David Reed

AI security has clear implications for our national security. The programme to deliver the Laboratory for AI Security Research has only just started its work and will bring together government, academia and industry to share information and work together to enhance AI security and inform many aspects of government's work.

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms, and further explanatory information at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/what-are-the-changes-to-agricultural-property-relief. Around 500 estates across the UK are expected to be affected each year from 2026-27.

In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.

AI tools have been used to help review and analyse the high volume of submissions received during the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) process, not to make recommendations. The SDR is being led by the Reviewers, and supported by a wider team of external experts as well as drawing on the expertise of the Ministry of Defence. The vast majority of the Review has been carried out by humans. Al tools play a supporting role. enhancing the team’s ability to focus on high-value tasks, like in-depth reading and discussion of submissions, thereby facilitating a more comprehensive review, whilst being one part of the process.

On 17 July 2024, the Prime Minister commissioned the Defence Secretary to oversee the Strategic Defence Review, which is headed by three external Reviewers, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, General Sir Richard Barrons and Dr Fiona Hill CMG. The Review is being conducted with the best value for money for Defence in mind, within current budgets. Costs will be provided after the review has concluded.

No need to change guidelines on submissions, executive summaries and bullet-point recommendations has been identified. The Strategic Defence Review is being led by the Reviewers, and supported by a wider team of external experts as well as drawing on the expertise of the Ministry of Defence. The vast majority of the Review has been carried out by humans. Al tools play a supporting role, enhancing the team’s ability to focus on high-value tasks, like in-depth reading and discussion of submissions, thereby facilitating a more comprehensive review, whilst being one part of the process.

While the design, headcount and organisational structure of the future Military Strategic Head Quarters (MSHQ) is still in the development stage, it is expected that the establishment of the MSHQ will be cost neutral and contained within the overall Defence budget.

The Ministry of Defence regularly liaises with the Home Office on a range of issues, but there are no plans for Defence to undertake actions in relation to migration in the UK currently outside the Afghan relocations work.

The maintenance of former UK public buildings and monuments, in Hong Kong, is a matter for the Hong Kong authorities.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission currently maintain a number of UK war graves in Hong Kong. They are unaware of any wider issues concerning former UK public and military infrastructure within Hong Kong.

The Ministry of Defence is working with several technology providers in Defence's digital ecosystem to support the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). This allowed the team to leverage modern business practices and technologies to analyse a wide range of responses. The Department has rigorous controls in place to secure and use data in accordance with regulatory and ethical guidelines, to which SDR activities, including AI, aligned.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to working collaboratively with innovators in the technology sector to improve cyber capabilities across Defence. We recognise the valuable skills, technology, and pace of development in cyber, much of which is driven by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The recently published Defence Industrial Strategy - Statement of Intent acknowledges the vital contribution SMEs can offer not just in cyber but across the spectrum of capabilities. Our priority is to create new partnerships between Government and business, and as a first step we will create the Defence Industrial Joint Council with a specific objective of broadening participation, which includes the SME community.

The MOD is further working closely with industry and external stakeholders in conducting a Strategic Defence Review 25 that will set the Defence Plan including the future intent for cyber.

Since Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has collaborated with both Ukrainian hardware and software technology companies in the defence sector.

UK MOD is constantly assessing what lessons can be learned from all partnerships, including how close and agile partnerships can help both Ukraine and UK defence industrial capability and capacity.

Details are not released publicly due to operational security.

The Strategic Defence Review is considering all aspects of Defence, involving, and receiving inputs from other Government Departments, industry and allies and partners. Throughout this process we have collaborated with a range of international counterparts to understand how UK Defence can best take advantage of the pace of commercial technological developments.

The UK collaborates with a range of international partners, including Israel, to develop cutting-edge capabilities to assure the British Armed Forces' continued strategic advantage. Ministry of Defence officials engage regularly with their international counterparts to further the UK's interests at home and overseas, and we learn continually from our overseas partners.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) make a vital contribution to economic growth and are a valuable source of technical innovation in defence. This is recognised in the recently published Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, as well as the Department's Social Value policies. We work with our largest suppliers through a network of their SME Champions, Trade Associations and SME representatives to ensure that SMEs have fair access to opportunities in our supply chain and that our prime contractors are adopting policies, such as fair payment practices, that support small businesses working in defence.

The Multi-Role Support Ship programme is in the Concept Phase. It is funded from the Defence budget to enable the Royal Navy and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) to conduct detailed preparatory work to deliver first of class by 2033.

The Ministry of Defence currently forecasts a combined total of £4.5 million per annum for the “Base Maintenance” of RFA Wave Ruler and RFA Wave Knight.

The retirement of HMS Albion and Bulwark will not impact the operational programme of the Royal Marines, who continue to deploy globally.

Both are currently held at lower readiness having not been to sea since 2023 and 2017 respectively. This Government inherited a position where neither was due to go to sea again before their planned out of service dates of 2033 and 2034.

