Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the a) cost to date and b) planned final cost of the Tempest Combat Air Flying Demonstrator programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Due to commercial sensitivities, I am unable to provide these figures. It would also be inappropriate to disclose them given considerations relating to our GCAP partnerships. This investment is funding regeneration of UK industrial capabilities, facilities and skills which will provide a significant return through savings in GCAP and wider UK combat air programmes.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the scope of the specialist ballistic security shelters planned to be built at HMNB Clyde by Henry Brothers for Babcock International Group.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
While it would not be appropriate to disclose details of specific protective measures, the security of our naval bases and strategically important civilian ports supporting Defence and national security is imperative. Robust arrangements are in place at all sites, combining multiple layers of physical and technological security, and the Ministry of Defence works closely with other Government Departments, law-enforcement bodies and industry partners to protect the United Kingdom’s maritime infrastructure.
Asked by: Tessa Munt (Liberal Democrat - Wells and Mendip Hills)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what protection is in place for naval bases and strategic civilian ports both above and under water.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
While it would not be appropriate to disclose details of specific protective measures, the security of our naval bases and strategically important civilian ports supporting Defence and national security is imperative. Robust arrangements are in place at all sites, combining multiple layers of physical and technological security, and the Ministry of Defence works closely with other Government Departments, law-enforcement bodies and industry partners to protect the United Kingdom’s maritime infrastructure.
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 19 October 2026 to Question 22809 on Defence: Seized Articles, on what date were the assets seized by the Polish authorities.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence became aware of the seizure of the assets in March 2025.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to answer Question 5018.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Due to commercial sensitivities, I am unable to provide these figures. It would also be inappropriate to disclose them given considerations relating to our GCAP partnerships. This investment is funding regeneration of UK industrial capabilities, facilities and skills which will provide a significant return through savings in GCAP and wider UK combat air programmes.
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 16 October 2026 to question 31384 on Air Force: Command and Control, what plans he has to modernise the UK Air Surveillance and Control System following the cancellation of Project Guardian UK Version 2.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Air Force continues to modernise its Air Surveillance and Control System capability following the decision not to proceed with Project GUARDIAN UK Version 2. GUARDIAN Version 1 remains in operational service and continues to be supported, while an alternative in-service system is being used to provide the tactical data-link capability that represented a significant element of the planned UK Version 2 enhancement.
The Ministry of Defence continues to assess the longer-term evolution of Air Command and Control capability through its wider force development and investment planning, informed by operational requirements, and Defence priorities.
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 16 October 2026 to question 30564 on Boeing E-7, what the required criteria is.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Achieving Initial Operating Capability (IOC) is dependent on the certification and delivery of the necessary aircraft, together with the support and training capabilities required to generate and sustain safe and effective output.
The Ministry of Defence continues to work with Boeing and other stakeholders towards meeting these requirements at the earliest opportunity.
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 19 October 2026, to question 30977 on F-35 Aircraft, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the content of the GAO report on the F-35 programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence has reviewed the report and recognises the issues it raises. Alongside a range of other information sources, the report helps inform the Department's approach to the F-35 programme. The Department has not identified any implications arising from the report that require changes to existing policy, plans, or assumptions.
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 19 October 2026 to question 30567 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Decommissioning, what his planned timetable is for completing the review into Bulldog’s out of service date.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
No date has yet been set for completion of the review of Bulldog's Out of Service Date. The review forms part of wider Defence capability planning and any decision will balance operational requirements, military capability, supportability, affordability and value for money.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on training more digital dogs for SIM card detection for the Ministry of Defence Police.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) currently have three Digital Evidence Detection Dogs (DEDD) with another dog identified and awaiting training.
DEDD are part of the wider MDP search dog capability, with future growth dependent on prioritising operational needs across all search disciplines. Allocation across disciplines will remain flexible based on operational demand and available resources.