Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what impact assessment he has conducted on the implementation of local government reorganisation.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77631 on 13 October 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what is the projected total cost of local government reorganisation in England.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77631 on 13 October 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of the potential vulnerability to being disabled of Chinese-origin buses that are reliant upon sim connection for software upgrades.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government takes national security seriously and recognises the systematic challenges of increased connectivity and the cyber security implications for almost every area of government policy, including vehicles. The Department works closely with the transport sector and other government departments to understand and respond to cyber vulnerabilities for all transport modes.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 28th July 2025, to question 67588 on MBR Acres: National Security, with reference to The Public Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2025, what additional resources will be provided to Cambridgeshire Constabulary in order to facilitate the implementation of this legislation.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

In 2026-27 Cambridgeshire Police will receive up to £220.5 million in funding. This represents an increase of up to £10.6 million when compared to the 2025-26 police settlement. There are no plans to provide additional funding to Cambridgeshire Constabulary in light of the amendment to the Public Order Act 2023.

It is a long established principle that policing in England and Wales is operationally independent. Decisions regarding the allocation and use of resources within Cambridgeshire Constabulary are therefore matters for the police.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what a) UK and b) other NATO forces are currently deployed in Greenland.

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

The UK does not currently have forces deployed in Greenland. Denmark is responsible for the defence of Greenland and maintains a military presence.

NATO has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority for Euro-Atlantic Security, which is why, alongside our NATO Allies, we have increased our defence spending, presence and activities to keep the Arctic safe and deter the collective threat we face from Russia.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 5th January 2026, to question 100522 on General Dynamics, what was the complete list of criteria for Ajax Initial Operating Capability (IOC) that was met on 23 July 2025.

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

The Armoured Cavalry Programme met all pre-agreed elements required to confirm Initial Operation Capability on 23 July 2025. The criteria spanned across all recognised Defence Lines of Development including Training, Equipment, Personnel, Information, Doctrine and Concepts, Organisation, Infrastructure, Safety and Logistics.

It would not be appropriate to release the complete list of criteria as to do so could, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability of our Armed Forces.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which force has the lead on shotgun licence renewals within the Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire tri-force area.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Bedfordshire Police and Hertfordshire Constabulary work together as part of a tripartite arrangement intended to provide a consistent firearms licensing service across the three police force areas.

The arrangements are led by Hertfordshire Constabulary and report to the Chief Constables of all three forces.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the full scope of Project Vanquish.

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

Project Vanquish has been launched by the Royal Navy to seek proposals from industry for a Technical Demonstration of a Fixed-Wing, Short Take Off and Landing, Autonomous Collaborative Platform. Vanquish will be a jet-powered aircraft able to take off and land from a Queen Elizabeth Class carrier without the need for catapults or arrestor gear. It will determine the ability of such an air vehicle to deliver maritime mission sets for Carrier Strike.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the decrease in power-to-weight ratio between Challenger 2 and Challenger 3.

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

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intent and he will know that Challenger 3 has been designed to deliver an optimal balance of lethality, survivability, and mobility to meet its operational requirements.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when is Operation Shader scheduled to end.

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

The UK remains committed to the enduring defeat of Daesh through Op SHADER. Whilst all UK operations remain under constant review, there are no plans to end Op SHADER. The UK will continue to do what is necessary to prevent a Daesh resurgence, support regional stability and protect UK national security.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2925 to Question 79699 on Antiship Missiles, when in 2026 is the full business case for the Future Cruise Anti-Ship Weapon programme scheduled to be (a) submitted and (b) approved.

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

The Future Cruise Anti-Ship Weapon programme Full Business Case is planned for submission and approval in summer 2026. Existing approvals are in place to support continued work until the end of 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made developing the WEEVIL mine-clearance vehicle.

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

I refer the hon. Member to my response to Question 95410 on 8 December 2025 which remains extant.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment was made by her Department of the recommendations within the Section 19 report regarding flooding in St Ives in 2024 prior to the decision by the Environment Agency to reclassify the locks as Flood defences from navigation assets.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency (EA) has reviewed a range of data and evidence relating to the St Ives Staunch Sluice and Lock, including hydraulic modelling and analysis of recent flood events.

The EA’s assessment has confirmed that St Ives Staunch Sluice provides very limited flood risk benefit but remains important for maintaining navigation water levels. The decision to reclassify St Ives Staunch Sluice’s primary purpose to navigation reflects this evidence and aligns with the EA’s internal asset classification policy.

