Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Defence Investment Plan will be a ten year plan from the 2025-26 financial year.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is the next step in turning the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) into action. It is a 10-year plan, and the first zero-based review of Defence’s budgets in eighteen years and goes significantly further than the last Government’s Equipment Plan by looking across every budget line, including people and infrastructure.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether activity related to Ukraine via the Coalition of the Willing will be funded by the Ministry of Defence or from the contingency reserve.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Government is investing in the UK Armed Forces to prepare for deployment as part of the Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNFU). This capital spending is being funded from the core defence budget and sends a clear signal to allies and adversaries of the UK's intent to lead the MNFU, fulfil our promises to secure the peace in Ukraine and deliver a new deal for European security to make Britain safer.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy frigates were ordered between a) 1980 -1997, b) 1997-2010 ) 2010-2024 and d) since 5th July 2024.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Royal Navy force structure and procurement plans are kept under continuous review.

The number of Royal Navy frigates ordered in each period is as follows:

• (a) 1980–1997: 24
• (b) 1997–2010: None
• (c) 2010–2024: 13 (A number of these slots have been ceded as part of the Norwegian deal. The delta is yet to be made up through additional orders, and this will be a consideration of the Defence Investment Plan).
• (d) Since 5 July 2024: None.

Seventeen other major warships were ordered in the period since 1980, including three assault ships, six Type 45 Destroyers; six River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels; and two Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers. This number does not include ships converted from commercial service, coastal patrol and training vessels, survey vessels, mine countermeasures vessels, submarines or Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of roles are primarily land based for a) the whole Royal Navy and b) the Catering Services branch of the Royal Navy.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

It has not been possible to provide the answer within the timeframe given, I will write to the hon. Member as soon as practical and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026 to question 122290 on Ajax Vehicles, which alternative platforms have been assessed since Initial Operating Capability was paused.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Work on Ajax is ongoing. As I have previously updated the House, we have commissioned a number of safety reports. These have now been received, and we are working through their findings. I will update the House shortly on progress, as I have done since Exercise Titan Storm.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026 to question 122290 on Ajax Vehicles, what recent assessment he has made of the suitability of SPz Puma to replace Ajax.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Work on Ajax is ongoing. As I have previously updated the House, we have commissioned a number of safety reports. These have now been received, and we are working through their findings. I will update the House shortly on progress, as I have done since Exercise Titan Storm.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026 to question 122290 on Ajax Vehicles, what recent assessment he has made of the suitability of CV90 to replace Ajax.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Work on Ajax is ongoing. As I have previously updated the House, we have commissioned a number of safety reports. These have now been received, and we are working through their findings. I will update the House shortly on progress, as I have done since Exercise Titan Storm.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Air Cadets there were in (a) July 2024 and (b) March 2026.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes annual accredited official statistics on the strength of MOD-sponsored Cadet Forces. Statistics as at 1 April 2024 and 2025 (the latest iteration) can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mod-sponsored-cadet-forces-statistics-index. The next iteration of these statistics is expected to be published in June 2026 with information as at 1 April 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026 to question 122289 on Ajax Vehicles: Merthyr Tydfil, what future exports the Ajax programme will be able to generate.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

As previously stated, future exports of the Ajax platform is a matter for General Dynamics Land Systems UK.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army cadets there were in (a) July 2024 and (b) March 2026.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes annual accredited official statistics on the strength of MOD-sponsored Cadet Forces. Statistics as at 1 April 2024 and 2025 (the latest iteration) can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mod-sponsored-cadet-forces-statistics-index. The next iteration of these statistics is expected to be published in June 2026 with information as at 1 April 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many sea cadets there were in (a) July 2024 and (b) March 2026.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes annual accredited official statistics on the strength of MOD-sponsored Cadet Forces. Statistics as at 1 April 2024 and 2025 (the latest iteration) can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mod-sponsored-cadet-forces-statistics-index. The next iteration of these statistics is expected to be published in June 2026 with information as at 1 April 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, Keeping Britain Safe: secure at home and strong abroad, page 30, by when does he plan to have established a new Defence Diplomacy Cadre for civilian policy professionals.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

As part of the implementation of the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, the Ministry of Defence is establishing a Defence Diplomacy Cadre to increase training and education for our international facing policy staff. The cadre will be piloted with an initial focus on developing skills for staff in US facing roles.

