Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there has been a change in the number of usable training villages at the Global Hub Oman since 5 July 2024.

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

The facility continues to have three usable training villages.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March to Question 116539 on Armed Forces Commissioner, whether he has a target date for the appointment of an Armed Forces Commissioner.

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

The Secretary of State for Defence has confirmed that former Air Commodore Suzanne ‘Polly’ Miller-Perkins CBE is the preferred candidate for appointment to the role of Armed Forces Commissioner. In line with the Governance Code for Public Appointments, this is to be an interim appointment made without competition for a period of 12 months while arrangements are made to run a new open competition. The candidate was subject to a pre-appointment hearing by the House of Commons Defence Select Committee on 25 March 2026. The Commissioner will be in post and their office operational from 1 April 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the prevalence of respiratory disease and (b) the number of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in South Suffolk compared with national average.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Data is available for emergency Finished Admission Episodes (FAEs) where there was a primary diagnosis of 'respiratory conditions’. The following table shows the number of FAEs where there was a primary diagnosis of 'respiratory conditions’ for South Suffolk and England, for activity in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector, for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26:

Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS England.

Available data on trends in respiratory conditions can be found on the Department’s Fingertips dataset. Data is not available by parliamentary constituency. Data is available at regional, county, unitary authority, and integrated care board level. Information for Suffolk, which includes South Suffolk, can be found at the following link:

https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/Respiratory#page/1/gid/1/pat/15/ati/502/are/E10000029/iid/40701/age/163/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK defence industry steps up support for Gulf partners facing Iranian attacks, published on 18 March 2026, if he will outline the role of the new Task Force created to support partners across the Middle East working with UK industry.

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

Task Force Sabre, led by NAD Director General Options and Commissioning, was set up on the 18 March 2026. It has been created to support partners across the Middle East working with UK industry. It will also manage the impact of the conflict on the UK defence supply chain and gather requirements for stock replenishment.

Task Force Sabre has mobilised and will continue to work closely with industry partners and Gulf states to ensure the rapid delivery of critical capabilities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK defence industry steps up support for Gulf partners facing Iranian attacks, published on 18 March 2026, who is leading the new Task Force that has been created.

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

Task Force Sabre, led by NAD Director General Options and Commissioning, was set up on the 18 March 2026. It has been created to support partners across the Middle East working with UK industry. It will also manage the impact of the conflict on the UK defence supply chain and gather requirements for stock replenishment.

Task Force Sabre has mobilised and will continue to work closely with industry partners and Gulf states to ensure the rapid delivery of critical capabilities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK defence industry steps up support for Gulf partners facing Iranian attacks, published on 18 March 2026, what is the name of the new Task Force that has been created.

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

Task Force Sabre, led by NAD Director General Options and Commissioning, was set up on the 18 March 2026. It has been created to support partners across the Middle East working with UK industry. It will also manage the impact of the conflict on the UK defence supply chain and gather requirements for stock replenishment.

Task Force Sabre has mobilised and will continue to work closely with industry partners and Gulf states to ensure the rapid delivery of critical capabilities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Joint statement from Finland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom on joint defence financing and procurement, published on 17 March 2026, whether the new finance mechanism will lead to the procurement of (a) new or (b) existing capabilities.

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

The finance mechanism will unlock finance and support joint procurement between partners of key capabilities, alongside providing loans to the defence industry and government to accelerate defence sector investment. The mechanism is still in development with partners.

We expect the mechanism to complement existing EU, NATO and other initiatives and drives interoperability through combining financing and an aggregated demand signal to drive interoperability and interchangeability through joint procurement over time.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Joint statement from Finland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom on joint defence financing and procurement, published on 17 March 2026, if he will outline the scope of the finance mechanism.

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

The finance mechanism will unlock finance and support joint procurement between partners of key capabilities, alongside providing loans to the defence industry and government to accelerate defence sector investment. The mechanism is still in development with partners.

We expect the mechanism to complement existing EU, NATO and other initiatives and drives interoperability through combining financing and an aggregated demand signal to drive interoperability and interchangeability through joint procurement over time.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q33 of the oral evidence given by her Department's Permanent Secretary to the Defence Committee on 17 March 2026, HC 1779, whether he will publish the terms of reference for the Integrated Force Plan.

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

The Integrated Force Plan is a constituent part of the Defence Investment Plan (DIP). As has been outlined to the hon. Gentleman a number of times, the Department is working to finalise the DIP as soon as possible. It will be published when it is ready.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q33 of the oral evidence given by her Department's Permanent Secretary to the Defence Committee on 17 March 2026, HC 1779, when the Integrated Force Plan will be published.

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

The Integrated Force Plan is a constituent part of the Defence Investment Plan (DIP). As has been outlined to the hon. Gentleman a number of times, the Department is working to finalise the DIP as soon as possible. It will be published when it is ready.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the response of the Permanent Secretary to Question 33 in the Defence Committee Session on MoD Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, HC 1779 on 17 March 2026, whether the Integrated Force Plan will be published alongside the Defence Investment Plan.