The EA recognises that this change may cause concern locally, it does not affect the level of flood risk funding the asset is eligible for. It also enables St Ives Sluice to attract additional funding from Navigation which has supported the EA’s ability to progress the moderation case for St. Ives. The community can be assured that the current the condition of the structure does not increase flood risk to homes.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the feasibility of using the Water Environment Improvement Fund to maintain the sluice gates at (a) Brownshill and (b) St Ives.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Water Environment Investment Fund (WEIF) is designed to improve the health and resilience of water environments through a partnership-led, catchment-based approach. Its focus is on delivering environmental enhancements, supporting biodiversity, and securing multiple benefits for local communities.

Maintenance of Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) assets is funded through dedicated flood risk management budgets, prioritised according to asset condition and the level of flood risk benefit provided.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been spent on maintaining the eel pass at St Ives sluice in each year since 2015.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency (EA) is the asset owner for the St Ives eel pass.

Historically, the EA’s maintenance work has also been combined with routine operational checks to ensure the sluice gates at St Ives function correctly, rather than issuing a separate work order solely for inspecting the eel pass. Operational checks involve activities such as verifying gate movement, mechanical integrity, and overall system performance to maintain safe and reliable operation.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason was the lock structure at St Ives on the River Great Ouse closed in 2024.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

St Ives lock was not subject to closure during 2024.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the estimated cost is of fixing all sluice gates at (a) Brownshill and (b) St Ives.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The gate refurbishment project is currently undergoing phase 1 which includes inspections, surveys and testing to determine all aspects of phase 2 work required.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential benefit to flood alleviation of replacing St Ives sluice gates with a weir.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency is assessing the potential flood alleviation benefits and impacts of a range of options, including the replacing of the St Ives sluice with a weir, through the current project development.

The project’s objective is to maintain the upstream water level for navigation and the option delivering the best value for money will be taken forward, in line with Government spending policies.

The assessment for each option and associated flood risk impacts will be based on fluvial modelling.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total cost is of the Mildenhall eel pass.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Turf Lock Fish passage project at Mildenhall was developed and funded in partnership as part of the catchment-based approach to help improve our water environments.

The project was delivered over 5 years as part of the Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF) Capital Programme. Through this fund the Environment Agency adopted a catchment approach, focusing on local communities, partner needs and looking for shared benefits supporting the environment and local communities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contractual payments to General Dynamics for the Ajax programme have been made since 1 January 2025; and on which dates were they made.

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

The Ministry of Defence paid General Dynamics Land Systems UK £330 million in line with contractual obligations for the Ajax programme between 1 January 2025 and 12 January 2026. I am unable to publish details of the milestones and payment schedule as this may prejudice the Department's commercial interests.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2025 to Question 95908 on Ajax Vehicles: Noise, how many Ajax users have had their hearing (a) decline and (b) be downgraded following audiometer protocols after crewing an Ajax vehicle.

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

To obtain the information required to answer the hon. Member’s question in full would incur disproportionate costs due to the amount of data that would need to be obtained.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when does she intend to launch the consultation on changes to firearms licensing.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

We intend to publish this consultation shortly.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many firearms offences have been committed with 3D-printed guns in each of the last five years.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Offences involving the use of 3D printed firearms offences are not recorded separately within the crime statistics published by the Office for National Statistics. A firearm manufactured using 3D printing technology is regarded as a firearm under the Firearms Act 1968 and the controls set out in that Act apply. The overall number of offences involving firearms offences decreased by 16%, to 5,053 offences in the year ending June 2025 compared to the year ending June 2024.

