Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK launches new Military Intelligence Services as hostile threats surge, published on 12 December 2025, how many new staff will be employed as part of establishing the Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Counter Intelligence Unit (DCIU) will develop in maturity to meet the threat that Defence faces, and it is planned to be fully operational in 2027. The establishment of the DCIU is being delivered within existing resources. The DCIU will be part of Defence Intelligence, and led by an appropriate member of the Senior Civil Service or Military Equivalent.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK launches new Military Intelligence Services as hostile threats surge, published on 12 December 2025, how many new staff will be employed as part of establishing the Military Intelligence Services.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The establishment of Military Intelligence Services (MIS) is being delivered within existing Departmental resource, and a limited number of new military posts are being established to enable and sustain the MIS programme as it progresses toward Full Operational Capability. MIS will be led by the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK launches new Military Intelligence Services as hostile threats surge, published on 12 December 2025, who will lead the Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Counter Intelligence Unit (DCIU) will develop in maturity to meet the threat that Defence faces, and it is planned to be fully operational in 2027. The establishment of the DCIU is being delivered within existing resources. The DCIU will be part of Defence Intelligence, and led by an appropriate member of the Senior Civil Service or Military Equivalent.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK launches new Military Intelligence Services as hostile threats surge, published on 12 December, what the cost is of establishing the new Military Intelligence Services.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The establishment of Military Intelligence Services (MIS) is being delivered within existing Departmental resource, and a limited number of new military posts are being established to enable and sustain the MIS programme as it progresses toward Full Operational Capability. MIS will be led by the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK launches new Military Intelligence Services as hostile threats surge, published on 12 December 2025, who will lead the Military Intelligence Services.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The establishment of Military Intelligence Services (MIS) is being delivered within existing Departmental resource, and a limited number of new military posts are being established to enable and sustain the MIS programme as it progresses toward Full Operational Capability. MIS will be led by the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK launches new Military Intelligence Services as hostile threats surge, published on 12 December 2025, what the cost is of establishing the Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Counter Intelligence Unit (DCIU) will develop in maturity to meet the threat that Defence faces, and it is planned to be fully operational in 2027. The establishment of the DCIU is being delivered within existing resources. The DCIU will be part of Defence Intelligence, and led by an appropriate member of the Senior Civil Service or Military Equivalent.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK launches new Military Intelligence Services as hostile threats surge, published on 12 December, when the new Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit will be fully operational.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Counter Intelligence Unit (DCIU) will develop in maturity to meet the threat that Defence faces, and it is planned to be fully operational in 2027. The establishment of the DCIU is being delivered within existing resources. The DCIU will be part of Defence Intelligence, and led by an appropriate member of the Senior Civil Service or Military Equivalent.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment she has made of the compatibility of the US National Security Strategy with the UK's Strategic Defence Review.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
It is for the US to answer questions about the specifics of their own National Security Strategy. The UK shares the US’s objectives of bringing the war in Ukraine to an end, strengthening Euro-Atlantic security, burden sharing through NATO and increased defence spending, which are all set out in our Strategic Defence Review. The Defence Secretary discussed this when he met with US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, in December. Our commitment to NATO and to European security is ironclad.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his plans are for the 140 Challenger 2 tanks not due to be upgraded to Challenger 3.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
A decision on what will happen to the Challenger 2 platforms not being used as part of the Challenger 3 programme has not yet been taken.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the total number of remedial tasks conducted by each unit receiving Ajax vehicles in order to make them usable on exercise as of 31 December 2025.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
All Army vehicles and equipment are subject to before use and routine maintenance schedules to ensure serviceability. Where faults are identified, these are rectified as part of business as usual activity.
Information relating to each remedial task carried out on Ajax platforms is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.