Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it remains his Department's policy to sell HMS Albion.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
HMS ALBION is currently moored at HMNB Devonport and is being retained to support the generation of HMS BULWARK prior to her sale to Brazil. No plans for HMS ALBION’s disposal have been confirmed.
HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark were tied up by the last government with no intention to send them to sea again before their out of service dates in the 2030s.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January to Question 100908 on Guided Weapons: Procurement, how many contracts have been placed.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Under Project BRAKESTOP, 11 contracts have been placed covering development and production of prototype effectors, a bespoke warhead, test ranges, and other ancillary services such as transportation and storage.
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 9 February 2026, to question 110946 on Navy: Artificial Intelligence, what progress has he made in establishing a Royal Navy Targeting organisation to represent the maritime component of the Integrated Force.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Maritime Fighting Web and the Digital Targeting Web are both elements of Defence’s broader programme to improve data‑driven decision making and effects delivery across the Integrated Force. The initiatives are designed for seamless integration to enable rapid maritime awareness, threat assessment, and coordinated action
The Royal Navy is progressing plans to strengthen its dedicated maritime targeting function, so that it can more effectively contribute to joint and multi‑domain targeting activity and support an Integrated Force able to operate at greater speed, precision and scale. All future capabilities are dependent on the outcome of Defence Investment Plan.
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 9 February 2026, to question 110946 on Navy: Artificial Intelligence, what assessment has he made of the potential level of need for integration between the Maritime Fighting Web and the Digital Targeting Web.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Maritime Fighting Web and the Digital Targeting Web are both elements of Defence’s broader programme to improve data‑driven decision making and effects delivery across the Integrated Force. The initiatives are designed for seamless integration to enable rapid maritime awareness, threat assessment, and coordinated action
The Royal Navy is progressing plans to strengthen its dedicated maritime targeting function, so that it can more effectively contribute to joint and multi‑domain targeting activity and support an Integrated Force able to operate at greater speed, precision and scale. All future capabilities are dependent on the outcome of Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has deployed (a) military police and (b) other personnel to Cameron Barracks.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is supporting the Home Office in the generation of additional asylum accommodation to reduce the use of hotels. The MOD takes its duty of care to service families seriously and supporting the families of those who serve is of the utmost importance. A Royal Military Police presence has been temporarily introduced at Cameron Barracks to reassure military personnel and families onsite. No other additional personnel have been deployed alongside this presence.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) he or (b) any of his ministerial colleagues held discussions with representatives from Global Counsel regarding procurement contracts between 10 February 2025 and 11 September 2025.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Ministerial meetings with external organisations and the purpose of these meetings are reported quarterly online on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the in-service date of HMS Venturer.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 February 2026 to the hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mark Francois) to Question 108597.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to improve the quality, maintenance and availability of service family accommodation in Scotland.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Housing Strategy sets out our vision for military housing across the UK, including the Devolved Nations.
The Defence Housing Service will deliver the recommendations of our new Defence Housing Strategy which is backed by £9 billion of investment to build, renew and repair 9 in 10 defence family homes, harnessing the opportunities created by our landmark deal which brought 36,000 properties into public ownership.
We have transformed 1,000 of the worst homes ahead of schedule in time for Christmas, with hundreds more military properties to be upgraded by Spring 2026. Over 50 of these homes were in Scotland.
A new demand and supply forecasting model will ensure that the future needs of the Armed Forces are more accurately planned for, enabling us to deliver housing in the right places to support military operations and reducing the number of homes that lie empty.
The Defence Secretary, John Healey MP visited Helensburgh in January 2026 to mark the impact the new Armed Forces Bill will have on Scottish personnel and their families, including those in Kinloss and Victoria Barracks. Whilst in Scotland, he saw first-hand the rapid improvement works that were completed for over 50 military families in Helensburgh in time for Christmas last year and work underway for a further 170 homes which will be completed this year.
We continue to drive for both improved performance and increased value for money from the Accommodation Industry Partners who are responsible for the maintenance of Service Family Accommodation. Performance is monitored on a monthly basis including oversight at Chief Executive level and through a series of regular reviews, including external audits.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the reported increase in drone incursions near UK military bases, including those in Scotland, and what steps are being taken to strengthen counter-drone capabilities to protect national security.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
We take the safety and security of our personnel, assets and operations extremely seriously. We maintain multi-layered security measures, including counter-drone capabilities which can identify and facilitate the capture of drones.
Clause 4 of the Armed Forces Bill 26 Defence will provide a regime allowing a Defence authorisation to use authorised equipment to detect and prevent offences being committed by drones against Defence Areas or Defence Property.
We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of security and will continue to assess, adapt and respond to all threats, including those from drones, to safeguard our national defence capabilities.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the out of service date of HMS Iron Duke.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As the hon. Member will recall from his time as a Defence Minister. The Ministry of Defence does not routinely publish out-of-service dates for individual Royal Navy vessels.
The precise out-of-service date will be determined through balancing operational requirements, maintenance schedules, and transition to modern and world leading capabilities introduced with the Type 26 and Type 31 Frigates entering service.