Asked by: Andy MacNae (Labour - Rossendale and Darwen)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on establishing a National Cyber Force HQ in Lancashire.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Plans to establish the National Cyber Force (NCF) HQ in Samlesbury are progressing as scheduled. For security reasons, we do not disclose details regarding operational status, precise locations, or specific aspects of our sites.
The NCF continues to support the development of cyber security expertise in the region, including through its long‑standing involvement in initiatives such as the Lancashire Cyber Partnership, the North‑West Cyber Corridor, and through bursary and direct‑entry schemes.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2026 to question 107527 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, for what reason the first 100 Ajax-vehicles are not in service with any unit.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The majority of the first 100 Ajax vehicles were withdrawn from units in 2024, with the final vehicle withdrawn from 6 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in October 2025. These vehicles are currently located in Merthyr Tydfil, Llanelli, and the Bicester Holding Area, where they are awaiting planned upgrades to meet the requirements for the current Capability Drop level before being delivered into service.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2026 to question 107527 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what the status is of the first 100 Ajax-vehicles.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The majority of the first 100 Ajax vehicles were withdrawn from units in 2024, with the final vehicle withdrawn from 6 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in October 2025. These vehicles are currently located in Merthyr Tydfil, Llanelli, and the Bicester Holding Area, where they are awaiting planned upgrades to meet the requirements for the current Capability Drop level before being delivered into service.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the recent performance of HMS Protector in addressing threats to sovereign interests in the British Antarctic Territories.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) remains committed to supporting the UK’s sovereign interests and wider commitments in the Antarctic and South Atlantic. HMS PROTECTOR routinely deploys to the Antarctic Peninsula to undertake activities in support of the UK’s interests, including Antarctic Treaty inspections and station visits in support of the British Antarctic Survey.
The MOD keeps all operational activity under regular review to ensure that the UK’s interests in the South Atlantic are supported, and sovereignty of the British Antarctic Territory is maintained. For this reason, BFSAI personnel have recently conducted an Antarctic overflight, providing a sovereign presence in the British Antarctic Territory.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the re-classification of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as a Non-Standard Occupation Group has been completed.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Discussions are ongoing to define and implement Non-Standard Occupational Group status for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Defence remains focused on delivering a resilient and sustainable workforce for the future and recognising the unique contribution of its seafarers to the defence of this nation.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to parts 1 and 2 of the Service Justice System Review, published on 29 March 2018 and 29 March 2019, if he will amend the Armed Forces Bill to exclude rape and sexual assault with penetration from Court Martial jurisdiction except when the consent of the Attorney General is given.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
There are no plans to amend the Armed Forces Bill in the way proposed. There have been significant improvements to investigations, prosecutions and victim support in the Service Justice System since the Lyons Review and the House of Commons’ Defence Committee’s previous recommendation. The Defence Serious Crime Command is implementing national standards set by the College of Policing through the Professionalising Investigations Programme and the National Operating Model under Operation Soteria, in line with 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 and end-to-end support. Reports by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate independently verify the progress made.
Sir Brian Leveson’s July 2025 Independent Review of the Criminal Courts stated that “criminal justice is in crisis” with cases being listed as far ahead as 2029, while the Court Martial has no backlogs and cases progress without delay. In the civilian system 19% of victims withdraw from adult-rape-flagged proceedings in the Crown Court; in the Court Martial none withdrew in 2024.
Whilst conviction rates cannot be reliably compared, published data does not support claims that the conviction rate is higher in the Crown Court. The conviction rate for adult-rape-flagged cases in the Court Martial, excluding guilty pleas, is 51% from 2022 to 2024 compared to 36% in the Crown Court.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to support SMEs based in the UK to bid for defence contracts.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
This Government has already committed to spending £2.5 billion more with defence SMEs. Central to driving this pledge is the recent establishment of the new Office for Small Business Growth which will help simplify and speed up cumbersome processes, provide advice to SMEs and encourage private sector investment. We have also recently announced a £20 million fund to offer accelerated contracts to small, innovative British startups, as well as establishing a protected budget of £400 million for UK Defence Innovation. We're breaking down barriers and opening new avenues for innovation, ensuring that our SMEs can play a vital role in strengthening our defence capabilities.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to improve the (a) cost and (b) time efficiency of armed forces procurement processes.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Industrial Strategy and Strategic Defence Review set out plans to overhaul procurement. Our new segmented approach to procurement, supported by accelerated commercial pathways, is designed to enable programmes to get to contract faster and be more cost efficient. We are making progress towards the target date of 1 April 2026 for establishment of the segmented approach in line with the Strategic Defence Review.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the post of Chief of Defence People remains part of his plans for Defence Reform.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Veterans and People on 26 November 2025 to Question 92316 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk. The full answer can be found below:
Significant reforms are being implemented within the Ministry of Defence (MOD), fundamentally transforming its operations. This is the biggest transformation of the MOD in over 50 years. Defence is now led by a strengthened Department of State, a fully-fledged Military Strategic Headquarters, a new National Armaments Director Group, and the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
Under Defence Reform, the post of Chief of Defence People has been disestablished. The Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff and Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Force Development) will play a key role in supporting our Military people, working with the Director General, People, to improve accountability, efficiency, and clarity in our people policy and strategy.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's timetable is for delivering a minimum viable product for the Digital Targeting Web.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge) to Question 96241 on 10 December 2025.
The Department aims to deliver the first elements of the Digital Targeting Web, or a 'Minimum Viable Product', in 2026. Plans will be continually reviewed to respond to emerging threats and adjusted as necessary.
The Digital Targeting Web is not a single, discrete system or platform but rather an interconnected ecosystem of systems, processes, and capabilities designed to enhance the UK’s targeting effectiveness. As such, it does not conform to traditional definitions and milestones that would be expected of a platform-centric project or capability. Its development will be an ongoing, iterative process to ensure the UK remains competitive in a rapidly evolving operational environment.