Ministers, what the total cost to the public purse was for those tasks.

The total cost for Government Minsters travel on the RAF Command Support Air Transport between 3 July 2024 and 4 July 2025 is £858,724.23. This was approximately 51.3% lower than the previous year. Some elements included in the total cost are air passenger duty, catering, insurance, fuel, civilian airfield usage, landing & handling fees.Since my response to Question 66652, I can confirm that an additional task has been identified which is in scope and the total costs cover 44 tasks, that were completed between 4 July 2024 and 18 July 2025.It has been the practice of successive administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of Ministers and those accompanying them within the United Kingdom. Information about official overseas travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website.

If he will publish any (a) external and (b) internal guidance produced for NATO members on what types of spending may be included in the definition of spending for (i) defence and (ii) security and resilience.

The publication of NATO's defence spending guidance for core defence and security related investment is a matter for NATO.

Who will (a) procure and (b) own the nuclear weapons to be deployed on the F35-A fighter jets; and whether permission will be required from (i) NATO and (ii) the USA to (A) deploy and (B) launch them.

As confirmed when the Ministry of Defence announced our intention to participate in NATO’s nuclear mission, the nuclear weapons allocated to the NATO dual capable aircraft (DCA) nuclear mission are United States (US) nuclear weapons and the US retains control and custody over them, as the UK does with its own nuclear weapons. The NATO DCA nuclear mission would operate under the orders of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, when authorised by NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group, through which Allies exercise political control over the mission. The UK would always retain the right to participate, or not participate, according to a political decision by the UK Prime Minister.

With reference to the press release entitled UK to purchase F-35As and join NATO nuclear mission as Government steps up national security and delivers defence dividend, published on 24 June 2025, whether the new RAF plans will be equipped with (a) strategic or (b) tactical nuclear weapons.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 July 2025 to Question 67413 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr Cartlidge). https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-07-14/67413

With reference to his Department's press release entitled UK to deliver on 5% NATO pledge as Government drives greater security for working people, published on 23 June 2025, what his Department's methodological definition of resilience and security spending is under the new 5 percent defence spending target.

The Government defines defence and national security spending in line with NATO's definition. NATO's definition of defence and security related expenditure includes areas such as strengthening the defence industrial base and our energy security, enhancing civil preparedness and resilience, and countering hybrid treats.

What his Department's planned timeline was for media engagement on the release of the Strategic Defence Review 2025.

For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to members of Defence staff and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies, and the media. The media briefing began at 1030 on Monday 2 June, and was supported by Ministerial interviews with a range of media outlets.This is broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews. At no point did stakeholders receive any commercially sensitive information ahead of publication.

How much was billed by his Department to the Cabinet Office to reimburse the costs of providing fixed-wing air transport to the Prime Minister for domestic flights on aircraft registered under the marks (a) G-ZABH and (b) G-ZAHS since 4 July 2024.

It has been the practice of successive administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of Ministers and those accompanying them within the United Kingdom. Information about official overseas travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website.

Whether (a) appointments to the Armed Forces Commissioner will be included in the Public Bodies Order in Council and (b) the chair appointment will be classified as a significant appointment.

The Armed Forces Commissioner Bill is in the final stages of its Parliamentary passage. Once the Bill achieves Royal Assent we will place the Armed Forces Commissioner on the Public Appointments Order in Council (subject to the necessary approvals) and therefore subject, in principle, to the Governance Code for Public Appointments. It is proposed that this appointment will be treated as a ‘significant’ appointment.

With reference to the press release entitled UK secures future of vital Diego Garcia Military Base to protect national security, published on 22 May 2025, if he will publish the Government Actuary's Department assessment of the net present value of the payments.

I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand that it is not normal practise for government departments to release details of financial calculations commissioned from the Government Actuary's Department.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Security and defence partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on 19 May 2025, what potential role the United Kingdom would play in the European Peace Facility; and what payments would be made (a) directly and (b) indirectly to the Facility.

The Security and Defence partnership (SDP) agreed with the EU at the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025 demonstrates that this Government is delivering on our manifesto pledge to strengthen European security, support growth, and reinforce NATO. This is a legally non-binding instrument that sets a framework for deeper cooperation on key issues like Ukraine, defence industry and peace building and crisis management; opening up the potential possible opportunity to engage with the EU’s proposed €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) mechanism. We are in discussion with the EU on implementation and the future modalities of cooperation. We would only agree to future financial contributions to EU programmes that provide value to the UK taxpayer. I would refer to the Prime Minister’s statement and answers on 20 May, regarding the role of the European Court of Justice. However, I can confirm that the SDP is clear that our participation in defence initiatives will be in accordance with our respective legal frameworks.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Security and defence partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on 19 May 2025, what additional financial payments will the United Kingdom be required to make to the European Union and its agencies in each of the next four years.