Lessons from the pilot will inform the work on the full Defence Diplomacy Cadre, which will leverage expertise within Defence and wider government on relationship building, negotiation, cultural awareness, and complex geo-political contexts, to further develop these skills in Defence, and empower staff in international facing roles.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of (a) trends in the level of Chinese-manufactured technology used in UK defence procurement and supply chains and (b) the potential impact of that technology on national security.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence regularly reviews its critical supply chains, to identify and mitigate risks to defence capability. While the department does not routinely comment on the origin of specific components of our planned or in service capabilities, we welcome business with foreign companies as long as it follows our strict procurement regulations and does not put our national security at risk.

Transactions continue to be monitored where there are potential national security concerns from any country, and the Department will investigate and apply appropriate mitigations where required.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the telecoms industry on countering the threat posed to undersea telecommunications infrastructure by Russian sub-threshold interference.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Ministry of Defence is committed to a collaborative approach between government and private sector to work together on national resilience.

Supporting the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology’s lead on telecoms security, the Secretary of State for Defence has engaged with private sector partners including the telecoms industry to discuss undersea telecommunications infrastructure. These discussions form part of a broader effort to protect critical national infrastructure from a range of threats, including Russian sub-threshold interference.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, over the period since its first commissioning, what proportion of days HMS Prince of Wales has been at sea.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

We do not comment on the detailed readiness or availability of individual units for operational security reasons.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, Keeping Britain Safe: secure at home and strong abroad, page 30, what are the complementary International Security Fund programmes.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

All of Defence's international security programmes are deliberately designed to be complementary, mutually supportive, and burden sharing, whether funded by the Ministry of Defence or cross-government funding, such as the Integrated Security Fund.

The Cabinet Office publishes the Integrated Security Fund's Annual Reports on the Government's website in which further details can be found.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124580 on Defence: Small Businesses, by what date he expects to have in place the wider range of indicators to measure his Department’s success in attracting new suppliers.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Subsequent to the establishment of the Defence Office for Small Business Growth in January, the Department is currently working to deliver full operating capability by the end of this year.

This activity is being aided by engagement with a pathfinder group of SMEs to ensure we are addressing the needs of smaller and non-traditional suppliers. As part of this work, we will develop a range of metrics to measure the impact of the Office.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total estimated cost as a cash figure of accepting and implementing all 62 recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) will provide a comprehensive overview of the Department's forward investment priorities across equipment, infrastructure, people, and supporting capabilities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much will be spent on (a) core defence and (b) NATO qualifying defence spend in the current financial year as a cash figure.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty) on 16 April 2026 to Question 124427.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) he or (b) any ministers in his department have held discussions with any nations excluding Italy and Japan on the Global Combat Air Programme.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with his international counterparts on a range of issues.

We have always maintained that we remain open to others joining GCAP, however, the UK and GCAP partners, Italy and Japan, are focused on delivering this vital military capability at pace.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has for the provision of simulation and training infrastructure to support the New Medium Helicopter programme.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contract includes the provision of four Flight Simulation Training Devices (FSTDs). These will be housed at RAF Benson, along with associated training infrastructure.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an estimate of the number of civilian casualties caused by United States airstrikes on Iran since 28 February 2026.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The agreement allowing the US to use UK military bases is for specific and limited defensive action against missile facilities in Iran which were involved in launching strikes at regional allies and ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times United States aircraft taking off from bases in the United Kingdom have conducted strikes on Iran since 28 February 2026.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations.

Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK operational support to allies and partners is considered in terms of legality.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times United States aircraft taking off from Diego Garcia have conducted strikes on Iran since 28 February 2026.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations.

Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK operational support to allies and partners is considered in terms of legality.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will review the 2020 military cooperation agreement with Israel in the context of that country’s role in the war on Iran since 28 February 2026.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

A UK-Israel military cooperation agreement, which incorporates a range of defence engagement activity, was signed in December 2020. Whilst the UK Ministry of Defence regularly reviews cooperation with Israel, the agreement remains extant.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many major contracts which have been signed by his department since July 2024 were a) sustainment or refresh contracts or b) new procurement contracts.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Department can confirm that, since July 2024, the department has signed a total of 1,398 major contracts. Ministry of Defence (MOD) contract records do not distinguish between sustainment or refresh (i.e. follow-on) contracts. Consequently, we can only provide the number of new contracts initiated since 5 July 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how HMS Dragon will be deconflicted with NATO naval assets from a) the United States, b) France, c) Greece, d) Spain, e) Italy, f) the Netherlands and g) other allies once it arrives in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

HMS Dragon is a sovereign UK deployment to protect the interests of the UK, and the interests of our allies in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Royal Navy routinely operates alongside partners and allies, enabling the deconfliction of maritime and aviation assets to be embedded within routine operating procedures.

Full details remain classified to ensure UK operational advantage.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the Type 83 design process; and whether it will be completed by 2038.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to my response to question 106653 on 27 January 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to negotiate an administrative agreement with the European Defence Agency.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Security and Defence Partnership agreed with the European Union in May 2025 is an example of this Government delivering on its manifesto commitments to strengthen European security, support growth, and reinforce NATO.

We will continue to prioritise engagement and cooperation on the issues that are most important in helping to safeguard European security and prosperity – all in support of this government’s NATO First defence policy as set out in the Security and Defence Review.

The Security and Defence Partnership outlines the possibility for establishing an Administrative Arrangement between the UK and the European Defence Agency. Officials remain in discussions with the EU to explore this.

Any potential future UK commitment – financial or otherwise – will ensure value for taxpayers and support wider defence priorities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, under what command structure will HMS Dragon be under upon arrival in the Eastern Mediterranean in order to ensure protection of Cyprus is coordinated with the naval presence of NATO allies in the region.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

HMS Dragon is a sovereign UK deployment to protect the interests of the UK, and the interests of our allies in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Royal Navy routinely operates alongside partners and allies, enabling the deconfliction of maritime and aviation assets to be embedded within routine operating procedures.

Full details remain classified to ensure UK operational advantage.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what evidential threshold must be met before a sanctioned shadow fleet vessel may be boarded in UK territorial waters.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

We keep maritime activity in UK territorial waters under constant review. We will not provide a running commentary or get into details of our decision-making process as this could compromise our ability to successfully take action against sanctioned ships, only benefitting our adversaries.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help ensure UK compliance with the laws of war in relation to US bombing missions on Iran from UK bases.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The agreement allowing the US to use UK military bases is for specific and limited defensive action.

Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK operational support to allies and partners is carefully considered to ensure legality.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has been asked to make in in-year budget savings in 2026/27.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

As part of routine financial management, the Ministry of Defence continues to allocate resources effectively to meet departmental and operational priorities. The total Ministry of Defence budget this financial year stands at £65.5 billion.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints relating to the speed of maintenance for urgent repairs were received by Amey from 23/03/26 to 06/04/26.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

This information is not held in the format requested for Amey and VIVO. Complaints from families are received and managed by Pinnacle’s National Service Centre. Amey and VIVO do not record or manage these complaints from families.

Between 23 March 2026 and 06 April 2026, Pinnacle received 16 complaints concerning the length of time taken to complete an urgent repair task.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints relating to the speed of maintenance for urgent repairs were received by VIVO from 23/03/26 to 06/04/26.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

This information is not held in the format requested for Amey and VIVO. Complaints from families are received and managed by Pinnacle’s National Service Centre. Amey and VIVO do not record or manage these complaints from families.

