Written questions by Stone.

Whether Red Diesel for the purpose running fairs and circuses is included in the off-road operation tax freeze.

Awaiting answer.

What his department is doing to improve access to diagnosis of Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help improve the performance of management companies.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the level of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Since the ceasefire, aid flows have increased and more crossings are partially reopened, but the level of need cannot be met unless more restrictions are lifted.Medical equipment, components for field hospitals and basic shelter items must be allowed to enter to alleviate suffering.We continue to raise with Israel, the US and regional partners the immediate requirement to lift restrictions on aid.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the (a) levels of welfare of hounds used in hunting activities and (b) adequacy of the arrangements for their care or rehoming when no longer required.

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the 2006 Act), it is an offence to cause any animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for its welfare. Anyone who does not provide for their animals’ welfare may be banned from owning animals. They may also face an unlimited fine, be sent to prison, or both. The 2006 Act is backed up by the statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs which provides owners and keepers with information on how to meet the welfare needs of their dogs, as required by the 2006 Act. As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra will launch a consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations.

Whether she has considered (a) the reintroduction of maintenance grants for independent students and (b) removing the priority course requirement for this group of students.

The department recognises that independent students, including care leavers, care experienced and estranged students, may require additional support to access and achieve in higher education (HE).The new targeted, means-tested maintenance grants of up to £1,000 per year will help support students study subjects that support the government’s mission and Industrial Strategy. Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maintenance-grants-for-higher-education-students/maintenance-grant-amounts-and-eligibility-criteria.Care leavers aged under 25 will continue to receive a non-repayable £2,000 bursary for HE, and from the 2026/27 academic year all care leavers will receive the maximum loan for living costs. This support is irrespective of subject studied.In addition, most independent students who are single will qualify for the maximum loan, and where applicable, the maximum long courses loan available to them for their full time courses. Maximum loans for living costs for undergraduate students will increase by 2.71% for the 2026/27 academic year.

Whether her department has considered proposals to introduce an extended maintenance loan, aligned with the Long courses Loan, for independent students to support with 52-week living costs.

The department recognises that independent students, including care leavers, care experienced and estranged students, may require additional support to access and achieve in higher education (HE).The new targeted, means-tested maintenance grants of up to £1,000 per year will help support students study subjects that support the government’s mission and Industrial Strategy. Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maintenance-grants-for-higher-education-students/maintenance-grant-amounts-and-eligibility-criteria.Care leavers aged under 25 will continue to receive a non-repayable £2,000 bursary for HE, and from the 2026/27 academic year all care leavers will receive the maximum loan for living costs. This support is irrespective of subject studied.In addition, most independent students who are single will qualify for the maximum loan, and where applicable, the maximum long courses loan available to them for their full time courses. Maximum loans for living costs for undergraduate students will increase by 2.71% for the 2026/27 academic year.

Whether the Statement of Expectations relating to student housing will include specific measures to ensure independent students can access housing for twelve months whilst at university; and whether enforcement mechanisms will be in place.

This government recognises that independent students, including care leavers, care experienced students and estranged students, may require additional support to access higher education (HE), including access to student accommodation.As universities and landlords are autonomous, the department has no remit to intervene in the provision of student residential accommodation. Nevertheless, the forthcoming Statement of Expectations for the HE sector will urge HE providers to plan strategically for the supply of sufficient suitable accommodation for their students and include guidance on how providers can support the needs of vulnerable students.

What steps he is taking to improve the Service Justice System.