The Government works closely with the police and the National Crime Agency to ensure that we have the right laws, intelligence, detection and enforcement capabilities to tackle the threat posed by the unlawful possession and use of firearms, including firearms manufactured in full, or in part, using 3D printing technology. This includes the measures in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 which, when commenced, will make it an offence to possess or supply templates for the 3D printing of firearms.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many (a) residential and (b) commercial properties in London are owned by the People's Republic of China.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government does not control the purchase of private property within the United Kingdom, and keeps no central record of purchases made on behalf of individual nation states.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many (a) residential and (b) commercial properties in the UK are owned by the Chinese state.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government does not control the purchase of private property within the United Kingdom, and keeps no central record of purchases made on behalf of individual nation states.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much is received annually in rental income from the 782 properties purchased along the route of HS2.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In financial year 2024/25, a total of 1,723 properties were managed within the HS2 Managed Property Portfolio along the route of HS2 Phase 1 and the former Phase 2. This included residential, commercial, agricultural, forestry and wayleave interests, which collectively generated an annual rental income of £24 million. This income was fully used to offset the costs of managing properties acquired for HS2. Annual rental income naturally fluctuates as the proportion of tenanted properties changes over time.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the projected cost of the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme in a) 2026/27, b) 2027/28 and c) 2028/29.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 January 2026, to Question 102946.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-05/102946

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding was allocated to (a) St Ives and (b) Brownshill sluice for 2026/27.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion until 2036 to construct new flood schemes and repair existing defences, protecting communities from the devastating impacts of climate change.

The list of projects to receive Government funding in 26/27 has not yet been determined, and will be agreed in the usual way, through Regional Flood and Coastal Committees, with local representation.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2026 to Q101187 on Veterans: Visas, by what date will he have waived visa fees for dependents of Commonwealth veterans.

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

Work is ongoing with the Home Office to deliver the manifesto commitment to scrap visa fees for non-UK veterans and their dependants including those from the Commonwealth, but it is not possible at this stage to provide an implementation date.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who is next in the Nuclear Firing Chain after the Prime Minister; and under what circumstances is the Prime Ministerial Directive superseded.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

As the honourable Member should know and in line with the policy under successive governments, the most sensitive operational details of our continuous at sea deterrent are obviously not disclosed publicly.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Royal Marines will be included within the scope of the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme.

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

At the present time, there are no plans to include the Royal Marines in Tranche 1 of the Gap Year. However, Tranche 1 will help to understand the impact and measure success, informing the future shape of the scheme.

The Royal Navy is developing a one-year scheme opening with Tranche 1 in March 2026 as a profession-agnostic employment scheme for sailors. Our intent is to offer broad employment across operational surface platforms in non-technical activities and potentially in the future, some shore-based roles, where the cohort will have received the minimum training feasible to be safe and effective at sea. This is an exciting opportunity to live and work alongside sailors on ships deployed on missions at sea, contributing to tasks that keep the ship running, and learning skills that could be developed into future careers, such as conducting supervised engineering watchkeeping tasks, seamanship activity, communal duties and whole ship tasks.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether people participating in the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme will be eligible for promotion.

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

The Armed Forces Foundation Year Scheme (‘Gap Year’) helps deliver on the Strategic Defence Review 2025’s recommendation that Defence must offer novel ways of entry into the Armed Forces that attract more people from a wider range of backgrounds; options included offering shorter commitments that appeal to more of society.

The Gap Year scheme will start as a first tranche during 2026, to understand the impact and measure success. Gap Year personnel could later become eligible for promotion if they opted to remain in the Armed Forces after their engagement, subject to meeting the requirements of relevant single Service personnel/promotion policy.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the sinking of the Ursa Major in December 2024 on the conflict in Ukraine.

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

The Ministry of Defence are aware of the open-source reports on the sinking of the Ursa Major, however we judge that such an incident would be unlikely to have had a significant impact on the conflict in Ukraine.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ajax-platform vehicles, broken down by variant, had been delivered to the British Army as of 1st December 2025.

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

170 Ajax platforms have been delivered to Field Army Units up to and including 1 December 2025. The breakdown by variant is as follows:

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by when will he respond to Written Question 98879, submitted on 10 December 2025.

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

170 Ajax platforms have been delivered to Field Army Units up to and including 1 December 2025. The breakdown by variant is as follows:

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what dates does he plan to have delivered the Digital Targeting Web in full.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to Question 96241 on 10 December 2025.

No target date will be given for the ‘full’ implementation of the Digital Targeting Web. This is because to be competitive, the UK must continually adapt and develop its ability to target, and this will require constant evolution.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria was met which permitted Initial Operating Capability for Ajax to be achieved on 5 November 2025.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him to Question 104285 on 14 January 2025.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-08/104285

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria must be met in order to achieve Full Operating Capability for Ajax.

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

Full Operating Capability will see the Armoured Cavalry and other Ajax users Trained, Sustainable and Ready for Deployment.

