Every parliamentary written question tabled by Steve Barclay this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–28 of 28 · Ministry of Defence
In each of the last three years for which figures are available, how many members of the UK’s Active Reserve forces were qualified and current as a Jackal driver.
For reasons of operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not disclose detailed information on internal force structures or strengths.
Whether he was made aware of conclusion 1 in the Sixty-second Report of the Committee of Public Accounts entitled Faulty energy efficiency installations, HC 1229, prior to the decision to appoint a new Permanent Secretary in his Department.
The Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary was appointed following an external competition and approval from the Prime Minister.The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will respond to the Public Accounts Committee report (HC 1229) in the usual way.
With reference to his Department's letter to the Rt hon. Member for North East Cambridgeshire, reference: PQW/24-25/2025/16500/16507/16511/16512/16514/16521, dated 20 August 2025, and the oral contribution of the Minister for the Armed Force during the Second Reading of the Armed Forces Bill on 26 January 2026, Official Report, column 706, how much was the total reserve spending for each of the last five years, including the main categories of spending beyond pay and and bounty payments; and if he will set out the expected total reserve spending for the remaining years of this Parliament.
The Government has committed to spending 2.6% of GDP on defence from 2027, and we have set the ambition to reach 3% in the next Parliament, subject to economic and fiscal conditions. Over this Spending Review period, this Government will invest over £270 billion in cash terms in defence. This is the largest sustained increase in spending since the Cold War. The Strategic Defence Review outlined an ambition to increase the number of Active Reserves by 20% when funding allows, enhancing surge capacity and demonstrating the UK's readiness to defend itself. Total spending on Reserve Forces between 2023-24 and 2024-25 is not managed centrally, with each Service determining expenditure based on its specific operational requirements. In relation to spending plans in 2025-26, we do not routinely place figures relating to planned expenditure in the public domain as they are subject to change.
If he will make an assessment of the compatibility of (a) comments made in the SDSR on funding for a 20 per cent increase the reserves with (b) comments made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at col.705 in Hansard volume 779 on 26 January 2026 on funding for the reserves.
I am grateful for the contribution of our Reserve Forces, who help the UK Armed Forces meet the threats we face at home and abroad, with the scale, skills, agility and connection to society that we need in a cost‑effective way. The diversity of knowledge, skills and experience that Reserves bring from their civilian and military careers is an invaluable strength. The Strategic Defence Review set out a clear mandate to strengthen the UK’s Reserve Forces as an integral part of the Whole Force. Building on this, the Government is taking decisive action through the Armed Forces Bill to strengthen the UK’s Strategic Reserve – former Service personnel with an ex‑Regular and Recall Reserve liability – ensuring Defence can draw on their valuable skills and experience in times of crisis. The Bill introduces measures that will strengthen readiness and resilience, including changes to recall liability across the Regular and Volunteer Reserves. These measures will increase the maximum age for recall, align recall liability across all three Services, and provide greater flexibility to recall personnel for warlike preparations, in addition to circumstances of national danger or emergency. Alongside these legislative measures, Defence has increased funding for the Reserve Forces, reflecting their growing importance to our national security and our commitment to ensuring they can be used more effectively. Taken together, these reforms will re‑energise our connection with the Strategic Reserve, increase the Active Reserve, and ensure Defence can rapidly mobilise a broad pool of experienced personnel with critical skills – including in cyber, intelligence, medicine and communications – during periods of heightened threat or transition to war. This approach complements our highly capable Volunteer Reserves and aligns with the steps many NATO allies are taking to strengthen their own resilience.
How much his Department has spent on the reserves in 2024-25 and 2023-24, broken down by RDEL, CDEL and TDEL; and how much it plans to spend in 2025-26, broken down by RDEL, CDEL and TDEL.
The Government has committed to spending 2.6% of GDP on defence from 2027, and we have set the ambition to reach 3% in the next Parliament, subject to economic and fiscal conditions. Over this Spending Review period, this Government will invest over £270 billion in cash terms in defence. This is the largest sustained increase in spending since the Cold War. The Strategic Defence Review outlined an ambition to increase the number of Active Reserves by 20% when funding allows, enhancing surge capacity and demonstrating the UK's readiness to defend itself. Total spending on Reserve Forces between 2023-24 and 2024-25 is not managed centrally, with each Service determining expenditure based on its specific operational requirements. In relation to spending plans in 2025-26, we do not routinely place figures relating to planned expenditure in the public domain as they are subject to change.
How many full-time equivalent roles there are in his Department relating to equality, diversity and inclusion; and how many of those roles are unfilled but budgeted for.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 September 2024 to Question 5190 to the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth (Rupert Lowe).https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-09-10/5190
Pursuant to the Answer of 19 February 2025 to Question 30623 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, what the estimated full time equivalent is of those officials.
Work on the British Indian Ocean Territory - including policy development, legal advice and operational work - is spread across a wide range of officials in teams across the Ministry of Defence. It is therefore difficult to provide a full-time equivalent figure that is both precise and appropriately conveys the amount of time devoted to this issue.
How many officials in his Department are working on issues related to the Chagos Islands.
There are a number of officials from across the Ministry of Defence who contribute to the work in this area in partnership with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. This includes policy, legal, financial and military teams.