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

The Integrated Force Plan is a constituent part of the Defence Investment Plan (DIP). As has been outlined to the hon. Gentleman a number of times, the Department is working to finalise the DIP as soon as possible. It will be published when it is ready.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the autonomous mine hunting systems currently in use by the Royal Navy.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to the hon. Member for Slough (Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi) to Question 120373.

Find written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 9 March 2026 on Middle East: Economic Update, Official Report, columns 43-45, whether the money spent by his Department through the special reserve allocation will be included in his Department's (a) NATO declared spend and (b) budget.

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

The special reserve is a ring-fenced allocation within the Ministry of Defence budget. As he may recall from his time as a Defence Minister, operational spend has routinely counted towards the UK's NATO qualifying defence spend.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether a decision has been made on replacements for the Royal Navy's minehunters.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to the hon. Member for Slough (Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi) to Question 120373.

Find written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 9 March 2026 on Middle East: Economic Update, Official Report, columns 43-45, how much money has been allocated to his Department from the special reserve.

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

The Department's operational spend will be set out in its Annual Report and Accounts.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 9 March 2026 on Middle East: Economic Update, Official Report, columns 43-45, whether money allocated to his Department by the special reserve will be spent on deploying Royal Navy assets to the Middle East.

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

Yes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2026 to Question 116970 on Autonomous Weapons: Procurement, how many further phases will take place if procurement is progressed.

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

The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is now entering the international industrial selection phase in each of the E5 nations. This will be followed by a multilateral phase. Once the multilateral phase is complete the E5 nations will decide whether to proceed to a full demonstration and manufacture phase.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March to Question 118821 on Type 45 Destroyers: Procurement, whether any informal offers were made.

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

HMS Dragon was deployed at the first available moment on 10 March 2026. The deployment of Royal Navy assets remains under constant review to ensure we uphold the interests of the UK and our allies. To protect operational security, I cannot provide further information.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to accelerate the procurement of autonomous mine hunting systems for use by the Royal Navy.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the statement on the Middle East given in Parliament by the Secretary of State on Monday 23 March 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Joint statement from Finland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom on joint defence financing and procurement, published on 17 March 2026, whether the new finance mechanism will be used to stockpile munitions.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The mechanism the Chancellor announced on 17 March will increase the availability of munitions and other critical capabilities when we need them most.

Similar to other international financial institutions, we expect that capital will be paid in based on countries’ GDP share, and that this will leverage many multiples more capital via private sector funding. The precise set-up is now being explored, and HMT and MOD are working together with finance and defence ministries across partner countries.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Joint statement from Finland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom on joint defence financing and procurement, published on 17 March 2026, whether the new finance mechanism will sit within her Department.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The mechanism the Chancellor announced on 17 March will increase the availability of munitions and other critical capabilities when we need them most.

Similar to other international financial institutions, we expect that capital will be paid in based on countries’ GDP share, and that this will leverage many multiples more capital via private sector funding. The precise set-up is now being explored, and HMT and MOD are working together with finance and defence ministries across partner countries.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Joint statement from Finland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom on joint defence financing and procurement, published on 17 March 2026, what the cost is of creating the new finance mechanism.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The mechanism the Chancellor announced on 17 March will increase the availability of munitions and other critical capabilities when we need them most.

Similar to other international financial institutions, we expect that capital will be paid in based on countries’ GDP share, and that this will leverage many multiples more capital via private sector funding. The precise set-up is now being explored, and HMT and MOD are working together with finance and defence ministries across partner countries.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to reduce the quantity of military equipment used at the Global Hub Oman in the next three years.

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

There are no plans to reduce equipment holdings at the Global Hub Oman over the next three years.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has (a) discussed and (b) decided which units could be sent to Ukraine as part of the Multinational Force Ukraine.

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

Planning continues at pace, but we will not be drawn into the details of any future UK Armed Forces deployment, including its levels, composition or specific assets, due to the risk to operational security.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Joint statement from Finland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom on joint defence financing and procurement, published on 17 March 2026, if he will list the other partners referred to.

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

Last week the Chancellor announced that the UK is exploring a new defence mechanism for financing driving joint demand by 2027 with the Netherlands and Finland and other EU and NATO partners.

We continue to work with likeminded allies who are interested in this model.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March to Question 116022 on Mauritius: Foreign Relations, whether (a) he and (b) any of his ministerial colleagues have met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius since August 2025.

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

In line with the response to Question 116022 on 6 March, despite the UK regularly engaging with the Mauritian Government, neither the Secretary of State nor any other Defence Ministers have met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius since August 2025.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce sewage discharged by water companies into rivers and estuaries in South Suffolk.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

A record £104 billion of private sector investment has been secured to accelerate the cleaning up of our rivers, lakes and seas. This includes over £10 billion to improve about 2,500 storm overflows in England over the next five years.

