Written questions by Dhesi.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of vacancies for welders within the defence industry.

The demand for craft skills, including welders, is recognised across the defence sector and is a particular area of interest for the joint Government and industry Shipbuilding Skills Delivery Group. Meeting this demand is also recognised as a challenge across the economy and not solely as an issue for defence. As part of the ongoing Defence Industrial Strategy work, the Ministry of Defence is closely engaged with the Department for Education to identify additional opportunities and approaches to meet the future demand.

Whether he is taking steps to reduce the duration of submarine patrols.

The Royal Navy has successfully maintained Operation RELENTLESS – the Continuous At Sea Deterrent – without interruption for over 56 years. We do not disclose details of the operation, including the duration of time spent at sea, as such information could be used to undermine the security and capability of the mission and our personnel.

What the (a) proportion and (b) value was of steel from the (i) US and (ii) EU used in UK military shipbuilding in each of the last five years.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) contributes to the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) steel public procurement return. The information is published annually and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/steel-public-procurement The data available from the information published includes steel purchased for MOD shipbuilding projects. The response to this question assumes that UK military shipbuilding relates solely to the building of surface warships, and does not include submarine construction. The tables below set out a summary of the details available, for each of the last five years. Data for Financial Year (FY) 2023-24 has not yet been published. The data gathered and subsequently published by DBT has matured and become more detailed since the start of publishing steel data for FY 2017-18 in January 2019. Therefore, the origin of the steel is only available for FY 2022-23. Financial Year 2022-23 ProjectSteel product typeEU / UK / USCountries of originValue of steel £Type 31Flat rolled, Plate, Sections & shapesEUFinland, Spain£41,850,500 Sections & shapes, Tubes/Pipes/Hollow sectionsUKUK£1,311,790 Type 26Plate, Sections & shapesEUSweden, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain£3,162,171 Plate, Sections & shapesUKUK£1,537,996 Financial Year 2021-22 ProjectSteel product typeCountries of originValue of steel £Type 31Plate, Bulb bar, SectionsNot detailed£43,600,000Type 26PlateNot detailed£465,498 Financial Year 2020-21 ProjectSteel product typeCountries of originValue of steel £Type 31Structural steel, SectionsNot detailed£391,949Type 26Plate, Sections, Sheet, Non-shipNot detailed£3,758,269 Financial Year 2019-20 ProjectSteel product typeCountries of originValue of steel £Type 26Various gradesNot detailed£3,401,994 Financial Year 2018-19 No steel was recorded as having been purchased in FY 2018-19 for any UK shipbuilding projects.

With reference to the oral statement by the Prime Minister of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, columns 631 to 634, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the announcements on defence spending on the publication timescale for the new Defence Industrial Strategy.

This Government recognises the vital role the UK defence industry plays not only in our national security but also to the economic prosperity and growth of the UK. Raising defence expenditure to 2.5% of GDP has the potential to enhance the security and economic prosperity of the entire UK. The announcement of increased defence spending does not affect the schedule for the Defence Industrial Strategy.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of US steel tariffs on UK military shipbuilding.

The potential impact of US steel tariffs on UK military shipbuilding is still being explored. The UK benefits from a strong and balanced trade relationship with the US and we continue to share a longstanding, close relationship on all defence issues.

What recent progress the Royal Navy has made on the (a) development and (b) deployment of autonomous maritime mine hunting technologies.

The Royal Navy has made significant progress in developing autonomous maritime mine hunting technologies, since the delivery of the WILTON mine hunting system in 2020. WILTON has been assimilated into the wider Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme which is delivering a rolling programme of unmanned surface vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles for use by Royal Navy minewarfare specialists.The mine hunting and sweeping systems being delivered through the MHC Programme, employ high technology sonars and sensors to improve the Royal Navy's ability to detect and dispose of modern mines quickly and autonomously. Autonomous mine hunting systems are in regular use, both in the UK and globally.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of support available to non-UK armed forces personnel.

