Written questions by Pochin.

If he will disclose full details of all three contracts signed in May 2025 between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Serco which relate to the provision of maritime services in support of the Royal Navy, and to i) explain in full what services are provided by Serco in relation to the operation of the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers, ii) confirm whether these contracts, or any pre-existing contracts, include the ammunitioning of Royal Naval vessels by Serco, and iii) whether such contracts contain the necessary provisions to empower HM Government or the Royal Navy to enforce them at weekends, and during international crises.

For security reasons, the Ministry of Defence does not comment on specific contracts, staffing levels or detailed security arrangements at any defence establishment. HM Naval Bases operate on a continuous 24‑hour basis. Appropriate Duty Staff are in place at all times to maintain the safety, security and operational availability of the site.

Whether his Department records the number of War Pension cases in which tribunal outcomes identify factual inconsistencies or errors in medical evidence provided by Veterans UK.

As part of a War Pension Tribunal outcome, written reasons for the decision are provided. The Ministry of Defence does not keep a separate record of whether any factual inconsistencies are identified.

What protocols Veterans UK follows to ensure compliance with directions issued by First-tier Tribunal judges in War Pension appeals; and whether performance against those protocols is independently monitored.

Tribunal directions can be issued at several stages of the appeal. In all circumstances the directions are actioned by caseworkers. Tribunal directions typically include directed timeframes, where on occasion the caseworker would respectfully request from Tribunal Clerk, extensions to any unachievable timeframes. Compliance with deadlines is monitored internally using internal trackers. The Tribunal clerks monitor responses to directions and raise any concerns or issues, with the caseworkers until the direction has been appropriately actioned.

What processes are in place to assure the accuracy of medical reports produced for War Pension claims.

The Ministry of Defence does not produce medical reports for War Pension Scheme claims. All medical records are obtained from an individual's General Practitioner and/or hospital to ensure the information is sourced from qualified medical professionals.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that Veterans UK complies with disclosure obligations in War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme cases, particularly in relation to evidence provided to tribunals.

Evidence Bundles at Tribunals consists of all the information and documents used to make the decision on the claim including any advice received from the Ministry of Defence Medical Advisor. A full copy is provided to the appellant with all documents used to make the decision, and the appellant has the opportunity to raise any concerns or provide any comments. Deadlines for submission of evidence bundles are monitored using internal trackers, markers on the hard copy files and independently by the Tribunal Clerks.

What assessment his Department has made of the UK’s ability to defend against a large scale conventional military attack.

The National Security Strategy and the Strategic Defence Review acknowledge that the UK and European allies face a new era of threat. Defence plays a key role in the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme, a whole of Government endeavour, to enhance our national security, resilience and preparedness for crisis and conflict. Defence is central to this, combining its strengths with those of wider Government, industry and society. The department maintains plans in coordination with NATO and wider Government, with the Armed Forces continually exercising their capabilities to ensure they can respond rapidly and effectively to keep Britian safe.

What steps his Department is taking to tackle UK defence capability gaps.

The Ministry of Defence employs a rigorous approach to identify and mitigate risks arising from gaps in defence capability, ensuring the delivery of defence's strategic and operational objectives. The Strategic Defence Review sets out recommendations to enhance the agility and lethality of our armed forces, which will be implemented through the Defence Investment Plan. The Integration of our defence capabilities will be driven through the Integrated Force Plan, ensuring that capability remains coherent and aligned with national defence strategy.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the UK’s defence industrial base to support rapid mobilisation and sustained conflict.

The Department regularly assesses the Defence enterprise’s ability to respond swiftly to sustained conflict. Additional measures to support rapid mobilisation and sustained readiness were outlined in the Defence Industrial Strategy and the Strategic Defence Review. The current strategy prioritises resilience by developing integrated and assured supply chains, scalable production capacity, and an “always-on” munitions capability that can be rapidly expanded. Working across Government and with international partners, significant progress is already underway. Key initiatives include regular wargaming exercises with industry, reforms to commercial processes, establishing a dedicated scenario planning and modelling capability and developing potential legislative powers to remove barriers and accelerate delivery of critical projects.

What steps the Government is taking to monitor and respond to changes in the military balance in the Arctic region, including Russia’s nuclear capabilities and posture, and what discussions he has held with NATO partners on this matter.