The Environment Agency has appointed new dedicated regulation and enforcement teams to further hold water companies to account. In East Anglia, these teams have carried out more than 1,700 inspections of assets since April 2025, including 72 in the South Suffolk area, pushing companies to fix faults and meet discharge rules.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK defence industry steps up support for Gulf partners facing Iranian attacks, published on 18 March 2026, whether the new Task Force will be responsible for boosting munitions stockpiles.

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

Task Force Sabre is actively pulling in allies and industry to drive the pace on the defence kit the Middle East needs. We are bringing in British expertise to help our partners, removing barriers, and championing innovative UK-based industry. Task Force Sabre is not responsible for boosting UK munitions stockpiles, however the work that is being undertaken may give an associated benefit to the UK stockpiles.

Details regarding Defence’s munitions stockpile are classified, and it would therefore be inappropriate to provide further commentary. However, Munition stockpile levels are actively reviewed to ensure current holdings are balanced against threats, availability, industrial capacity and evolving technology. The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with industry, allies, and partners to ensure that munitions stockpiles remain sufficient to meet the demands of current and future operations.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there has been a change in the number of usable training villages at the Land Regional Hub Germany since 5 July 2024.

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

There has been no change in the number of usable training villages at the Land Regional Hub Germany. Currently, there are five training villages within the Sennelager Training Area, four of which are active training villages, and one which is no longer in use.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many training villages are currently active on the Land Regional Hub Germany.

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

There has been no change in the number of usable training villages at the Land Regional Hub Germany. Currently, there are five training villages within the Sennelager Training Area, four of which are active training villages, and one which is no longer in use.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Billion-pound helicopter deal secures 3,300 British jobs, boosts battlefield kit and unlocks up to £15 billion in UK exports, published on 2 March 2026, whether he plans to deliver the new medium-lift helicopter as an uncrewed capability in the (a) current or (b) next Parliament.

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

The New Medium Helicopter (NMH) has been procured with an open architecture that will enable integration with crewed and uncrewed systems as future requirements and funding are defined by Defence. This approach is supported by the wider benefits delivered through the £1 billion NMH contract, which secures thousands of skilled UK jobs, significantly increases UK industrial workshare, and establishes Yeovil as Leonardo’s global centre of excellence for autonomous helicopter technology.

These investments strengthen the UK’s long-term capacity to develop and exploit emerging uncrewed aviation capabilities. While this provides a clear pathway for future interoperability, the platform will not be delivered as an uncrewed capability in this Parliament or the next.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Billion-pound helicopter deal secures 3,300 British jobs, boosts battlefield kit and unlocks up to £15 billion in UK exports, published on 2 March 2026, whether he plans to integrate new medium-lift helicopter with uncrewed aircraft in the (a) current or (b) next Parliament.

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

The New Medium Helicopter (NMH) has been procured with an open architecture that will enable integration with crewed and uncrewed systems as future requirements and funding are defined by Defence. This approach is supported by the wider benefits delivered through the £1 billion NMH contract, which secures thousands of skilled UK jobs, significantly increases UK industrial workshare, and establishes Yeovil as Leonardo’s global centre of excellence for autonomous helicopter technology.

These investments strengthen the UK’s long-term capacity to develop and exploit emerging uncrewed aviation capabilities. While this provides a clear pathway for future interoperability, the platform will not be delivered as an uncrewed capability in this Parliament or the next.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to announce his plans to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP (a) before or (b) after the next NATO threat and capability review.

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

The Government has already committed to spending 3% of GDP in the next parliament, when fiscal and economic conditions allow.

Furthermore, in June last year the UK made a historic commitment to spend 5% of GDP on core defence and national security by 2035.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has met with representatives from the defence industry on the potential impact of the time taken to publish the Defence Investment Plan on closures of UK defence firms.

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

The Secretary of State for Defence and other Defence Ministers engage regularly with a wide range of industry stakeholders which make us aware of industry's requirements. These are through established forums, bilateral meetings, and routine commercial engagement, where we comply with market regulation on disclosure of information.

We have signed 4,010 Defence contracts since July 2024, including 1,335 with a value of £1 million or more, and spent more than £31 billion with UK industry last year – an above inflation increase in spending.

This Government has announced a billion-pound helicopter deal which secures 3,300 British jobs, boosts battlefield kit, and supports industry and exports. This demonstrates our commitment to strengthening sovereign industrial capability and modernising key battlefield support assets.

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 the time taken to publish the Defence Investment Plan on the UK defence industry.

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

The Secretary of State for Defence and other Defence Ministers engage regularly with a wide range of industry stakeholders which make us aware of industry's requirements. These are through established forums, bilateral meetings, and routine commercial engagement, where we comply with market regulation on disclosure of information.

We have signed 4,010 Defence contracts since July 2024, including 1,335 with a value of £1 million or more, and spent more than £31 billion with UK industry last year – an above inflation increase in spending.

This Government has announced a billion-pound helicopter deal which secures 3,300 British jobs, boosts battlefield kit, and supports industry and exports. This demonstrates our commitment to strengthening sovereign industrial capability and modernising key battlefield support assets.