There is a wide range of information and support available to non-UK recruits and Serving personnel on the Ministry of Defence website and intranet pages, from the single Services, the HIVE Information Centres, the Families Federations, Service Charities and on the Home Office website. This includes single Service guides and policy documents, briefings to personnel, articles in publications such as Welfare Matters and Soldier Magazine and information in: The Service Leavers Guide Service leavers' guide - GOV.UKJoint Service Publication 100: Defence Holistic Transition Policy Defence Holistic Transition PolicyDiscover My Benefits and the Families Hub Discover My BenefitsThe Home Office specific immigration rules for the Armed Forces and their families - the Appendix HM Armed Forces Immigration Rules - Immigration Rules Appendix HM Armed Forces - Guidance - GOV.UK. Information is kept under review and updated to ensure it is clear, concise and reflects current policy and rules.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) accessibility and (b) consistency of information on (i) rights and (ii) entitlements available to non-UK recruits.

There is a wide range of information and support available to non-UK recruits and Serving personnel on the Ministry of Defence website and intranet pages, from the single Services, the HIVE Information Centres, the Families Federations, Service Charities and on the Home Office website. This includes single Service guides and policy documents, briefings to personnel, articles in publications such as Welfare Matters and Soldier Magazine and information in: The Service Leavers Guide Service leavers' guide - GOV.UKJoint Service Publication 100: Defence Holistic Transition Policy Defence Holistic Transition PolicyDiscover My Benefits and the Families Hub Discover My BenefitsThe Home Office specific immigration rules for the Armed Forces and their families - the Appendix HM Armed Forces Immigration Rules - Immigration Rules Appendix HM Armed Forces - Guidance - GOV.UK. Information is kept under review and updated to ensure it is clear, concise and reflects current policy and rules.

Whether he plans to increase the UK's explosive ordnance disposal capacity.

The Ministry of Defence has a world leading Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search (EOD&S) capability, providing critical support not just to military operations, but also to UK resilience and security through established arrangements in support of the Home Office. Future force designs of the Royal Navy and British Army will be part of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) so it would be inappropriate to provide further detail until SDR decisions have been made.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of Royal Air Force fighter pilots.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continually assesses pilot numbers to appropriately resource the Combat Air Force and are comfortable with the number of Royal Air Force fighter pilots against extant Defence Tasks. The MOD has a range of governance measures in place to analyse UK Military Flying Training System throughput to ensure pilot numbers meet the demand for Defence both now and in the future. The MOD will continue to provide quarterly statistics to the Hon Gentleman’s select committee on pilot training as agreed in the last Parliament.

What recent steps he has taken with international partners to dispose of legacy marine mines.

The Secretary of State for Defence has no direct responsibility for munitions in the marine environment, except for those associated with Ministry of Defence (MOD) wrecks. Environmental stewardship is important to the MOD and we continue to work closely with our international partners and allies to ensure the safety of personnel and the marine environment. Most legacy naval mines remain in situ in the marine environment, due to non-recovery following deployment during World Wars I and II. In the UK the current position for naval mines is that they are to be left undisturbed unless they become a hazard to public safety and shipping. If they remain undisturbed, they do not pose significant harm to human health or the marine environment. Where mines are identified as a hazard around the UK the MOD provides support to civil authorities to assist with disposal, should they request it. We work actively within NATO’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Working Group and other allied partnerships on opportunities to improve understanding, methods, and techniques for the management and disposal of naval mines. In April 2024 the MOD supported maritime historic disposal operations through Operation Open Spirit in the Baltic Sea. The purpose of this annual operation is to reduce the risk of mines to civilians through the detection and disposal of World War I and II historic ordnance, much of which is naval mines.

What assessment he has made of the potential dangers posed by explosive ordnance on international exports and imports.

The export of explosive ordnance would require a UK export licence. The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) are the UK's strategic licensing authority for such goods.Imports of civil explosives are administered by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Authorisations are required to import, store, manufacture and transport explosives that are imported from outside the UK.Imports and exports of such material handled by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are subject to MOD Commercial policy which assures compliance with key UK and foreign customs legislation.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2024 to Question 15113 on Veterans: LGBT+ People, which recommendations have not been implemented.

To date, the Government has implemented 38 of Lord Etherton’s 49 recommendations. Of those that remain, six are for Defence: recommendation 3 – the restoration of rank lost due to the Ban; recommendation 17 – a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum; recommendation 26 – the qualification of administrative discharge; recommendations 28 and 29 – financial recognition, and recommendation 44 – improving women veterans’ access to support, welfare and other Services. The remaining five recommendations are for the National Health Service England: recommendations 31, 35, 36, 38 and 42. The Government has accepted the intent behind all of Lord Etherton’s recommendations and remains committed to implementing them in a timely manner. This Government will also provide full Parliamentary scrutiny on the Government’s response to the Review.