Between 23 March 2026 and 06 April 2026, Pinnacle received 16 complaints concerning the length of time taken to complete an urgent repair task.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if Ministers in his Department will publish correspondence with Peter Mandelson between 10 February and 11 September 2025.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

In line with the Humble Address motion agreed on 4 February, any information relevant to this and other questions regarding Mr Mandelson's appointment to, employment in, and withdrawal from, his posting as His Majesty's Ambassador to the United States will be published according to the process and provisions set out in the motion.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the reasons UK military assets failed to intercept the attack drone that struck RAF Akrotiri on 2 March 2026.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

We have deployed significant air defence assets to the region since January. This includes extra jets, radars, HMS Dragon, counter drones systems and over 500 additional British personnel as part of our significant air defence team.

This is a comprehensive layered air defence capability. It would not be appropriate to comment on any assessment which may be utilised by our adversaries.

Found: Sam des Forges, Director of Conduct, Equity and Justice, Ministry of Defence Zoe Bishop, Director

Found: Shared Business Services (UKSBS) Limited) and former Authority employees who transferred to the Ministry of Defence

Found: budget 448.0 1,438.2 1,886.2 1,158.1 679.4 3,723.7 2026-27 Main Estimate Transactions MOG MOG to MOD

Found: Integrated Security Fund to the Cabinet Office and multi-year budget transfer to Home Office and Ministry of Defence

Found: Integrated Security Fund to the Cabinet Office and multi-year budget transfer to Home Office and Ministry of Defence

Found: (MOD) BCT In (MOD) Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (1/4) 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.0

Found: LUKE POLLARD MP Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry MINISTRY OF DEFENCE FLOOR 5, MAIN

Found: We recommend that the MOD updates the House on how this target will be achieved.

Found: and Trade and the Department for Transport, with support from HM Revenue and Customs, the Ministry of Defence

Found: are trying to make sure that we are working with the Nigerian forces to push those back, and that is MOD

Found: are trying to make sure that we are working with the Nigerian forces to push those back, and that is MOD

Found: Ministry of Defence MoJ Ministry of Justice NIO Northern Ireland Office OFCOM Office of Communications

Found: I understand that there was a conversation about a conversation recently inside the Ministry of Defence

Found: As well as making veterans generally question the ability of MOD to defend their actions, this has caused

Found: The Ministry of Defence relies on them for command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

Found: The company holds contracts with the UK Ministry of Defence, including the Royal Air Force Rapid Capability

Found: 2000: Member of the Royal Colleges Joint Committee on Infection 1996: Member of panel advising Ministry of Defence

Found: In response to your question, in this context, the Ministry of Defence understands resilience.

Found: Q693 Chair: So there are other Departments—presumably like the MOD, I would have thought—where there

Found: The application was then subject to further assessment from officials in MOD, FCDO and DBT.

Found: Minister for the Armed Forces, colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office and officials in the Ministry of Defence

Found: We have nine sector boards with over 80 employers represented, including the MoD, WY Police, Fire Service

Found: DESNZ and the Ministry of Defence sit on our policy advisory group, and they help us with prioritising

Found: The Ministry of Defence is working with their French counterparts to explore capability requirements

Found: We know that the MOD wants to spend an additional £2.75 billion with SMEs.

Found: I was with the defence primes and the MOD yesterday, talking about the skills plan for them.

Found: DESNZ and the Ministry of Defence sit on our policy advisory group, and they help us with prioritising

Found: company called Toray Textiles, which explained that it would like to supply the armed forces and the MOD

Found: this a lot at EU level, but I imagine things are similar in the UK between the FCDO, the Ministry of Defence

Found: this a lot at EU level, but I imagine things are similar in the UK between the FCDO, the Ministry of Defence

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities system in England take account of the needs of children from armed forces families with additional needs.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

As part of the consultation on the government’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms, I recently attended a roundtable hosted by the Armed Forces Community All-Party Parliamentary Group, to hear first-hand from armed forces families about the problems they face.