It would not be appropriate to release a complete list of criteria as to do so could, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability of our Armed Forces.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the a) names, b) dates, c) training areas used and d) exercising units equipped with Ajax of the three exercises that took place between 23rd July 2025 and Exercise Titan Storm.

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

The three exercises that took place between 23 July 2025 and Exercise Titan Storm were:

• Exercise CYCLONE STORM between 21 July - 1 August 2025 on Salisbury Plain Training Area by The Queen’s Royal Hussars.

• Exercise TRADEWIND between 17 – 24 October 2025, on Salisbury Plain Training Area by The Royal Lancers.

• Exercise SCORION CYCLONE between 15 September – 10 October 2025 on Salisbury Plain Training Area, involving The Household Cavalry Regiment, The Royal Lancers, 26th Regiment Royal Artillery, 6 Armoured Close Support Battalion and Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2925, to Question 103528 on Ajax Vehicles: Military Exercises, how many instances of noise and vibration sickness occurred during each of the three exercises.

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

There were no incidents of noise or vibration symptoms reported on Health and Safety systems by personnel using Ajax on any of the three exercises.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many NATO administered facilities are based within the UK.

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

The UK currently has six designated NATO facilities:

• Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) – Northwood Headquarters
• NATO Joint Electronic Warfare Core Staff (JEWCS) – Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton
• NATO Intelligence Fusion Centre (NIFC) – Royal Air Force Molesworth
• 280 Signal Squadron, 1st NATO Signals Battalion - Blandford Camp
• Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) – Imjin Barracks
• European Regional Office of NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) – London

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 14th January 2026, to answer 104283 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, on what dates assurances and advice regarding the safety of the platform were provided to Ministers.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him to Question 98241 on 12 December 2025.

However, I would like to reassure him that it is my intention to provide an update on the safety of Ajax and the Ministerial Review to Parliament in the near future.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-12-08/98241

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where were each of the (a) 23 Ajax vehicles on Exercise Titan Storm and (b) the Ajax vehicle, subsequently used to establish a baseline for noise and vibration, (i) manufactured and (ii) assembled.

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

The 23 Ajax vehicles on Exercise Titan Storm and the Ajax vehicle subsequently used to establish a baseline for noise and vibration were all part of Capability Drop 3; manufactured and assembled in Merthyr Tydfil.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what Capability Drop were each of the a) 23 Ajax vehicles on Exercise Titan Storm and b) the Ajax vehicle subsequently used to establish a baseline for noise and vibration.

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

The 23 Ajax vehicles on Exercise Titan Storm and the Ajax vehicle subsequently used to establish a baseline for noise and vibration were all part of Capability Drop 3; manufactured and assembled in Merthyr Tydfil.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to pipeline notice 2026/S 000-002873 regarding Project Grayburn, what barrel length is required to fulfil the criteria of a) Dismounted Close Combat and b) Dismounted Close Combat (Short) and c) Personal Defence Weapon variants.

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

The decision on who needs a Dismounted Close Combat rifle versus a Generalist rifle will be based upon a wide range of criteria. The exact criteria will be determined during the Concept Phase. However, the list of criteria is likely to include the user role, likely engagement ranges, their likely targets, plus human factors.

Decisions on barrel length will also be determined during the Concept Phase. The barrel length of each variant will be based upon considerations such as user role (for example, Light Infantry, Light Calvary, Armoured), likely engagement ranges, likely targets, and human factors.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to pipeline notice 2026/S 000-002873 regarding Project Grayburn, what criteria will be required to be fulfilled to distinguish between the a) Dismounted Close Combat and b) Generalist variants.

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

The decision on who needs a Dismounted Close Combat rifle versus a Generalist rifle will be based upon a wide range of criteria. The exact criteria will be determined during the Concept Phase. However, the list of criteria is likely to include the user role, likely engagement ranges, their likely targets, plus human factors.

Decisions on barrel length will also be determined during the Concept Phase. The barrel length of each variant will be based upon considerations such as user role (for example, Light Infantry, Light Calvary, Armoured), likely engagement ranges, likely targets, and human factors.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the scope of the Royal Navy’s NavyX division.

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

In early 2025, the Royal Navy’s NavyX was amalgamated with the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) and the Navy Artificial Intelligence Cell (NAIC) to form the Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office (DCTO).

