Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to divert any of the £5bn in funding for Project Gigabit to urban areas.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Project Gigabit is designed to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to premises that will not be built to by the market without subsidy.

It is not possible to specify the proportion of Project Gigabit funding that will be allocated to rural and urban areas, as this depends on suppliers’ commercial rollout, which is subject to change. Funding will continue to be provided where it is needed. However, between April 2022 and March 2023, 90% of premises benefiting from government broadband schemes were in rural areas.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what proportion of Project Gigabit’s £5bn in funding will be used to deliver broadband in (a) rural and (b) urban areas.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Project Gigabit is designed to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to premises that will not be built to by the market without subsidy.

It is not possible to specify the proportion of Project Gigabit funding that will be allocated to rural and urban areas, as this depends on suppliers’ commercial rollout, which is subject to change. Funding will continue to be provided where it is needed. However, between April 2022 and March 2023, 90% of premises benefiting from government broadband schemes were in rural areas.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to footnote 1 to table 4.8 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, what the (a) financial quantum, (b) relevant programme, (c) Other Government Departments involved in and (d) other relevant details of those Budget Cover Transfers are.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

All of the information relating to Budget Cover Transfers for the Department is already published in the public domain in the Ministry of Defence Main Estimates Memorandum for 2024 to 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the fire at Barrow nuclear shipyard.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the written statement I laid in the House on 30 October 2024, HCWS176.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of when Defence spending will reach 2.5% of GDP, and whether he has issued subsequent guidance to (a) Lord Robertson and (b) the external reviewers of Strategic Defence Review 2004-05.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

This Government's commitment to spending 2.5% on Defence is included in the Strategic Defence Review Terms of Reference. The Review will conclude in accordance with these terms, taking into account what is deliverable and affordable.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to Question 8178 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, tabled by the Hon. Member for South Suffolk on 9 October 2024 for answer on 14 October 2024.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much financing his Department will contribute to the Chagos leasing settlement.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the results of training flights using Watchkeeper WK450 tactical unmanned aerial vehicle systems in Estonia in August 2024.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

A battery from 47^th Regiment Royal Artillery successfully deployed to Estonia this August to operate the Watchkeeper system as part of Exercise ATHENA SHIELD. This was a proof-of-concept exercise to fly Watchkeeper at the latest build standard, in a strategically relevant theatre.

Lessons from this deployment are still being analysed and no decisions about Watchkeeper’s future commitments have been made. While there are no current plans to permanently deploy a full Drone Regiment to Estonia, the recently updated defence roadmap with Estonia demonstrates the UK’s continuing commitment to Estonia and securing NATO’s eastern flank.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to permanently deploy a drone-specialist regiment in Estonia.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

A battery from 47^th Regiment Royal Artillery successfully deployed to Estonia this August to operate the Watchkeeper system as part of Exercise ATHENA SHIELD. This was a proof-of-concept exercise to fly Watchkeeper at the latest build standard, in a strategically relevant theatre.

Lessons from this deployment are still being analysed and no decisions about Watchkeeper’s future commitments have been made. While there are no current plans to permanently deploy a full Drone Regiment to Estonia, the recently updated defence roadmap with Estonia demonstrates the UK’s continuing commitment to Estonia and securing NATO’s eastern flank.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to undertake further drone flight tests in Estonia following the 47th Regiment Royal Artillery’s testing during August.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

A battery from 47^th Regiment Royal Artillery successfully deployed to Estonia this August to operate the Watchkeeper system as part of Exercise ATHENA SHIELD. This was a proof-of-concept exercise to fly Watchkeeper at the latest build standard, in a strategically relevant theatre.

Lessons from this deployment are still being analysed and no decisions about Watchkeeper’s future commitments have been made. While there are no current plans to permanently deploy a full Drone Regiment to Estonia, the recently updated defence roadmap with Estonia demonstrates the UK’s continuing commitment to Estonia and securing NATO’s eastern flank.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Army’s Watchkeeper mid-life extension programme.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Work to assess the options available to the Department regarding the Watchkeeper Mid-Life Extension programme is ongoing, as such no final assessment has been made.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the potential cost of funding pay rises for armed forces personnel in each of the next three financial years.

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

The cost of funding pay rises for Armed Forces personnel in future years will be subject to the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Board.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown of the additional money he will release for munitions procurement as part of the £2.9bn defence spending announced in the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Future prioritisation will be determined in the usual way and in line with the findings of the Strategic Defence Review.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the cost of the Military Strategic Headquarters.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

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

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the additional funding for Continuity of Education Allowance to compensate for introducing VAT on private school fees will come from the Ministry of Defence budget.

