Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November to Question 91684 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, who is responsible for the definition of a Defence Choice.

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

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) uses its capability planning and decision‑making processes to balance a range of factors and ensure resources are used effectively.

All financial decisions are accounted for in the MOD Annual Report and Accounts.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November to Question 91684 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, if he will provide a list of all Defence Choices.

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

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) uses its capability planning and decision‑making processes to balance a range of factors and ensure resources are used effectively.

All financial decisions are accounted for in the MOD Annual Report and Accounts.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has held discussions regarding the number of Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates that will be manufactured as part of the £10 billion deal with Norway.

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

Indeed, the Secretary of State has been in Norway in the past few days. The Secretary of State engages routinely with his Norwegian counterpart as part of the evolving UK-Norway strategic defence partnership.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent on the upkeep of HMS Albion since 20 November 2024.

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

The annual maintenance cost for HMS ALBION is circa £2 million per annum. This expenditure is to ensure that the ship remains safe whilst alongside HMNB Devonport on a tidal mooring. This ensures the ship remains compliant with environmental and safety legislation until disposal is complete.

HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark were tied up by the last government with no intention to send them to sea again before their out of service dates in the 2030s.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the out of service date of HMS Iron Duke.

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

As the hon. Member will recall from his time as a Defence Minister. The Ministry of Defence does not routinely publish out-of-service dates for individual Royal Navy vessels.

The precise out-of-service date will be determined through balancing operational requirements, maintenance schedules, and transition to modern and world leading capabilities introduced with the Type 26 and Type 31 Frigates entering service.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it remains his Department's policy to sell HMS Albion.

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

HMS ALBION is currently moored at HMNB Devonport and is being retained to support the generation of HMS BULWARK prior to her sale to Brazil. No plans for HMS ALBION’s disposal have been confirmed.

HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark were tied up by the last government with no intention to send them to sea again before their out of service dates in the 2030s.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January to Question 100908 on Guided Weapons: Procurement, how many contracts have been placed.

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

Under Project BRAKESTOP, 11 contracts have been placed covering development and production of prototype effectors, a bespoke warhead, test ranges, and other ancillary services such as transportation and storage.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there has been a delay to the announcement of the replacement for the Hawk jet trainer.

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

A plan to replace these aircraft will be detailed in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan. All elements of this work, including the aircraft replacement, are progressing together. All decisions on future procurements will be made as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is for announcing the replacement for the Hawk jet trainer.

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

A plan to replace these aircraft will be detailed in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan. All elements of this work, including the aircraft replacement, are progressing together. All decisions on future procurements will be made as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason was the out of service date of Watchkeeper was extended beyond March 2025.

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

The Army’s Watchkeeper Mk 1 Uncrewed Aerial System was due to be retired from service from March 2025 but will now remain in service until March 2027 to allow for the delivery of its replacement capability, Project CORVUS.

The cost of keeping the Watchkeeper programme in service for the additional two-year period is currently anticipated to be £ 95,659,000.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) he or (b) any of his ministerial colleagues held discussions with representatives from Global Counsel regarding procurement contracts between 10 February 2025 and 11 September 2025.

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

Ministerial meetings with external organisations and the purpose of these meetings are reported quarterly online on GOV.UK.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many long range one-way attack drones his Department has ordered for (a) Ukraine and (b) the British armed forces since 5 July 2024.

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

At the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in October 2025, the Defence Secretary confirmed that £600 million has been invested by the UK this year to accelerate drone delivery to Ukraine, with more than 85,000 military drones delivered in between April and October 2025 out of our aim of 100,000 in this financial year.

The Ministry of Defence has had delivery of nearly 10,000 uncrewed systems since July 2024. Due to operational security considerations, it is important to guard against the threat of adversary data aggregation regarding the specific detailed breakdown of UK military capability, including platform numbers and types, so would be inappropriate to comment further.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review were fully costed on publication.

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

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was presented to the Department by the external reviewers, who were working to the Terms of Reference that the review be deliverable and affordable within the fiscal envelope available to Defence

The Department is now working on the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which will take the SDR’s strategic direction and its costed recommendations, including on capabilities, and turn that into a delivery plan to ensure we deliver an affordable programme that delivers on the SDR. Defence spending will see a major sustained increase over the next decade.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Strategic Defence Review was costed before publication.

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

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was presented to the Department by the external reviewers, who were working to the Terms of Reference that the review be deliverable and affordable within the fiscal envelope available to Defence

The Department is now working on the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which will take the SDR’s strategic direction and its costed recommendations, including on capabilities, and turn that into a delivery plan to ensure we deliver an affordable programme that delivers on the SDR. Defence spending will see a major sustained increase over the next decade.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Government press release entitled Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection, published on 17 July 25, if the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) will be relocated from Porton Down.

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

As set out in the answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention to a Parliamentary Question in July 2025, ‘The move [of the UKHSA facility] to Harlow [from Porton Down] will only affect UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) staff and therefore anyone on the site employed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) will be unaffected’.

Dstl’s core site will remain at Porton Down for the long term, and Dstl continues to make substantial investment in infrastructure and capabilities at the site. A £50 million + Chemical Weapons Defence Centre facility has recently been completed and Dstl is undertaking a range of other infrastructure works to renew and replace other facilities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February to Question 108700 on Strategic Defence Review, if he will publish a breakdown of the £270 billion to be spent on Defence in this Parliament as a percentage of GDP for each remaining year of the current Parliament.

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

The annual breakdown of the £270 billion is below:

The Government will be spending 2.6% of GDP on defence in 2027.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he held discussions with the lead reviewers of the Strategic Defence Review regarding the cost of implementing its recommendations.