How their Department defines strategy.

As defined in the Functional Standards Common Glossary, “a strategy outlines longer term objectives, outcomes and outputs, and the means to achieve them, to inform future decisions and planning”. The Functional Standards Common Glossary is published on the Gov.uk website.

How many and what proportion of steel companies that are classed by his Department as critical suppliers into UK defence programmes are based in the UK.

The UK steel industry is an important strategic national asset, vital for our security and our economy. Our industry partners of all sizes are very much at the heart of our One Defence approach and we recognise the value that suppliers bring to the UK defence programmes. We are bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy that will align our national security and economic priorities and maintaining a resilient Steel supply chain. The Government will also be bringing forward a new cross government strategy for the steel sector, which will be published in Spring 2025.

What data his Department holds on the proportion of steel used in defence programmes that was manufactured in the UK.

The Ministry of Defence contributes to the Department for Business and Trade’s annual steel in public procurement return available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/steel-public-procurement The Government will bring forward a new cross Government strategy for the steel sector, to be published in Spring 2025. This will examine how the Government can increase steel capacity and capability in the UK.

Whether his Department plans to restart regular written intelligence briefings to hon. Members on the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Since the new Government was formed we have held two oral briefings for Parliamentarians on Ukraine, with a third planned before Christmas. These offered Parliamentarians the chance to be briefed and ask questions about developments in Ukraine.Regular written intelligence assessments on the conflict will resume in the New Year.

How many full-time equivalent employees are employed by (a) his Department and (b) non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department; and what estimate he has made of the number of such employees who will be employed in 12 months.

We are working to ensure our workforce remains affordable and targeted at delivering the Department’s priorities and are committed to achieving a more efficient and effective civil service. The number of civilian personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) as at 1 October 2024 was 56,800 (Full Time Equivalent (FTE), rounded). This includes civilians within MOD Main Top Level Budgets, Executive Agencies and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, but excludes Locally Engaged Civilians. The latest forecast is that the MOD will employ 55,430 (FTE, rounded) civilian personnel on 1 April 2025 (using the above inclusions and exclusion). The forecast is informed by assumptions based on historic outflow and current recruitment plans. This is an indicative number used for planning purposes, and not a target. This figure represents only one part of MOD's workforce, and the actual figure may be impacted by changes to the size and shape of other workforce types including military staff, reservists and contractors. For those Non-Departmental Public Bodies that employ public servants, responsibility for their staffing levels and human resources policies is delegated to the organisation and information is not held centrally.

What steps he is taking to reduce instances of post traumatic stress disorder within the armed forces.

Measures are in place to increase awareness at all levels and to mitigate the development of operational stresses. These include pre-and post-deployment briefing and the availability of support, assessment and (if required) treatment, both during and after deployments. This is available to all personnel, whether Regular or mobilised Reservists. The families of returning personnel are also offered advice on the possible after-effects of an operational deployment. All Service personnel have access to mental health support throughout their career, including medical and non-medical services. The Trauma Risk Management process (TRiM) is a Tri-Service endorsed strategy for providing support to Armed Forces personnel involved in a traumatic event, whether on Operations or in any other circumstance. TRiM aims to help individuals use their own coping mechanisms in order to keep them operationally effective, and to identify if further help is needed. For Armed Forces personnel requiring mental healthcare, including for post-traumatic stress disorder, the DMS provides a responsive, flexible, accessible, and comprehensive treatment service.

What steps he is taking to help increase productivity within his Department through the use of (a) artificial intelligence and (b) effective use of data.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to improving its productivity and is establishing a central Productivity Portfolio to break down the barriers to productive working, and is actively investigating opportunities to drive productivity through the use of AI and the effective use of data while rigorously managing the risk of using these capabilities to support human analysis and decision making. This includes using informational chatbots, machine learning applications and generative AI to automate and accelerate routine business operations and policy work; through to Defence-specific opportunities driven by data to enhance the speed of decision-making, optimise logistics or increase the availability of military capabilities. We draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform our AI and data usage. For example, the Generative AI Framework, the Data Maturity Assessment, the Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, and the Data Ethics Framework. The Department also has access to the Central Digital & Data Office, based in the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, for expert advice. We will continue to regularly review our usage of AI and data to maximise productivity benefits for staff and the public.