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

In line with how the Continuity of Education Allowance normally operates, the Ministry of Defence will continue to pay up to 90% of private school fees following the VAT changes on 1 January.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is fully engaged with NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) programme across all areas in which the UK is supporting DIANA initiatives, including strategic direction, challenge formation and rapid adoption.

As the host of the European Regional Office of DIANA, the UK MOD and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office retains a close working relationship with the DIANA Executive to ensure we meet our responsibilities on duty of care to NATO International Staff living and working in the UK.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to continue providing funding for NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic into 2025/26.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK remains committed to funding NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), as part of its wider commitment to NATO.

As the host of the European Regional Office of DIANA, the UK has been a champion of this initiative, additionally committing an affiliated UK Accelerator and bolstering access to national test centres across the UK to innovators and start-ups.

DIANA's success is essential to ensure NATO remains agile and responsive to technological threats and opportunities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on helicopter pilot training in the armed forces.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Government remains committed to setting a path to spending 2.5% of GDP at a future fiscal event. Budget allocations will be set in the usual way and informed by the findings of the Strategic Defence Review.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on engineer retention in the armed forces.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Government is committed to setting a path to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence at a future fiscal event. Budget allocations will be set in the usual way and informed by the findings of the Strategic Defence Review.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Research and Development programmes were listed under the Defence Sourcing Portal in the last twelve months.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

There were 114 Invitation To Tender (ITTs) published on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) in the last twelve months (01/11/2023 to 31/10/2024). These ITTs were listed under the category of Research and Development services.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many helicopter engineers are employed at RAF Shawbury.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Due to commercial sensitivities, we cannot disclose the number of contracted civilian engineers based at RAF Shawbury.

There are a number of military engineers based at RAF Shawbury but they are not necessarily employed in direct engineering roles.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the manufacture of large-calibre gun barrels as part of the Trinity House Agreement will exclusively use recycled British steel.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Trinity House Agreement will drive investment into the UK, and pave the way for the way for a new artillery gun barrel factory to be opened in the UK. The opening of the Rheinmetall factory will see the UK manufacture artillery gun barrels for the first time in 10 years, using British steel produced by Sheffield Forgemasters.

Discussions are ongoing between Rheinmetall and Sheffield Forgemasters on the specific arrangements.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to (a) continue and (b) amend the Defence STEM Undergraduate scheme.

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

Defence is fully committed to encouraging and recruiting high quality STEM graduates. The Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (DSUS) is a key part of that, with enduring funding secured within the Departments Annual Budget Cycle (ABC) 24. Amendments to the DSUS will be considered as demands on Defence require it.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of how many helicopter pilots at RAF Shawbury will be unable to complete their training on schedule this year.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

There will be a limited short-term impact to the number of trainees completing UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) Rotary Wing aircrew training at RAF Shawbury this year.

However, this will not have an impact to the number of Tri-Service aircrew commencing Operational Conversion Unit training or on Front Line units. UKMFTS continues to deliver the number of Rotary Wing aircrew needed by Defence.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October to Question 10454 on Strategic Defence Review, whether all submissions by Parliamentarians will be read in the first instance by human beings, before the use of artificial intelligence.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Strategic Defence Review received a number of submissions from Parliamentarians, and all have been read by human beings.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the ratio of STEM-related MOD Apprenticeship schemes to Civilian MOD Apprenticeship schemes.

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

There has been no specific assessment undertaken on the policy implications of ratios of Civil Service to Military STEM apprenticeships. Both organisations separately draw upon the government apprenticeship levy reducing the impact of any policy changes relating to the ratio of Military to Civil Service apprenticeships. STEM apprenticeship schemes are strongly supported across both the Civil Service and Military commands and are a priority as we look to the future of apprenticeships.

The Ministry of Defence is the largest single deliverer of apprenticeships in the UK, with over 24,000 personnel employed on a nationally recognised apprenticeship programme at any one time. Over 95% of our non-commissioned military recruits are offered an apprenticeship aligned to their trade training and 7.5% of Armed Forces personnel have started an apprenticeship in the last two years. In addition, 3.6% of our Civil Service workforce is currently undertaking an apprenticeship, spanning over 80+ different apprenticeship programmes within a variety of sectors and professional areas, working to build a skilled workforce fit for the future.

Defence's commitment to apprenticeship provision is recognised by the Department for Education’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers rankings 2024, with Army (1), RN (2), RAF (4) and Civil Service (33). Collectively, 130 apprenticeships are offered across the three Services and the Civil Service, ranging from Aeronautical Engineering to Clinical Healthcare Support and Nuclear.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing assistance with VAT on school fees to children of service families not currently in receipt of the Continuity of Education Allowance.