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

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was presented to the Department by the external reviewers, who were working to the Terms of Reference that the review be deliverable and affordable within the fiscal envelope available to Defence

The Department is now working on the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which will take the SDR’s strategic direction and its costed recommendations, including on capabilities, and turn that into a delivery plan to ensure we deliver an affordable programme that delivers on the SDR. Defence spending will see a major sustained increase over the next decade.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the lead reviewers of the Strategic Defence Review were asked to provide costings for their recommendations.

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

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was presented to the Department by the external reviewers, who were working to the Terms of Reference that the review be deliverable and affordable within the fiscal envelope available to Defence

The Department is now working on the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which will take the SDR’s strategic direction and its costed recommendations, including on capabilities, and turn that into a delivery plan to ensure we deliver an affordable programme that delivers on the SDR. Defence spending will see a major sustained increase over the next decade.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to procure a replacement for the Hawk jet trainer from a British company.

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

A plan to replace these aircraft will be detailed in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan. All elements of this work, including the aircraft replacement, are progressing together. All decisions on future procurements will be made as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Annex 1, Clause 1 (b), of the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia, published on 22 Mat 2025, whether unrestricted ability to control the storage of all goods, including but not limited to fuels, weapons and hazardous materials, includes the (a) storage and (b) presence of nuclear weapons.

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

Having said the answer three times in the debate and subsequently in the chamber too, I am surprised the hon. Gentleman needs me to say this again but.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave in the House of Commons on 28 January, column 959. It is longstanding UK policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at any given location.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has placed any restrictions on the number of reservist service days an individual can conduct in the current financial year.

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

The UK Armed Forces continually review Reserve Service Days (RSD) to ensure that the Reserve Forces meet operational requirements. There have been no reductions in RSD by the Services for the current financial year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made any changes to the number of reservist service days an individual can conduct in the current financial year.

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

The UK Armed Forces continually review Reserve Service Days (RSD) to ensure that the Reserve Forces meet operational requirements. There have been no reductions in RSD by the Services for the current financial year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has authorised any reduction in reserve service days in the remainder of this financial year.

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

The UK Armed Forces continually review Reserve Service Days (RSD) to ensure that the Reserve Forces meet operational requirements. There have been no reductions in RSD by the Services for the current financial year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2025 to Question 98834 on Navy: North Atlantic Bastion, how many of the capabilities that will form Atlantic Bastion are (a) new and (b) currently in service.

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

Atlantic Bastion combines the latest autonomous and AI technologies with world-class warships and aircraft to create a highly advanced hybrid fighting force that will see ships, submarines, aircraft and uncrewed vessels connected. The scope of the capability enhancements delivered through Atlantic Bastion remains dependent on the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2025 to Question 98834 on Navy: North Atlantic Bastion, if he will list the individual capabilities that form Atlantic Bastion.

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

Atlantic Bastion combines the latest autonomous and AI technologies with world-class warships and aircraft to create a highly advanced hybrid fighting force that will see ships, submarines, aircraft and uncrewed vessels connected. The scope of the capability enhancements delivered through Atlantic Bastion remains dependent on the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2025 to Question 98834 on Navy: North Atlantic Bastion, whether all individual capabilities that form Atlantic Bastion will be required to reach full operating capability in order to deliver Atlantic Bastion.

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

Atlantic Bastion combines the latest autonomous and AI technologies with world-class warships and aircraft to create a highly advanced hybrid fighting force that will see ships, submarines, aircraft and uncrewed vessels connected. The scope of the capability enhancements delivered through Atlantic Bastion remains dependent on the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2025 to Question 98834 on Navy: North Atlantic Bastion, whether Atlantic Bastion has a target delivery date.

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

Atlantic Bastion combines the latest autonomous and AI technologies with world-class warships and aircraft to create a highly advanced hybrid fighting force that will see ships, submarines, aircraft and uncrewed vessels connected. The scope of the capability enhancements delivered through Atlantic Bastion remains dependent on the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the experimental stage of Atlantic Bastion to conclude.

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

Atlantic Bastion combines the latest autonomous and AI technologies with world-class warships and aircraft to create a highly advanced hybrid fighting force that will see ships, submarines, aircraft and uncrewed vessels connected. The scope of the capability enhancements delivered through Atlantic Bastion remains dependent on the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made a cost impact assessment of announcing his Department's strategic partnership with Palantir on 18 September prior to signing a contract with Palantir on 30 December 2025.

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

The Strategic Partnership Arrangement announced on 18 September 2025 is a nonbinding statement of intent and did not create any financial commitments for the Department.

The subsequent contract signed on 30 December 2025 followed the Department’s full commercial and governance processes, including value for money and assurance checks, to ensure the best outcome for Defence and the taxpayer.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the £240,600,000 cost of the MOD Palantir Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025 was budgeted in the (a) previous or (b) current financial year.

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

The £240,600,000 cost of the Palantir Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025 falls within the Department’s existing delegated budgets for the next three financial years. No separate HM Treasury approval was required, and the Agreement was funded through the Ministry of Defence’s established financial planning and governance processes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he discussed with HM Treasury the cost of the contract signed with Palantir on 30 December prior to its signature.

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

The Ministry of Defence followed all required approvals processes ahead of signing the Enterprise Agreement with Palantir on 30 December 2025. This included HM Treasury, Cabinet Office and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

All necessary commercial and financial scrutiny was completed before the Department entered into the agreement.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will state when HM Treasury approved the budget for the MOD Palantir Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025.

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

There was no requirement for HM Treasury to approve a budget for the Palantir Enterprise Agreement signed on 30 December 2025.