The new Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office (DCTO) unites the knowledge and skills of innovation specialists from NavyX, the Office of the Chief Technology Officer and the Navy AI Cell. Together, the unit rapidly prototypes, test and deploys advanced technologies to support operations at sea and will address the Royal Navy’s more pressing operational challenges.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many places in the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme will be available in each of the services during the first three years.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge) on 16 January 2026, to Question 104233.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-08/104233

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when was the River Great Ouse last dredged.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency (EA) does not operate a routine dredging programme for the River Great Ouse. Dredging was last undertaken in the 1970s and 1980s, prior to the EA’s establishment in 1996.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to pipeline notice 2026/S 000-002873 regarding Project Grayburn, what weapons are included within the wider dismounted close combat weapons portfolio.

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

As the project is at concept phase it is not clear yet what proportion of each weapon system will be manufactured in the United Kingdom but I can assure the hon. Member that it is desirable for the project to create skilled employment in the UK as set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy.

As per the pipeline notice 2026/S 000-002873, following direction from the Joint Requirements Oversight Committee (JROC), Project GRAYBURN will focus on UK manufacture, establishing a strategic supply relationship, the delivery of variants, reliability and engagement with industry.

Whilst the role of the JROC is not to provide direction to Defence Equipment and Support specifically, they are a mandated part of the commercial process and provide invaluable support to ensure Defence needs are met by providing strategic direction and cohering activities across Defence, overseeing the delivery of strategy and monitoring performance.

I can confirm that the scope of the wider dismounted close combat weapons portfolio ranges from pistols to machine guns.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to pipeline notice 2026/S 000-002873 regarding Project Grayburn, what proportion of the weapon system will be manufactured in the UK.

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

As the project is at concept phase it is not clear yet what proportion of each weapon system will be manufactured in the United Kingdom but I can assure the hon. Member that it is desirable for the project to create skilled employment in the UK as set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy.

As per the pipeline notice 2026/S 000-002873, following direction from the Joint Requirements Oversight Committee (JROC), Project GRAYBURN will focus on UK manufacture, establishing a strategic supply relationship, the delivery of variants, reliability and engagement with industry.

Whilst the role of the JROC is not to provide direction to Defence Equipment and Support specifically, they are a mandated part of the commercial process and provide invaluable support to ensure Defence needs are met by providing strategic direction and cohering activities across Defence, overseeing the delivery of strategy and monitoring performance.

I can confirm that the scope of the wider dismounted close combat weapons portfolio ranges from pistols to machine guns.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what direction was provided to Defence Equipment and Support by the Joint Requirements Oversight Committee regarding Project GRAYBURN.

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

As the project is at concept phase it is not clear yet what proportion of each weapon system will be manufactured in the United Kingdom but I can assure the hon. Member that it is desirable for the project to create skilled employment in the UK as set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy.

As per the pipeline notice 2026/S 000-002873, following direction from the Joint Requirements Oversight Committee (JROC), Project GRAYBURN will focus on UK manufacture, establishing a strategic supply relationship, the delivery of variants, reliability and engagement with industry.

Whilst the role of the JROC is not to provide direction to Defence Equipment and Support specifically, they are a mandated part of the commercial process and provide invaluable support to ensure Defence needs are met by providing strategic direction and cohering activities across Defence, overseeing the delivery of strategy and monitoring performance.

I can confirm that the scope of the wider dismounted close combat weapons portfolio ranges from pistols to machine guns.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to pipeline notice 2026/S 000-002873 regarding Project Grayburn, what level of a) current and b) emerging body armour the new rifle is required to be able to defeat.

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

Project GRAYBURN will deliver a capability that will be able to defeat most prolific body armour types used by adversaries. The project remains in its concept phase and it is therefore too early to provide additional detail. However, due to operational sensitivities I do not plan to release this information in the future.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the standard of work completed by the Ajax Programme’s Joint Acceptance Group with regards to (a) assembly line output, (b) quality control and (c) level of remedial work required by receiving units.

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

As previously announced, there are ongoing reviews into the Ajax programme. An assessment will be made should the outcomes identify any concerns with the vehicle acceptance process.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2026 to Question 98880 on Ajax Vehicles: Noise, whether concerns were raised by the (a) Defence Science and Technology Lab and (b) Defence Equipment & Support on the accuracy of the findings of the (i) noise and (ii) vibration calculator.

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

There have been no concerns on the accuracy of the calculator since 2021.