The government’s proposed SEND reforms will better support children from mobile families. For example, education, health and care plans and new Individual Support Plans will be digital, which will support smoother transitions when service children move between schools or local authorities.

National Inclusion Standards will set out support available in every mainstream setting, and a nationally consistent set of Specialist Provision Packages will provide comprehensive, evidence-based packages of support for children and young people with the most complex needs.

Schools receive targeted funding through the Service Pupil Premium, with over £26 million allocated in 2026/27. Schools can use this funding flexibly to provide pastoral, academic and transition support to mitigate effects of mobility and parental deployment, supported by joint Department for Education and Ministry of Defence guidance.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to item 105 of the letter sent from Lord Strathclyde, Chair of the Constitution Committee to Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories regarding the UK-Overseas Joint Declaration, published 17 April 2026, which Ministers have (a) designated responsibility for Overseas Territories matters and (b) attend the cross-governmental Ministerial group on the Territories by Department.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Ministers who currently hold designated responsibility for Overseas Territories matters are: the Cabinet Office Minister of State; Economic Secretary to the Treasury; Ministry of Justice Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sentencing, Youth Justice and International; Home Office Minister of State (House of Lords); Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Climate); Ministry of Defence Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for the Armed Forces); Department of Business and Trade Minister of State (Minister for Trade); Department for Culture Media and Sport Minister of State (Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts); Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Minister of State (Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear); Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Nature); Department of Health and Social Care Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Innovation and Safety; Department for Transport Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation); Solicitor General; Department for Education Minister of State (Minister for Skills); Secretary of State for Scotland and one of the Wales Office Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State.

All these Ministers are invited to attend the cross-governmental Ministerial Group on the Overseas Territories.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many bids were accepted for the contract to provide up to 10,000 sets of protective body armour for prison officers; and whether any provider of new sets of protective body armour for prison officers has previously provided similar equipment for use by police officers.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Ministry of Justice has awarded a contract to Safariland UK LTD for 6,250 sets of Body Armour for Prison Officers. The Ministry of Justice received two bids from suppliers and accepted one.

This contract was tendered via a Bluelight Commercial Framework. This initial opportunity for this Framework was published by BlueLight Commercial on 8 July 2022 [Provision of General Patrol and Firearms Body Armour - Find a Tender] and then awarded on 16 March 2023 [Provision of General Patrol and Firearms Body Armour - Find a Tender]. The Ministry of Justice, following Cabinet Office guidelines to utilise frameworks where appropriate, conducted a further competition via this framework and subsequently published the award on 22 January 2026 [Supply of Protective Body Armour - Find a Tender].

The Bluelight Framework at the initial opportunity was available for all the market to bid for, so therefore open. The Ministry of Justice has followed all the guidelines and published notices in accordance with the regulations. The process was effective as Frameworks offer the shortest route to contract award and in line with Cabinet Office policy.

The requirements of the body armour for prison officers are ballistic, knife and spike and the product sourced meets the Home Office Standard [Body armour standard 2017: [CAST Publication number: 012/17 Body armour standard 2017 - GOV.UK]. The Home Office standard is frequently used by other Government agencies, so in that respect the Police will have similar body armour. For example, Safariland UK Ltd has supplied various Police forces and the Ministry of Defence Police with body armour that meets the Home Office Standard.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that the process of procuring up to 10,000 sets of protective body armour for prison officers is (a) open, (b) transparent, and (c) effective.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Ministry of Justice has awarded a contract to Safariland UK LTD for 6,250 sets of Body Armour for Prison Officers. The Ministry of Justice received two bids from suppliers and accepted one.