The Ministry of Defence is taking forward a comprehensive programme of reforms to strengthen and modernise the Service Justice System. As a result, investigations, prosecutions and victim support have all significantly improved in recent years. We want to build on the progress made and this is why the Armed Forces Bill strengthens how the Service Justice System tackles violence against women and girls, enhances support and rights for victims in the Service Justice System and, modernises investigation, charging and discipline procedures in the Service Justice System. The Defence Serious Crime Command, launched in December 2022, operates independently of the Chain of Command, ensuring impartial investigations into serious offences committed in the UK and overseas. It is implementing the National Operating Model under Operation SOTERIA, in line with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing guidance. This ensures that investigations into rape and serious sexual offences are victim-centred, suspect-focused and consistent with nationally recognised policing standards. The Victim Witness Care Unit provides independent, trauma-informed, end-to-end support to victims and witnesses through dedicated Victim Liaison Officers and operates outside of the Armed Forces’ Chain of Command. Noting the procedural differences between the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales and the Service Justice System, published administrative data drawn from the Criminal Justice System Delivery Dashboard and statistics on timeliness, victim withdrawal rates and conviction rates in adult-rape-flagged cases in the Service Justice System suggest that cases are dealt with much more quickly in the Service Justice System with a smaller proportion of victims withdrawing from proceedings. Following charge, adult-rape-flagged cases in 2024 reached an outcome in the Crown Court in 358 days with 19% of victims withdrawing from proceedings and 199 days in the Court Martial with no victims withdrawing from proceedings. Whilst conviction rates cannot be reliably compared between the two systems due to differences in case volume, procedure, victim withdrawal rates and case profile, administrative data published in CPS quarterly data summaries and the above-mentioned statistics on timeliness, victim withdrawal rates and conviction rates in adult-rape-flagged cases in the Service Justice System also cast further doubt on claims that the conviction rate in the Crown Court is higher. Excluding guilty pleas, 51% of adult-rape-flagged cases in 2022 to 2024 in the Court Martial resulted in a conviction whereas 36% resulted in a conviction in the Crown Court. In its November 2024 report regarding the Service Prosecuting Authority, HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate stated that “the level of timeliness and support for victims in the Service Justice System is something we would like to see afforded to all victims in all jurisdictions.” For more information on the statistics quoted above please see:https://criminal-justice-delivery-data-dashboards.justice.gov.uk/all-metricshttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/service-justice-system-data-transparency-release/statistics-on-timeliness-victim-withdrawal-rates-and-conviction-rates-in-adult-rape-flagged-cases-in-the-service-justice-systemhttps://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/performance-management-and-case-outcomes/cps-quarterly-data-summaries

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Renters' Right Act on independent students who require accommodation between June and September.

This government recognises that independent students including care leavers, care experienced students and estranged students may require additional support to access higher education. As announced in the Post-16 Education and Skills white paper, we will increase student loan support in line with inflation and re-introduce targeted maintenance grants. We will also provide extra support for care leavers, ensuring all are automatically eligible to receive maximum student loan support, irrespective of their household income or living circumstances. In addition, care leavers will continue to receive a £2000 non-repayable bursary, to support with their living expenses. We will work in collaboration with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and relevant external stakeholders to monitor the impacts of the Renters’ Rights Act and explore the accommodation needs of independent students studying in higher education. The department will soon be publishing a Statement of Expectations for the higher education sector, which will urge higher education providers to plan strategically for the supply of suitable accommodation for their students and include guidance on how providers can support the needs of vulnerable students.

Whether she plans to provide additional financial support for (a) estranged students, (b) care leavers in higher education and (c) students without living parents in the context of the potential impact of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 on student housing.

This government recognises that independent students including care leavers, care experienced students and estranged students may require additional support to access higher education. As announced in the Post-16 Education and Skills white paper, we will increase student loan support in line with inflation and re-introduce targeted maintenance grants. We will also provide extra support for care leavers, ensuring all are automatically eligible to receive maximum student loan support, irrespective of their household income or living circumstances. In addition, care leavers will continue to receive a £2000 non-repayable bursary, to support with their living expenses. We will work in collaboration with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and relevant external stakeholders to monitor the impacts of the Renters’ Rights Act and explore the accommodation needs of independent students studying in higher education. The department will soon be publishing a Statement of Expectations for the higher education sector, which will urge higher education providers to plan strategically for the supply of suitable accommodation for their students and include guidance on how providers can support the needs of vulnerable students.

With reference his Department’s press release entitled UK and Germany sign £52m contract for cutting-edge artillery, published on 28 December 2025, where the capability will be manufactured.

The Early Capability Demonstrator platforms of the RCH155, two for Germany and one for the UK, will be built in Germany for joint testing.The project remains in its assessment phase and a production contract has not yet been placed.

With reference his Department’s press release on 28 December 2025 regarding the signing of a £52 million contract for RCH 155, how much UK content will be part of the production of the capability.

The Early Capability Demonstrator platforms of the RCH155, two for Germany and one for the UK, will be built in Germany for joint testing.The project remains in its assessment phase and a production contract has not yet been placed.

With reference his Department’s press release on 28 December 2025 regarding the signing of a £52 million contract for RCH 155, what assessment has he made of the potential benefits to UK industry from this contract.