Work was undertaken to address concerns raised about the accuracy of the findings of the calculator from both DSTL and Defence Equipment and Support staff prior to 2021. Recent evidence from testing on platforms demonstrates both the accuracy and the safety factor within the calculator. These concerns were raised five years ago and have been fully addressed.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current status of the shipborne rolling vertical landing programme.

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

Equipment to enable UK F-35Bs to undertake Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landings (SRVL) is fitted to HMS Prince Of Wales (PWLS) and underwent initial trials in 2023; the results of those trials continue to be analysed by a commercial partner. When complete, this will enable the Ministry of Defence to make an accurate assessment of the benefits and cost of further developing the SRVL system for operational use.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the planed timeline for replacing the L118 105mm Light Gun.

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

An assessment of the future capability requirements remains ongoing. No decisions on a potential replacement have yet been taken.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when is the assembly of Ajax-family vehicles due to be completed at Merthyr Tydfil.

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

Assembly of all 589 Ajax platforms is forecast to be completed by December 2028.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ajax-family vehicles have completed factory acceptance testing.

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

The Ajax programme utilises a Joint Acceptance Group to undertake acceptance testing. All 185 capability drop 3 vehicles have been through this process.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ajax vehicles with identified faults were (a) manufactured and assembled in Spain and (b) manufactured in Spain and assembled in Wales.

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

No Ajax vehicles have been manufactured and assembled in Spain.

No Ajax vehicles have been manufactured in Spain and assembled in Wales.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential risk of new vessels, intended to support operations at HM Naval Base Clyde, procured by Serco as part of the Royal Navy harbour and support craft element of the Defence Maritime Services Next Generation programme may be built in China.

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

Vessels being procured as part of the Defence Marine Services-Next Generation In-Port Services will not be built in China and future maintenance of the vessels will take place in the UK.

This Government is stepping up our support for UK shipbuilders. We are looking closely at the subcontracting supply chain as part of our Shipbuilding and Maritime Technology Action Plan, which will set out our plans to ensure that we are maximising our use of UK industry as an engine for growth.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the 11 limitations of use on Ajax vehicles in September 2021 that were critical to achieving initial operating capability.

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

While it would be inappropriate to release details of the 11 limitations of use identified in the NAO report for security reasons, as a complete list of criteria could, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability of our Armed Forces, those limitations were resolved prior to Initial Operating Capability being met.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the order of 589 Ajax hulls have now been built by General Dynamics.

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

All 589 Ajax hulls have been produced.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the delivery timeline of (a) Programme Euston and (b) the Royal Navy’s Additional Fleet Time Docking Capability.

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

Programme Euston is the Royal Navy’s solution to Additional Fleet Time Docking Capability. The programme aims to deliver a resilient out of water engineering capability at HMNB Clyde by the early 2030s.

The next key milestone will be the submission of a Programme Business Case in mid-2026. Timelines are kept under regular review as part of the Department’s major programmes portfolio. For reasons of commercial and operational sensitivities, the department is unable to provide detailed timelines.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many RCH155 Early Capability Demonstrators will be procured as part of the Mobile Fires Platform programme.

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

The UK will procure one Early Capability Demonstrator platform as part of the Mobile Fires Platform programme with Germany procuring two additional demonstrators. This will allow all three to be used for joint trials and evaluation, providing both time and cost benefits.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-commissioned ships are in service with the Royal Navy.

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

All ships in service with the Royal Navy are commissioned warships.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Gravehawk air defence systems have been purchased by (a) his Department and (b) Denmark.

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

The UK solely funded the development and production of the first two prototype GRAVEHAWK air-defence systems. The additional 15 GRAVEHAWK systems, of which the first batch will be delivered shortly, are each equally funded by the UK and Denmark.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the out-of-service date of Pinzgauer.

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

The current planned out of service date for Pinzgauer is 2030.

Out of service dates are continuously reviewed to ensure that the British Army has the capabilities it requires to deliver against Defence commitments.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the addition of the Grok chatbot alongside Google’s generative AI engine on every unclassified and classified network throughout the US Department of War on joint US-UK operations.