The Security and Defence partnership (SDP) agreed with the EU at the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025 demonstrates that this Government is delivering on our manifesto pledge to strengthen European security, support growth, and reinforce NATO. This is a legally non-binding instrument that sets a framework for deeper cooperation on key issues like Ukraine, defence industry and peace building and crisis management; opening up the potential possible opportunity to engage with the EU’s proposed €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) mechanism. We are in discussion with the EU on implementation and the future modalities of cooperation. We would only agree to future financial contributions to EU programmes that provide value to the UK taxpayer. I would refer to the Prime Minister’s statement and answers on 20 May, regarding the role of the European Court of Justice. However, I can confirm that the SDP is clear that our participation in defence initiatives will be in accordance with our respective legal frameworks.

With reference to the news story entitled PM secures new agreement with EU to benefit British people, published on 19 May 2025, what estimate he has made of the annual cost of participation in the EU's Security Action for Europe defence fund in each of the next four years.

The Security and Defence partnership (SDP) agreed with the EU at the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025 demonstrates that this Government is delivering on our manifesto pledge to strengthen European security, support growth, and reinforce NATO. This is a legally non-binding instrument that sets a framework for deeper cooperation on key issues like Ukraine, defence industry and peace building and crisis management; opening up the potential possible opportunity to engage with the EU’s proposed €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) mechanism. We are in discussion with the EU on implementation and the future modalities of cooperation. We would only agree to future financial contributions to EU programmes that provide value to the UK taxpayer. I would refer to the Prime Minister’s statement and answers on 20 May, regarding the role of the European Court of Justice. However, I can confirm that the SDP is clear that our participation in defence initiatives will be in accordance with our respective legal frameworks.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Security and defence partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on 19 May 2025, if he will list the policy areas where the European Court of Justice will have additional (a) oversight and (b) powers over existing treaties in (i) Great Britain and (ii) Northern Ireland.

The Security and Defence partnership (SDP) agreed with the EU at the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025 demonstrates that this Government is delivering on our manifesto pledge to strengthen European security, support growth, and reinforce NATO. This is a legally non-binding instrument that sets a framework for deeper cooperation on key issues like Ukraine, defence industry and peace building and crisis management; opening up the potential possible opportunity to engage with the EU’s proposed €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) mechanism. We are in discussion with the EU on implementation and the future modalities of cooperation. We would only agree to future financial contributions to EU programmes that provide value to the UK taxpayer. I would refer to the Prime Minister’s statement and answers on 20 May, regarding the role of the European Court of Justice. However, I can confirm that the SDP is clear that our participation in defence initiatives will be in accordance with our respective legal frameworks.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) Environmental, Social and Governance, (b) green finance and (c) net zero on levels of (i) divestment and (ii) debanking of (A) defence companies and (B) weapons manufacturers; and whether he has held discussions with his NATO counterparts on this matter.

This Government is clear that we see no conflict between sustainable investment and investment in our world-leading defence sector. The Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, published in December 2024, identified the mobilisation of additional private sector investment as essential to the Government’s agenda to strengthen our nation’s defences and grow our economy. We welcome the forward-leaning approach taken by industry in this area. The Trade Association ADS recently released their first defence Environment, Social and Governance Charter Report, highlighting the positive contribution that the defence industry is making to supporting our environment and our communities. We recognise that access to finance, including being able to open a bank account or secure a loan, can be a problem for smaller Defence suppliers. We continue to consult widely with defence and financial services stakeholders on tackling barriers such as these, so that we can meet our ambitions for a better, more integrated, more innovative and more resilient defence sector. We continue to work closely with our partners in NATO across the full range of issues relevant to our collective security.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2025 to Question 28652 on Ministers: Aviation, whether the details of the Air Passenger Duty paid for Ministerial travel on RAF flights are held by a public body.

The information is held by the Ministry of Defence.I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 February 2025 to Question 31166 to the hon. Member for North West Norfolk (James Wild).

What discussions he has has with the defence sector on the potential impact of environmental, social and governance policies on levels of divestment.

There is nothing contradictory between Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) consideration and the defence sector. A strong national defence is a pre-requisite for the freedoms and aspirations that investors and financial services companies seek to address using ESG considerations. The Government is committed to bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy which ensures the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned. Through the Defence Industrial Strategy we will consider the impact of environmental, social and governance policies. The Ministry of Defence also strongly supports the introduction of the regulation of ESG ratings providers which will improve transparency and promote good conduct and address some of the issues which defence companies have raised.