The Royal Marines are supported by the three Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) and RFA ARGUS, which also provides aviation support and can act as a casualty receiving ship. These ships will continue to support amphibious capability until they are succeeded by planned Multi Role Support Ships.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has invested significantly in developing its specialist cyber workforce by training cyber operators and planners at the Defence Cyber Academy augmented by single-Service environmentally specific training, to undertake cyber operations and increase Defence resilience. MOD has developed a Cyber Individual Training Environment (CITE) platform to allow personnel to access capability specific training, on-line training resources and a practical training environment. Cyber warfare is an integrated component of Defence exercises, recognising that cyber power is the ability to protect national interests through cyberspace that underpins our success on operations in all environments and domains.

The cost of potential repairs for HMS Northumberland was estimated to be at least £120 million. The decision taken by the Secretary of State to decommission the ship early has avoided most of this cost, saving the taxpayer in the region of £105 million.

The Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS) programme will recapitalise the Royal Navy (RN)’s amphibious fleet, which consists of the three Bay class landing ships (RFA Lyme Bay, Mounts Bay and Cardigan Bay) and RFA Argus, which provides medical and aviation support. These vessels, which are planned to have left service by 2034, are due to be replaced by MRSS. The MRSS programme is in the concept phase and aims to deliver the first of class by 2033.

The retirement of HMS Albion and Bulwark will not impact the operational programme of the Royal Marines, who continue to deploy globally.

Both are currently held at lower readiness having not been to sea since 2023 and 2017 respectively. This Government inherited a position where neither was due to go to sea again before their planned out of service dates of 2033 and 2034.

The Royal Marines are supported by the three Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) and RFA ARGUS, which also provides aviation support and can act as a casualty receiving ship. These ships will continue to support amphibious capability until they are succeeded by planned Multi Role Support Ships.

The retirement of HMS Albion and Bulwark will not impact the operational programme of the Royal Marines, who continue to deploy globally.

Both are currently held at lower readiness having not been to sea since 2023 and 2017 respectively. This Government inherited a position where neither was due to go to sea again before their planned out of service dates of 2033 and 2034.

The Royal Marines are supported by the three Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) and RFA ARGUS, which also provides aviation support and can act as a casualty receiving ship. These ships will continue to support amphibious capability until they are succeeded by planned Multi Role Support Ships.

The retirement of HMS Albion and Bulwark will not impact the operational programme of the Royal Marines, who continue to deploy globally.

Both are currently held at lower readiness having not been to sea since 2023 and 2017 respectively. This Government inherited a position where neither was due to go to sea again before their planned out of service dates of 2033 and 2034.

The Royal Marines are supported by the three Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) and RFA ARGUS, which also provides aviation support and can act as a casualty receiving ship. These ships will continue to support amphibious capability until they are succeeded by planned Multi Role Support Ships.

The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with BAE Systems (BAES) to ensure the Type 26 programme remains on track to meet all user requirements and deliver world-class Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates to replace the Type 23.

Following the recent steel-cut ceremony for HMS Sheffield on 28 November 2024, five of the eight Type 26 frigates are now under construction on the Clyde. HMS Glasgow is forecast to achieve Initial Operating Capability in 2028, with construction of all eight frigates expected to be completed by the mid-2030s. HMS Cardiff recently completed her float-off operation successfully and has joined HMS Glasgow in the dry dock at Scotstoun for the outfitting phase.

The Type 45 is already in service with no new vessels to be built.

The Type 26 is forecast to achieve Initial Operating Capability in 2028 with ships expected to enter service between 2028 and 2035.

HMS Venturer will be the first in Class of the Type 31 and is scheduled to be In Service and ready for operations by the end of the decade. All five Type 31 ships are planned to be in service by the early 2030s.

The Type 32 frigate programme remains in the concept phrase and has not yet reached the level of maturity to allow publication of a specific timetable for design and procurement.

The Type 32 frigate programme remains in the concept phrase and has not yet reached the level of maturity to allow publication of a specific timetable for design and procurement. This is consistent with a programme of this size and complexity at this early stage in its development.

The UK remains robust in its ability to form a fully operational Carrier Strike Group (CSG). This has been evidenced in 2024 by the UK CSG involvement in Exercise STRIKE WARRIOR and participation in the NATO Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER. This will be further evidenced by the upcoming deployment of the CSG in 2025 to the Indo-Pacific.

One Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier and all supporting units are always available at the required notice to deploy globally whenever there is an operational need. The appropriate force generation, training, integration, maintenance, assurance and currency of these units is a continuous process to ensure their availability for deployment.

The Ministry of Defence routinely works with colleagues in the National Security community, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Cabinet Office on the development and procurement of digital capabilities for National Security. All of which is fully consistent and aligns with the Government’s approach to transforming for a Digital Future.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is actively leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness across both the Armed Forces and the Department. In the business space, MOD is exploring use of informational chatbots, machine learning applications and generative AI to automate and accelerate routine business operations and policy work. We work closely with partners across Government to identify and apply best practice and understand where these tools can support workforce efficiencies.

AI is also being considered for a range of military applications, including helping to accelerate operational tempo; strengthening the Force through greater mass, persistence, and reach; enabling us to operate in environments that would otherwise not be possible; removing our people from harm's way; and making our workforce more effective.

The costs of maintaining both Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are factored into Departmental spend. These vary year on year according to generation cycle of each ship, changing equipment enhancement and capability insertions.