The Ministry of Defence keeps Russian military capabilities and investment under continuous review. We work closely with our NATO Allies to understand the implications of Russian military capability development for Alliance security. NATO is strengthening its deterrence and defence as a result of the increasing threat from Russia and will continue to adapt as necessary.

What assessment his Department has made of whether current force levels across the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are sufficient to meet assessed threats.

Our Armed Forces are ready to deter, fight and win - today, tomorrow and together with our allies. Since elected, this Government has been committed to strengthening our Armed Forces. Through the Strategic Defence Review, we have outlined plans to increase the total number of Regular personnel, when funding allows. Additionally, we have embraced a whole-of-society approach to deterrence and defence, reinforcing our collective resilience, and are committed to increasing the number of Active Reserves by 20%, bolstering surge capacity and showcasing the UK's readiness to defend itself. We do not disclose Force levels, but they remain under constant review. However, we do routinely publish our UK Service personnel statistics on strengths, requirements, intake, applications and outflow, by Service available at the link provided below: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2025

What assessment his Department has made of recent trends in levels of Russian nuclear submarine and naval activity within the Arctic Circle and the implications for the security of the United Kingdom and NATO allies.

The Ministry of Defence keeps Russian military capabilities and investment under continuous review. We work closely with our NATO Allies to understand the implications of Russian military capability development for Alliance security. NATO is strengthening its deterrence and defence as a result of the increasing threat from Russia and will continue to adapt as necessary.

Whether he has received assurances from the Government of Mauritius on ensuring uninterrupted access for UK and allied forces to the facilities on Diego Garcia following the entry into force of the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia.

The UK-Mauritius Agreement, which, beyond assurances, represents legally binding obligations, robustly protects the national security of the UK and our allies, and ensures that the UK will continue to exercise all rights and authorities which are required for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the military base on Diego Garcia. Article 3(2) of the Agreement confirms that Mauritius is obliged not to undermine, prejudice or otherwise interfere with the operation of the military base on Diego Garcia, including unrestricted access for UK and US forces. This ensures that military operations will not be compromised in any way.

What discussions he has had with his counterpart in the United States on maintaining United Kingdom visibility and oversight of United States operations at Diego Garcia following the transition of sovereignty to Mauritius.

The Secretary of State for Defence speaks regularly with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on a wide range of issues, including most recently on 10 December. We welcome US support of the UK-Mauritius Agreement, and this Government will continue to work closely with the US to ensure the base's operational effectiveness and that it remains a vital part of our security alliance well into the next century.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia on the UK's permanent joint operating posture in the wider Indo-Pacific region.

The military base on Diego Garcia will continue to support the UK's joint operating posture in the Indo-Pacific and will retain its strategic utility for allied power projection across the Indian Ocean and Pacific region. The UK-Mauritius Agreement ensures that we retain full operational control of Diego Garcia, including security provisions which will protect the base for decades to come.

What steps he is taking to support veterans to access (a) housing, (b) healthcare services and (c) employment support in Runcorn and Helsby constituency.

This Government is fully committed to ensuring that all veterans, including those living in Runcorn and Helsby, have easy access to support in these essential areas, when and where it is needed. For housing support in England, Op FORTITUDE is the support referral pathway to connect veterans at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness. The Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme funds housing organisations to deliver wraparound care and support services to veterans across the UK. Veterans can also access specialist mental and physical health support through Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE, which provide a broad range of specialist mental health, physical and wellbeing care services to veterans in England, with similar services available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For employment support, the MOD-hosted Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is the initial point of employment support provision for veterans for up to two years before and after leaving military service. Op ASCEND is available two years after discharge and connects veterans and their families with employers and supports them into sustainable careers in strategic sectors. This Government has also announced VALOUR, a new programme giving veterans across the UK easier access to the essential care and support available to them. VALOUR support centres will facilitate access to multiple services for veterans, and will connect local, regional, and national services. A network of regional field officers will bring together charities, service providers, and local government to improve collaboration and coordination, enabling data-driven policy and service development. VALOUR HQ, within the MOD, will gather data and insight, working with policy and research teams to ensure services are designed to meet local needs.