Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether (1) joining the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, (2) joining the Security Action for Europe scheme, or (3) forming the Multilateral Defence Mechanism, would have an impact on (a) borrowing, (b) public sector debt, or (c) public sector debt net financial liabilities.
Answered by Lord Pitt-Watson - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The MDM and DSRB are initiatives with a shared recognition that allies must work together to strengthen defence capability, industrial capacity and collective security. As is standard under public spending rules, paid-in capital for international institutions, such as Multilateral Defence Mechanism (MDM) and Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) will score as financial transactions and should therefore have a neutral impact on UK public sector net financial liabilities (PSNFL). Any borrowing from them would be recognized as government expenditure.
At Ankara in July, UK Prime Minister Starmer and Prime Minister Carney of Canada issued a joint statement on defence financing. This noted that the efforts of the countries supporting the DSRB and the MDM have a high degree of complementarity,and, taken together can serve to improve defence investment throughout the supply chain.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards forming the Multilateral Defence Mechanism to fund defence
Answered by Lord Pitt-Watson - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
As a part of the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) discussions, the government committed £400 million towards the UK’s contribution to the Multilateral Defence Mechanism (MDM).
On 6 July, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Finland and Poland issued a joint statement to reiterate their commitment to strengthen defence financing and improve the cost efficiency of defence spending acknowledging the significant progress achieved to develop MDM.
At Ankara in July, UK Prime Minister Starmer and Prime Minister Carney of Canada issued a joint statement on defence financing. This noted that the efforts of the countries supporting the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) and the MDM have a high degree of complementarity and taken together can serve to improve defence investment throughout the supply chain.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relative benefits of joining the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank as opposed to the Security Action for Europe scheme.
Answered by Lord Pitt-Watson - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The MDM and DSRB are initiatives with a shared recognition that allies must work together to strengthen defence capability, industrial capacity and collective security. As is standard under public spending rules, paid-in capital for international institutions, such as Multilateral Defence Mechanism (MDM) and Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) will score as financial transactions and should therefore have a neutral impact on UK public sector net financial liabilities (PSNFL). Any borrowing from them would be recognized as government expenditure.
At Ankara in July, UK Prime Minister Starmer and Prime Minister Carney of Canada issued a joint statement on defence financing. This noted that the efforts of the countries supporting the DSRB and the MDM have a high degree of complementarity,and, taken together can serve to improve defence investment throughout the supply chain.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of joining the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank.
Answered by Lord Pitt-Watson - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The MDM and DSRB are initiatives with a shared recognition that allies must work together to strengthen defence capability, industrial capacity and collective security. As is standard under public spending rules, paid-in capital for international institutions, such as Multilateral Defence Mechanism (MDM) and Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) will score as financial transactions and should therefore have a neutral impact on UK public sector net financial liabilities (PSNFL). Any borrowing from them would be recognized as government expenditure.
At Ankara in July, UK Prime Minister Starmer and Prime Minister Carney of Canada issued a joint statement on defence financing. This noted that the efforts of the countries supporting the DSRB and the MDM have a high degree of complementarity,and, taken together can serve to improve defence investment throughout the supply chain.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government to what extent the Veterans Strategy, published on 10 November, applies to reservists.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Veterans' Strategy applies to all those who have previously served in HM Forces, Regular and Reserve. The Strategy is an important milestone in this government's work to renew the UK's contract with those who serve and have served.
It resets the narrative around the remarkable men and women who have served in our Armed Forces, ensuring all veterans' service is celebrated, their potential to make further contributions is realised and, for those that need it, that the right support is available to them.
The strategy is aligned with key Ministry of Defence priorities, the Strategic Defence Review and the extension of the Armed Forces Covenant, together with the government's wider Plan for Change.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the specific economic conditions that would trigger the 20-per-cent increase in the number of active reserves set out in recommendation 14 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Veterans and People (Al Carns) in the House of Commons on 13 June 2025 to Question 57778 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty).
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government for what reason it is still legal to export glass eels to Russia despite sanctions against that country.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As an endangered species, the international trade in European eel is regulated through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Any exports are subject to rigorous scrutiny, including through assessments of legal acquisition and non-detriment.
The UK’s approach to these exports is being reviewed by the new Government to ensure legality, sustainability, and alignment with global conservation efforts.
The export of European eel to Russia is not currently sanctioned.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support Combined Cadet Force units in schools, given confirmation that the School Staff Instructor grant to Cadet Expansion Programme schools will be discontinued.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the noble Lord to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Veterans and People (Alistair Carns), in the House of Commons on 27 November 2024 to the hon. Member for Hinckley and Bosworth (Dr Luke Evans) in response to Question 15010.
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many fast jet pilots chose to apply for premature voluntary release in each of the past 10 years.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
The below table shows the number of Voluntary Outflow applications submitted by fast-jet Pilots in the Regular Royal Navy and Regular Royal Air Force in the last ten financial years:
Financial Year (FY) | Royal Navy | Royal Air Force |
FY2013-14 | ~ | 20 |
FY2014-15 | - | 20 |
FY2015-16 | - | 20 |
FY2016-17 | - | 10 |
FY2017-18 | - | 20 |
FY2018-19 | - | 20 |
FY2019-20 | ~ | 20 |
FY2020-21 | ~ | 10 |
FY2021-22 | ~ | 10 |
FY2022-23 | - | 20 |
Notes:
Asked by: Lord De Mauley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many fully trained fast jet pilots the RAF had in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Shadow Minister (Defence)
I am withholding the information requested as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.