The Early Capability Demonstrator platforms of the RCH155, two for Germany and one for the UK, will be built in Germany for joint testing.The project remains in its assessment phase and a production contract has not yet been placed.

Pursuant to Answer of 17 January 2024 to Question 10337 in Session 2023-24, how many recruits starting at each training centre for each of the five years listed completed their Phase 2 training.

The number of recruits who completed their Phase 2 training, having started their Phase 1 training at each respective training centre in the years 2019-2024 are provided below.Table 1. Regular Army Other Rank Untrained Intake by Training Establishment during Financial Year, 2018/19 to 2022/23, as at 1 July 2025 Financial YearTraining Establishment2018/192019/202020/212021/222022/23Total Untrained Intake 5,859 8,956 8,679 6,584 5,560 Army Foundation College Harrogate1,3871,7171,6571,3671,171of which completed phase 2 training9721,173975855814did not complete phase 2 training415544682512357Infantry Training Centre Catterick1,3422,5242,3601,5091,532of which completed phase 2 training9651,8711,5189291,004did not complete phase 2 training377653842580528Army Training Centre Pirbright2,4243,3323,4692,4912,075of which completed phase 2 training1,9602,7532,5981,8321,530did not complete phase 2 training464579871659545Army Training Regiment Winchester6531,1671,032985593of which completed phase 2 training520927757674456did not complete phase 2 training133240275311137Other953216161232189of which-----completed phase 2 training---1-did not complete phase 2 training53216161231189 Source: Analysis (Army) Notes/Caveats: 1. The figures are for the Regular Army only and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves, but includes those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP. 2. All intake figures are for Phase 1 Untrained Intake which includes all Other Ranks joining the Army and starting either Phase 1 Training or pre-Phase 1 courses. All intake figures exclude personnel who have joined Phase 1 Training from another Service. 3. Personnel who have entered more than once are included multiple times in the table above. 4. Training Establishment in Table 1 relates to the Unit at which an individual is recorded upon joining the Army as recorded on the Joint Personnel Administration System (JPA). An individual may not complete their Phase 1 training at the corresponding establishment. 5. Figures for Army Training Regiment Winchester include personnel with a Unit of Army Technical Foundation College Winchester. 6. Other Training establishments include all Untrained Intake not assigned to one of the four Training Establishments in Table 1. 7. Figures in the above table are taken as at 1 July 2025. Any changes to training status after this date will not be recorded in the above figures. 8. Personnel who "did not complete phase 2 training" may have outflowed from the Regular Army, however a small number may still be in the training pipeline. Numbers of personnel who "completed phase 2" are therefore subject to future increases. 9. There are small proportion of personnel in "Other" establishments who later go on to undertake Officer training and therefore did not complete Phase 2 training as an Other Rank.

How many junior soldiers residing at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate were (a) referred to mental health services and (b) signed off sick by a medical professional due to mental ill health between 1 January 2019 and 30 December 2024.

Between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2024, 182 junior soldiers at AFC Harrogate underwent an initial assessment at a Ministry of Defence (MOD) Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH). There are multiple routes for junior soldiers at the Army Foundation College (AFC) to access mental health services. These include the MOD DCMH and external Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Information on under 18s who were referred to CAMHS is not held centrally. There are various routes for referral to CAMHS, including self-referral and by external medical professionals, which the department does not track centrally. With regard to the number of junior soldiers signed off sick by a medical professional due to mental ill health during the period 1 January 2019 to 30 December 2024, this information is only recorded on individual medical records. It is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

If he will make it his policy to raise the minimum age of military recruitment to 18.

The Armed Forces have no plans to raise the minimum age of recruitment. All recruitment into the UK military is voluntary and no young person under the age of 18 years may join our Armed Forces unless their application is accompanied by the formal written consent of their parent or guardian. We take the duty of care towards all recruits seriously, in particular those under 18 years of age. We have robust, effective and independently verified safeguards in place to ensure that under-18s are cared for properly. Service personnel aged under 18 are not deployed on hostile operations outside the UK or on any operations where they could be exposed to hostilities. All new recruits, regardless of age, can discharge within their first three to six months of Service. Our policies on under-18s in Service comply with national and international law. In addition to the comprehensive welfare system that is in place for all Service personnel, we remain fully committed to meeting our obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, and have taken steps to bestow special safeguards on young people under the age of 18. Further, the provision of education and training for 16-year-old school leavers not only provides a route into the Armed Forces that complies with Government education policy and offers a significant foundation for development, but it also enables access to training in literacy and numeracy, as well as enrolment in apprenticeships. Ofsted regularly inspects our care of newly joined young recruits, and we are very proud of the standards we achieve.