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

The US and UK remain steadfast allies and will continue to closely cooperate on a range of defence and security issues. But how the US Department of War manages the use of technology in their systems is a matter for them. The UK’s Defence AI Strategy recognises AI systems must be adopted to avoid falling behind adversaries, whilst mandating robust cybersecurity and safety measures for these systems. The MOD’s Joint Service Publication 936 mandates that AI systems deployed in UK defence environments must be safe, robust, and secure, must pass relevant assurance checks, and comply with the Government Cyber Security Standard and Secure By Design principles.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the raw material shortage at Liberty Steel's Dalzell plant on the construction of the three Fleet Solid Support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

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

The current assessment of the potential impact of the raw material shortage at Liberty Steel's Dalzell plant, on the construction of the three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, is deemed low.

The sourcing of steel for the FSS programme is a matter for the prime contractor, Navantia UK, whose goal is to maximise UK steel content wherever it is technically and commercially feasible, while protecting the delivery schedule.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2026 to Question 105103 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what the value is of contractual payments to General Dynamics for the Ajax programme made since 23 July 2025.

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

The Ministry of Defence paid General Dynamics Land Systems UK £192 million in line with contractual obligations for the Ajax programme between 23 July 2025 and 12 Jan 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to replace HMS Middleton in the Middle East upon its return to the UK.

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

The Ministry of Defence keeps its force posture in the Middle East under continual review to safeguard UK interests. The Royal Navy remains committed to regional stability through its enduring presence under Operation KIPION, including the UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC), located in Bahrain, with a footprint of over 130 personnel. The Royal Navy’s modernisation programme has already delivered an autonomous Mine Countermeasures capability operating in the Gulf, continuing to innovate at pace.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the full scope of Project Octopus.

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

Project OCTOPUS is the first joint UK-Ukraine defence industrial project initiated under Project LYRA and was announced on 10 September 2025 by the Prime Minister. Under Project OCTOPUS, the UK and Ukraine will work together to rapidly optimise an Ukrainian designed air defence interceptor for mass production, with the first units anticipated to start being produced in the UK in the coming weeks, before being sent to Ukraine for testing and operational deployment. The project aims to enable production at scale, with a target of being able to produce thousands of drones per month to support Ukraine's defence needs.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to roll out the Royal Navy’s (a) Combat Sports Initiative and (b) the Combat Sister Project nationwide.

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

The Ministry of Defence are pleased that volunteers from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines plan to continue to deliver the Combat Sports Initiative and Combat Sister Project in 2026, at locations across the UK.

These initiatives are not Ministry of Defence led; they are independently delivered on a voluntary basis by Service personnel in their own personal time. The Royal Navy and Royal Marines encourage personnel to engage in meaningful voluntary activity within their communities and wishes the programme every success going forward.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many operational SSN’s were at sea as of 1 January 2026.

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

It is UK policy not to disclose the operational availability or deployment details of submarines, including SSNs, as doing so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of our Armed Forces.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026, to question 101929 on Police and Crime Commissioners, what is the composition of the £100m the Government expects to save in this Parliament as a result of abolishing Police and Crime Commissioners.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government expects to save at least £100m from abolishing the PCC model this Parliament. This includes savings from cancelling future PCC elections, with the last elections in 2024 costing approximately £87m.

In addition, we expect to generate efficiency savings of at least £20m per annum from office support arrangements which can be reinvested in frontline policing.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Ministry of Defence accounts 2024-25, what did the retirement of the Knight and Ruler Wave Class Tankers and constructive losses of £58,081,000 relate to.

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

A decision was announced in November 2024 to retire Knight and Ruler Wave Class Tankers, effectively mothballed by the last Government, which had not been to sea since 2017 and 2022 respectively. Their retirement reflects value for money for the taxpayer and delivering for defence, by divesting ourselves of old capabilities to make way for the future.

The constructive loss of £58,081,000 relates to the write-down of the remaining value of the Knight and Ruler Wave Class Tankers and their associated capital works, spares and consumables. It has been calculated in line with Managing Public Money and Ministry of Defence accounting policies.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Boxer vehicles have been delivered to the British Army.

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

Regarding the breakdown of Boxer variants, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 100025 which remains extant.

The Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (Boxer) programme deliveries from industry are progressing in line with the current forecasted targets. To date, 19 Boxer platforms have been fielded to the British Army.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Royal Artillery regiments will be equipped with RCH155.