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

The Continuity of Education (CEA) scheme recognises the enormous sacrifices our military families make and aims to minimise the disruption to their children’s education caused by Service commitments involving frequent moves of the family home.

The Government remains committed to improving Service life and renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve and their families. Whilst the new VAT policy does not offer any exemptions, the Government is committed to monitoring how these changes affect military families, with any potential adjustments to the scheme being considered during the next Spending Review.

To protect the integrity of the allowance the Secretary of State has directed that the cap on the current rates is uprated, and CEA rates are recalculated to take into account the addition of VAT. This will ensure the Ministry of Defence continues to pay up to 90% of private school fees following the taxation changes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take to assist recipients of the Continuity of Education Allowance with payment of VAT on school fees.

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

The Continuity of Education (CEA) scheme recognises the enormous sacrifices our military families make and aims to minimise the disruption to their children’s education caused by Service commitments involving frequent moves of the family home.

The Government remains committed to improving Service life and renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve and their families. Whilst the new VAT policy does not offer any exemptions, the Government is committed to monitoring how these changes affect military families, with any potential adjustments to the scheme being considered during the next Spending Review.

To protect the integrity of the allowance the Secretary of State has directed that the cap on the current rates is uprated, and CEA rates are recalculated to take into account the addition of VAT. This will ensure the Ministry of Defence continues to pay up to 90% of private school fees following the taxation changes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact that closing blast furnaces in (a) Port Talbot and (b) Scunthorpe on the UK's (i) virgin steel supply and (ii) defence industry.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

This Government recognises the vital role the UK steel industry plays in Defence, to both our national security and economic growth. .

It is not anticipated that the closure of the blast furnaces at Port Talbot or Scunthorpe will have any adverse impact on Defence, but we will continue to monitor that situation. The Government will be bringing forward a new Steel Strategy next spring that will ensure a sustainable future for UK steelmaking.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies recommendation of the Haythornthwaite Review that the Armed Forces trial new total reward approaches for (a) engineers and (b) other key skills cohorts.

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

The Government is prioritising its response to the Armed Forces recruitment and retention challenge, and has taken action already to modernise recruitment processes and award our Armed Forces the largest pay increase in over two decades. The Haythornthwaite Review work-streams are being taken forward in our longer-term plans, and will be informed by the findings of the Strategic Defence Review. These include trials aimed at a wide engineering cohort, along with other measures to meet the needs of today’s Service people and their families.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support the creation of new jobs in the defence sector.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

This Government recognises the vital role the defence industry plays not only in our national security but also to the economic prosperity and growth of the UK.

In 2022-23, Ministry of Defence (MOD) expenditure supported 239,000 jobs in UK industry and a further 196,000 MOD Civilian and UK Regular Armed Forces personnel based in the UK.

The Defence Secretary has directed that the Defence Industrial Strategy be developed at pace to support this further.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Fixing the foundations: public spending audit 2024-25, updated on 2 August 2024, whether the results of the Spending Review will be announced at a future fiscal event.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The results of ‘Phase 1’ of the Spending Review, announced in July, were laid with the Autumn Budget on 30 October. 'Phase 1’ covers the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. The Budget fixed the envelope for ‘Phase 2’ of the Spending Review, which will conclude in late spring 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans that the GUARDIAN Air Command and Control system based in the UK will reach full operating capability.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The GUARDIAN Air Command and Control system based in the UK is expected to reach Full Operating Capability in 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of the increase to employer's national insurance contributions on the Ministry of Defence.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government will be supporting departments with the cost of additional employer national insurance contributions. This is in line with the Government’s usual approach to supporting the public sector, as was the case with the previous government’s Health and Social Care Levy. The allocation for the Ministry of Defence, along with all other departments, will be set out in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans that the GUARDIAN Air Command and Control system based in the Falklands will reach full operating capability.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The GUARDIAN Air Command and Control system based in the Falkland Islands reached Full Operating Capability in April 2024.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if it is her Department’s policy to continue the Community Ownership Fund beyond March 2025.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Communities will rightly be seeking clarity regarding the future of the Community Ownership Fund.

This Government was elected on a manifesto that stressed its commitment to the communities’ sector and community ownership through empowering communities to own and run those local assets which mean the most to them.

We recognise uncertainty is challenging for groups seeking to save vital community assets; the Government is carefully considering all available options and will confirm plans in due course.