Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last met with his US counterpart; and what issues were discussed.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Defence Secretary regularly engages with the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. They most recently met on 10 December in Washington DC where they discussed a number of defence and security issues, including Ukraine, AUKUS, the upcoming US National Defense Strategy and strategic alignment.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to increase UK ice cutter ship capacity for use in the High North.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy (RN) does not currently operate a dedicated ice cutter capability in the High North. However, the Ministry of Defence recognises the increasing strategic importance of the region and continually assesses its capability requirements for the High North.
All spending decisions on platforms will be made as part of the Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of UK defence businesses working with the Office of Strategic Capital at the US Defense Department.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence Officials, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence, have engaged with US counterparts from the Office of Strategic Capital regarding strategic partnering, most recently in September 2025. Officials have discussed a number of topics, including UK defence industry, Trusted Capital, and opportunities for engagement.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on UK defence companies working with the Office of Strategic Capital.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence Officials, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence, have engaged with US counterparts from the Office of Strategic Capital regarding strategic partnering, most recently in September 2025. Officials have discussed a number of topics, including UK defence industry, Trusted Capital, and opportunities for engagement.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his officials last met with counterparts from the Office of Strategic Capital at the US Defense Department.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence Officials, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence, have engaged with US counterparts from the Office of Strategic Capital regarding strategic partnering, most recently in September 2025. Officials have discussed a number of topics, including UK defence industry, Trusted Capital, and opportunities for engagement.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the Office of Strategic Capital.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence Officials, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence, have engaged with US counterparts from the Office of Strategic Capital regarding strategic partnering, most recently in September 2025. Officials have discussed a number of topics, including UK defence industry, Trusted Capital, and opportunities for engagement.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with Parkinson's Disease are in receipt of the Universal Credit health element.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information is not readily available.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of UK ice cutter ship capacity for use in the High North.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy (RN) does not currently operate a dedicated ice cutter capability in the High North. However, the Ministry of Defence recognises the increasing strategic importance of the region and continually assesses its capability requirements for the High North.
All spending decisions on platforms will be made as part of the Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what ice cutter capability the UK has for use in the High North.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy (RN) does not currently operate a dedicated ice cutter capability in the High North. However, the Ministry of Defence recognises the increasing strategic importance of the region and continually assesses its capability requirements for the High North.
All spending decisions on platforms will be made as part of the Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the strength of the Joint Expeditionary Force to deter Russian threats in the High North.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Secretary of State for Defence last met with his Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) counterparts at the JEF Defence Ministers meeting from 4-5 November 2025 in Bodø, Norway. This was the first JEF Defence Ministers meeting to be held in the High North, demonstrating the JEF’s focus on the region. We are considering dates for the next meeting. Addressing threats in the High North will remain a key focus for discussion at the next JEF Leaders’ Summit, which will be held in Finland in Q1 2026.
While NATO remains the ultimate guarantor of European security, the JEF enhances the collective security and stability of Northern Europe, the High North, and the Baltic Region. It provides, a rapid, adaptable, high-readiness military capability for crisis response, collective defence, and security providing credible, high-readiness responses to hybrid scenarios across all domains, as was demonstrated with Nordic Warden in December 2024, the rapid response to the damage of the Esstlink-2 power cable in the Baltic Sea.
As Framework Nation for the JEF, the UK is constantly working to improve readiness and coordination amongst JEF members. Exercise TARASSIS, the JEF’s key activity in 2025 and the largest JEF activity in its 11-year history, was held across the High North and Baltic regions through September and October 2025. JEF activity will continue to develop in the region over the next year with an ambitious series of exercises designed to build upon TARASSIS and further strengthen the interoperability and effectiveness of the JEF.