What progress his Department has made on (a) the establishment of Independent Advisory Panels and (b) new welfare provisions.

The Ministry of Defence has made significant progress in establishing Independent Advisory Panels (IAPs) for the Army. All Army Basic Training and Initial Trade Training units now have IAPs. IAPs are aligned to units, rather than locations, and some training units are located across split sites. The following locations however are where IAPs are present: HarrogateCatterickSandhurstWinchesterWorthy DownMarchwood and Brize NortonMinleyPortsmouthMiddle WallopLarkhillLeconfieldSouthwick ParkWinterbourne GunnerChathamBovingtonBreconMelton MowbrayBicesterKineton Their effectiveness is reviewed through annual reports, internal reviews by unit commanders, and during 2nd Line of Defence Assurance (2LoDA) visits, which occur at least every four years. Some IAPs are still developing as skilled volunteers are recruited and trained. Regarding the department’s progress on its welfare provisions, in January 2025, JSP 770 – Armed Forces Welfare Support Policy – was fully reviewed and updated to ensure welfare structures meet the needs of Service personnel and their families. Each Service has tailored its policies to address unique requirements, supported by the new Welfare HARDFACTS Annex, which provides comprehensive guidance on addressing emotional, medical, housing, financial, and legal concerns. The Tri-Service Welfare Support Agreement ensures collaboration across the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force to deliver consistent and specialist support, including for Reservists. For deployed and overseas personnel, the Deployed Welfare Package provides tailored support, infrastructure, and facilities, while overseas initiatives address the unique challenges faced by Service families abroad. Additionally, Defence has refreshed its mental fitness platform, HeadFIT, and offers a 24-hour support line and access to HeadSpace to promote mental resilience and wellbeing for personnel, families, and veterans.

For what reasons the Army does not offer GCSE retakes.

The Army is an equal opportunities employer, with its literacy and numeracy policy centred on nationally recognised Functional Skills (FS) qualifications, which are the standard for career and service progression within the Army. While GCSEs are recognised as equivalent qualifications, the Army avoids duplicating education already available in the civilian sector, as this does not align with its training model. Instead, the Army provides English and Maths teaching assessed through FS exams, which focus on practical, real-world skills better suited to workplace needs.

What progress his Department has made on the establishment of Independent Advisory Panels (IAPs); at which barracks have IAPs been created; and when was the last time his Department reviewed the effectiveness of the IAPs.

The Ministry of Defence has made significant progress in establishing Independent Advisory Panels (IAPs) for the Army. All Army Basic Training and Initial Trade Training units now have IAPs. IAPs are aligned to units, rather than locations, and some training units are located across split sites. The following locations however are where IAPs are present: HarrogateCatterickSandhurstWinchesterWorthy DownMarchwood and Brize NortonMinleyPortsmouthMiddle WallopLarkhillLeconfieldSouthwick ParkWinterbourne GunnerChathamBovingtonBreconMelton MowbrayBicesterKineton Their effectiveness is reviewed through annual reports, internal reviews by unit commanders, and during 2nd Line of Defence Assurance (2LoDA) visits, which occur at least every four years. Some IAPs are still developing as skilled volunteers are recruited and trained. Regarding the department’s progress on its welfare provisions, in January 2025, JSP 770 – Armed Forces Welfare Support Policy – was fully reviewed and updated to ensure welfare structures meet the needs of Service personnel and their families. Each Service has tailored its policies to address unique requirements, supported by the new Welfare HARDFACTS Annex, which provides comprehensive guidance on addressing emotional, medical, housing, financial, and legal concerns. The Tri-Service Welfare Support Agreement ensures collaboration across the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force to deliver consistent and specialist support, including for Reservists. For deployed and overseas personnel, the Deployed Welfare Package provides tailored support, infrastructure, and facilities, while overseas initiatives address the unique challenges faced by Service families abroad. Additionally, Defence has refreshed its mental fitness platform, HeadFIT, and offers a 24-hour support line and access to HeadSpace to promote mental resilience and wellbeing for personnel, families, and veterans.