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

On current plans, RCH 155 will initially be fielded to 1^st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, 4^th Regiment Royal Artillery and 19 Regiment Royal Artillery. However, analysis of future force structures is ongoing, and the final fielding plan remains subject to change.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2026 to Question 103534 on Uncrewed Systems, when is the design phase due to be completed.

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

The Uncrewed Systems Centre purpose and function has been agreed for implementation. To ensure alignment with Defence Reform, work on the design, structure and outputs for Full Operating Capability will continue through 2026. Further announcements will be made in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026 to question 101527 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement, what was the project regarding the ammunition capability of the Armour Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding Sabot munitions.

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

The Armour Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding Sabot munitions was one of three ammunitions proposed to be reinstated for use in the 30mm Rarden used by the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle. It did not have a specific project name.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the breakdown of the variants of the 623 Boxer vehicles which have been procured by the British Army.

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

Regarding the breakdown of Boxer variants, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 100025 which remains extant.

The Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (Boxer) programme deliveries from industry are progressing in line with the current forecasted targets. To date, 19 Boxer platforms have been fielded to the British Army.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2026 to question 101527 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement, if he will take steps to revalidate all information in the 2024-25 Ministry of Defence Accounts.

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

I will write to the hon. Member shortly with a full response and place a copy of that 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 13 January 2026 to question 101527 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement, by when he plans re-publish the 2024-25 Ministry of Defence Accounts and publish a public correction.

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

I will write to the hon. Member shortly with a full response and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the out-of-service date is for Fuchs CBRN.

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

The current Out of Service Dates (OSDs) for the platforms can be found in the table below:

OSDs are continuously reviewed to ensure that the British Army has the capabilities it requires to deliver against Defence commitments.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the out-of-service date is for Stormer.

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

The current Out of Service Dates (OSDs) for the platforms can be found in the table below:

OSDs are continuously reviewed to ensure that the British Army has the capabilities it requires to deliver against Defence commitments.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Ministry of Defence accounts 2024-25, what did the Melorius write-off and constructive losses of £12,552,000 relate to.

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

Initiated to replace an in-service capability, MELORIUS was a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Medical Countermeasure project to rapidly develop and provide immediate treatment to a person exposed to a Nerve Agent.

A Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) product became available during the development stage of the project, following changes in the commercial market. Project MELORIUS was re-evaluated and a decision was made to stop further development, with funds reinvested into procuring a COTS solution. This represented the best value for money for the taxpayer, a low-risk option and significantly reduced the delivery timescales.

The constructive loss of £12,552,000 was incurred during the active management of stopping project MELORIUS. It relates to the safe disposal of 110,000 medical devices, a necessary up-front purchase, and the associated costs of development and testing of the products.

In delivering the best capabilities for our Armed Forces, it is vital that we continually review the market and emerging technologies for ways to enhance our current offering, to ensure that our troops have what they need to operate effectively and the ability to respond to evolving threats.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what upgrades will be made to increase the a) power and b) torque of the Perkins CV12-6A V12 diesel engine as part of the Challenger 3 programme.

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

As a precursor to the conversion of Challenger 2 to Challenger 3, the Heavy Armour Automotive Improvement Programme introduced a series of upgrades to the automotive system, including bringing the Perkins CV12‑6A engine to a common build standard. Options remain available should additional power be required in the future.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the out-of-service date is for a) Terrier, b) Titan and c) Trojan.

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

The current Out of Service Dates (OSDs) for the platforms can be found in the table below:

OSDs are continuously reviewed to ensure that the British Army has the capabilities it requires to deliver against Defence commitments.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Armed forces to launch 'Gap Year' scheme for young people to bolster skills and leadership, published on 27 December 2025, what is his target number of recruits for each remaining year of the current Parliament.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty) on 13 January 2026, to Question 102946.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-05/102946

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Armed forces to launch 'Gap Year' scheme for young people to bolster skills and leadership, published on 27 December 2025, when he plans to announce the salary received by recruits on the scheme.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty) on 13 January 2026, to Question 102946.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-05/102946

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Armed forces to launch 'Gap Year' scheme for young people to bolster skills and leadership, published on 27 December 2025, what is the annual cost of implementing the scheme.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty) on 13 January 2026, to Question 102946.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-05/102946

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Armed forces to launch 'Gap Year' scheme for young people to bolster skills and leadership, published on 27 December 2025, what the length will be of the RAF scheme.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty) on 13 January 2026, to Question 102946.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-05/102946