Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of (a) named day questions and (b) ordinary written questions were responded to by his Department within the required timescale in (i) May 2025, (ii) June 2025, (iii) July 2025, (iv) August 2025, (v) September 2025, (vi) October 2025 and (vii) November 2025.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Government recognises the importance of the effective and timely handling of written parliamentary questions (WPQs).
The following table provides the proportion of (a) named day and (b) ordinary written parliamentary questions answered with the required timescales for the months requested.
2025 | Named Day | Ordinary Written |
May | 72% | 91% |
June | 79% | 94% |
July | 89% | 95% |
August | - | - |
September | 83% | 82% |
October | 99% | 94% |
November | 72% | 90% |
Notes on the data:
The House of Commons Procedure Committee monitors Departmental PQ performance and publishes a report of the Government’s consolidated PQ data following the end of each session.
Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 58044 on Strategic Defence Review and with reference to the freedom of information request FOI2025/17106, which trade unions were offered access to the Strategic Defence Review before 5.00pm on 2 June 2025.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As stated in the response to FOI2025/17106 in the FOI response that the hon. Member has already received, engagement with key stakeholders ahead of any major publications, such as the Strategic Defence Review, is entirely appropriate given the impact such publications can have.
The Review as published was intended for a public audience and does not contain any classified or restricted commercial information. Trade Unions did not see the Review prior to publication.
Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library his Department's response to the freedom of information request, reference FOI2025/17106.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I can confirm I am content to place a copy of my response in the library of the House.
Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to provide an answer to the freedom of information request with reference FOI2025/17106.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this freedom of information request. A response will be issued shortly.
Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that single sex (a) living accommodation, (b) bathroom and (c) changing facilities for service personnel are compliant with the law.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) welcomes the Supreme Court's ruling and the clarity that it brings for women and service providers. The MOD is undertaking a review of its internal policies to ensure compliance with the ruling; this includes living accommodation, ablutions, changing facilities, and single-sex spaces. We will be guided by the revised Equality and Human Rights Commission Code of Practice when it becomes available.
Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 58044 on Strategic Defence Review, which Parliamentarians who are not members of the Government were (a) offered and (b) took up the offer of access to the Strategic Defence Review before 5pm on 2 June 2025.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews. At no point did stakeholders receive any commercially sensitive information ahead of publication.
Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56305 on Strategic Defence Review, which think tanks were (a) offered and (b) took up the offer of access to the Strategic Defence Review before 5pm on 2nd June 2025.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews. At no point did stakeholders receive any commercially sensitive information ahead of publication.
Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 56305 on the Strategic Defence Review, if he will provide the names of the (a) industry, (b) media, (c) trade associations and (d) think tanks who were offered access to the Strategic Defence Review before 5pm on 2 June 2025.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.
Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 56305 on the Strategic Defence Review, if he will publish the names of people offered access to the Strategic Defence Review before 5pm on 2 June 2025; and when that access was for each person.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.
Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK armed forces personnel are categorised as NATO dental fitness Category (a) 2 and (b) 3 on the basis that they need dental care or treatment to achieve optimal dental fitness.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As at 1 April 2025 (latest available data) 21,461 Armed Forces personnel were categorised as NATO Category 2. As at 1 April 2025 13,742, were categorised as NATO Category 3, meaning that they require either preventative or interventive treatment to achieve optimal dental fitness.
A further 20,870 UK Armed Forces personnel were categorised as NATO Category 4, meaning that they require a periodic dental examination, have an undetermined dental status, or have missing or incomplete dental records.