Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the transcript of his speech entitled Defence Secretary speech on threats to the UK, published on 19 November 2025, if he will provide a list of the British firms that were awarded contracts out of the 1,000 major contracts.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Department is withholding the information as full disclosure of all the contract details may prejudice commercial interests and national security.
The Department has provided a list of British companies that were awarded contracts out of the 1,000 major contracts. These suppliers can be found in the attachment provided.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the transcript of his speech entitled Defence Secretary speech on threats to the UK, published on 19 November 2025, if he will list the 1,000 major defence contracts that have been signed.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Department is withholding the information as full disclosure of all the contract details may prejudice commercial interests and national security.
The Department has provided a list of British companies that were awarded contracts out of the 1,000 major contracts. These suppliers can be found in the attachment provided.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with his US counterpart on a peace deal in Ukraine.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
We welcome the significant efforts from both President Trump and President Zelenskyy to make progress on a peace deal and the constructive engagement in Geneva over the weekend towards securing a just and lasting peace.
The UK alongside our European allies have supported those discussions and continue to work closely with the US and Ukraine.
While diplomatic efforts continue, we will stand steadfast with Ukraine to keep it in the fight and ensure the Ukrainian people can defend themselves from the ongoing barbaric Russian attacks.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has held recent discussions with the Cabinet Office on the Home Defence Programme.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Secretary of State for Defence has regular discussions with the Cabinet Office colleagues on a range of issues, including national security and resilience.
As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, Defence has an integral role in the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme. The Ministry of Defence is therefore working closely with the Cabinet Office across all appropriate levelsto ensure alignment between civil and military planning for some of the most serious risks we face.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out recent amendments he has made to the Royal Navy's rules of engagement.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence continuously assess our Rules of Engagement to ensure our Armed Forces can act appropriately against malign activities and future threats. For reasons of national security, I am not able to disclose specific detail on Rules of Engagement.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the transcript of his speech entitled Defence Secretary speech on threats to the UK, published on 19 November 2025, how many of the 1,000 signed contracts are valued at (a) below £1 million, (b) between £1 million to £10 million, (c) between £10 million to £100 million, (d) between £100 million to £500 million and (e) above £500 million.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The information requested is outlined in the table below.
Contracts by value:
Under £1million (M) | Nil – original data was for contracts £1M or over |
£1M - £10M | 744 |
£10 - £100M | 177 |
£100M - £500M | 26 |
Above £500M | 6 |
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to protect British waters from infiltration by the Russian spy vessel Yantar.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Royal Navy constantly monitors threats to UK waters, and we are ready and willing to respond if required. The YANTAR’s most recent incursion into British waters was met with a robust response, using capabilities from across the full spectrum of Defence.
The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force deployed HMS SOMERSET and RAF P-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft to monitor the YANTAR’s every move within the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In addition, the Defence Secretary took steps to alter and enhance the Royal Navy’s posture to ensure we can better track and respond to threats from YANTAR or any other spy ship.
As the Strategic Defence Review underlined, the protection of Critical Underwater Infrastructure is a priority for Defence. We have invested in new capabilities to ensure our Critical Underwater Infrastructure remains resilient, such as the Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance (MROS) programme, which includes RFA PROTEUS. We also will continue to invest in our international partnerships and alliances, including NATO, to coordinate surveillance of the threat, expose those who seek to threaten us and hold them accountable.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any objection has been received from Wealden District Council as the Local Planning Authority on the use of Crowborough Training Camp as asylum accommodation.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Asylum is a Home Office lead. As such, The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not made an application under Section 293B Town and County Planning Act 1990 in relation to Crowborough Training Camp and the MOD has not received any planning objections from Wealden District Council on the use of Crowborough Training Camp as asylum accommodation.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an application under Section 293B Town and County Planning Act 1990 in relation to the Crowborough Training Camp.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Asylum is a Home Office lead. As such, The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not made an application under Section 293B Town and County Planning Act 1990 in relation to Crowborough Training Camp and the MOD has not received any planning objections from Wealden District Council on the use of Crowborough Training Camp as asylum accommodation.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an application under Section 293B Town and County Planning Act 1990 in relation to the Crowborough Training Camp.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Asylum is a Home Office lead. As such, The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not made an application under Section 293B Town and County Planning Act 1990 in relation to Crowborough Training Camp and the MOD has not received any planning objections from Wealden District Council on the use of Crowborough Training Camp as asylum accommodation.