This contract was tendered via a Bluelight Commercial Framework. This initial opportunity for this Framework was published by BlueLight Commercial on 8 July 2022 [Provision of General Patrol and Firearms Body Armour - Find a Tender] and then awarded on 16 March 2023 [Provision of General Patrol and Firearms Body Armour - Find a Tender]. The Ministry of Justice, following Cabinet Office guidelines to utilise frameworks where appropriate, conducted a further competition via this framework and subsequently published the award on 22 January 2026 [Supply of Protective Body Armour - Find a Tender].

The Bluelight Framework at the initial opportunity was available for all the market to bid for, so therefore open. The Ministry of Justice has followed all the guidelines and published notices in accordance with the regulations. The process was effective as Frameworks offer the shortest route to contract award and in line with Cabinet Office policy.

The requirements of the body armour for prison officers are ballistic, knife and spike and the product sourced meets the Home Office Standard [Body armour standard 2017: [CAST Publication number: 012/17 Body armour standard 2017 - GOV.UK]. The Home Office standard is frequently used by other Government agencies, so in that respect the Police will have similar body armour. For example, Safariland UK Ltd has supplied various Police forces and the Ministry of Defence Police with body armour that meets the Home Office Standard.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the tender for providing up to 10,000 sets of protective body armour for prison officers was made public, and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The Ministry of Justice has awarded a contract to Safariland UK LTD for 6,250 sets of Body Armour for Prison Officers. The Ministry of Justice received two bids from suppliers and accepted one.

This contract was tendered via a Bluelight Commercial Framework. This initial opportunity for this Framework was published by BlueLight Commercial on 8 July 2022 [Provision of General Patrol and Firearms Body Armour - Find a Tender] and then awarded on 16 March 2023 [Provision of General Patrol and Firearms Body Armour - Find a Tender]. The Ministry of Justice, following Cabinet Office guidelines to utilise frameworks where appropriate, conducted a further competition via this framework and subsequently published the award on 22 January 2026 [Supply of Protective Body Armour - Find a Tender].

The Bluelight Framework at the initial opportunity was available for all the market to bid for, so therefore open. The Ministry of Justice has followed all the guidelines and published notices in accordance with the regulations. The process was effective as Frameworks offer the shortest route to contract award and in line with Cabinet Office policy.

The requirements of the body armour for prison officers are ballistic, knife and spike and the product sourced meets the Home Office Standard [Body armour standard 2017: [CAST Publication number: 012/17 Body armour standard 2017 - GOV.UK]. The Home Office standard is frequently used by other Government agencies, so in that respect the Police will have similar body armour. For example, Safariland UK Ltd has supplied various Police forces and the Ministry of Defence Police with body armour that meets the Home Office Standard.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing the Child Maintenance Service to issue a deduction from earnings order rather than a deduction of earnings request to HM Paymaster General when the paying parent is a member of the armed forces.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Deduction from Earnings Orders (DEO) are applied as a method of payment where the Child Maintenance Service deducts maintenance directly from the Paying Parent’s wages. The DEO is primarily used to enforce payments but can be set up voluntarily. Deduction from Earnings Requests are similar to a Deduction from Earnings Order but used for Paying Parents who are serving members of the Armed Forces. The Child Maintenance Service can only request a deduction to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and, unlike with civilian employers, they cannot order or enforce payments. MOD policy aims to comply with requests; however, if the Paying Parent is committed to operational duties MOD may suspend the collection of debt.

The Child Maintenance Service takes action to ensure the correct method of payment is applied by identifying whether a Paying Parent is in the Armed Forces through its use of Real Team Information (RTI) Data taken from HMRC. This provides up to date information about Pay As You Earn income as the information submitted by employers online is displayed in RTI immediately. To ensure that the correct method of payment is used for a Paying Parent who is serving in the Armed Forces, caseworkers are provided with step-by-step procedural instructions and training.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office on 18 March (HC119335), and with regard to Ministers' overseas travel and meetings: Publication Guidance, published on 30 January 2025, why the Palantir meeting did not meet the threshold for inclusion in the Prime Minister's quarterly transparency return in line with paragraphs 3(a), 3(b) and 16 of that guidance.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Noble Lady to the answer given on 5 March, Official Report, PQ HC110411:

Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77563 on Palantir, whether there is a record of who the Prime Minister (a) met and (b) spoke to during that visit.

Answer: The visit was part of the Prime Minister's trip to Washington. During this visit the Prime Minister listened to a short presentation about Palantir’s work, followed by a tour of the premises and an introduction to members of staff.

In December 2025, the MOD signed an extension to the Enterprise Agreement with Palantir that had been initially awarded in November 2022, by the previous Government, and via a direct award. This extension covered existing services and ensured there was no drop-off in MOD capability in critical areas.

This contract - and all other contracts for any firm - go through the usual rigorous departmental processes and their decision makers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 17 March 2026 (HL14055), what is (1) the Prime Minister’s Office, and (2) their definition of a “meeting”.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 5 March, Official Report, PQ HC110411:

Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77563 on Palantir, whether there is a record of who the Prime Minister (a) met and (b) spoke to during that visit.

Answer: The visit was part of the Prime Minister's trip to Washington. During this visit the Prime Minister listened to a short presentation about Palantir’s work, followed by a tour of the premises and an introduction to members of staff.

In December 2025, the MOD signed an extension to the Enterprise Agreement with Palantir that had been initially awarded in November 2022, by the previous Government, and via a direct award. This extension covered existing services and ensured there was no drop-off in MOD capability in critical areas.

This contract - and all other contracts for any firm - go through the usual rigorous departmental processes and their decision makers.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that veterans have access to childcare options.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

It is the department’s ambition that all families, including those from Armed Forces and Veteran communities, have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.

In April 2026, over 200 new Best Start Family Hubs in areas not previously funded are now open to families, backed by over £900 million of investment. These hubs act as welcoming, one-stop shops rooted in local communities, supporting families from pregnancy through to early childhood with everything from infant feeding support and parenting advice to help with the cost of living and early identification of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Support will also extend beyond dedicated hubs into up to 2,000 community venues, known as Best Start Network Sites, by 2028, ensuring families can access help.

The department's guidance for Best Start Family Hubs sets out minimum expectations for supporting Armed Forces and Veteran families. Hub staff are expected to be aware of the unique challenges these families can face, including the cumulative impact of mobility, separation, deployment, life after service and bereavement, and to signpost families to relevant support services including the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Education Advisory Team and the dedicated Armed Forces Families Federations.

Best Start Family Hub staff are also expected to be familiar with the joint non-statutory guidance 'Service Pupils in Schools' (April 2025) and the MOD Local Authority Partnership (MODLAP) principles for supporting Service children with SEND through school transitions. The guidance also encourages the establishment of a dedicated military champion in every hub, linked to existing Armed Forces Covenant commitments.

Veteran families who are based in England can apply for government funded childcare through the Childcare Service or through their local authorities. Families may also be eligible for support if they receive Universal Credit.

Current service families may be eligible for 30 hours (over 38 weeks of the year) funded childcare support, which is available to eligible working parents from the term after their child turns nine months old until they start school. Parents must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national minimum wage and under £100,000 adjusted net income per year to be eligible. In a two-parent household, both parents must meet the eligibility criteria.

All three- and four-year-olds are eligible for 15 hours free early education per week (over 38 weeks of the year), regardless of family circumstances. This is available the term after the child’s third birthday. Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit Childcare are also available to families to help with childcare costs.

The department wants to ensure that parents are aware of and are accessing all the government funded childcare support they are eligible for. The department is raising awareness of the government funded childcare support available via the Best Start in Life Parent Hub website to stimulate increased take up by eligible families, because we know this could make a significant financial difference to families. The website can be accessed here: https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/.

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