Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December to Question 19737 on Ukraine: Military Aid, how many of the rounds of artillery ammunition delivered to Ukraine were procured since 5 July 2024.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2024 to Questions 19737, 19738 and 19740. For operational security reasons he will understand that it is not possible to provide more detailed procurement and delivery schedules.

This Government is steadfast in our commitment to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. On 10 July 2024 the Prime Minister announced that the UK will provide Ukraine with £3 billion a year of military support for as long as needed.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 19738 on Ukraine: Military Aid, how many of the 15,000 anti-tank weapons were procured since 5 July 2024.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2024 to Questions 19737, 19738 and 19740. For operational security reasons he will understand that it is not possible to provide more detailed procurement and delivery schedules.

This Government is steadfast in our commitment to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. On 10 July 2024 the Prime Minister announced that the UK will provide Ukraine with £3 billion a year of military support for as long as needed.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 19740 on Ukraine: Military Aid, how many of the 4,000 drones were procured since 5 July 2024.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2024 to Questions 19737, 19738 and 19740. For operational security reasons he will understand that it is not possible to provide more detailed procurement and delivery schedules.

This Government is steadfast in our commitment to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. On 10 July 2024 the Prime Minister announced that the UK will provide Ukraine with £3 billion a year of military support for as long as needed.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December to Question 19728 on National Security Adviser: Pay, whether the current NSA salary will be more than that paid to the previous NSA.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As a special adviser, the National Security Adviser’s salary is determined by the Special Adviser People Board, in line with the special adviser pay framework. Information on Special Adviser pay will be published in the Annual Report on Special Advisers as per the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as was the case under the previous Administration.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December to Question 19728 on National Security Adviser: Pay, whether the remuneration package for the National Security Adviser has been approved yet by HM Treasury.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Special advisers’ salaries are determined by the Special Adviser People Board, in line with the special adviser pay framework.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December to Question 19728 on National Security Adviser: Pay, whether the contract for the National Security Advise differs from the Model Contract for Special Advisers.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

All special advisers, including the National Security Adviser, are employed under the terms of the Model Contract for Special Advisers, available on GOV.UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December to Question 19728 on National Security Adviser: Pay, whether if the pension package will differ to that offered to the previous NSA.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As are all special advisers, the National Security Adviser is entitled to membership of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where the (a) final assembly and (b) systems integration of the Fleet Solid Support Ships being constructed by Navantia will take place.

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

The overall build strategy for the Fleet Solid Support ships remains unchanged. All three ships will be assembled from blocks manufactured in Harland & Wolff shipyards in the UK and Navantia's shipyards in Spain. Final assembly and systems integration of the ships is planned to take place in Belfast.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December to Question 19728 on National Security Adviser: Pay, when he plans to publish the Annual Report on Special Advisers.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Annual Report on Special Advisers is published annually as per the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as was the case under the previous Administration. The 2025 Annual Report on Special Advisers will be published later this year.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16475 on China: Mauritius, whether he plans to monitor the (a) implementation and (b) potential implications for his policies of paragraph 3.4.4.2 of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan 2025-27; and what information his Department holds on the commitment of the government of Mauritius to these aims for Diego Garcia.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As with previous FOCAC commitments we will monitor their implementation and implications for UK policy. The UK will take a consistent and pragmatic approach to China's role in Africa - we will cooperate where we can, compete where we have different interests, and challenge where we must.

The UK continues to support the principle and practice of Nuclear Weapon Free Zones as a way to build confidence between regional states, and as a successful tool of non-proliferation. This includes the Pelindaba Treaty, of which we have signed and ratified the first and second Protocols, giving legally binding Negative Security Assurances to all signatory states in the region.

It is for Mauritius to comment on its own national approach.

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) agreement between the UK and Mauritius protects the long-term secure operation of the UK-US base that plays a vital role in regional and international security.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to allocate additional funding for the Long-Range Area Affects Programme in financial year (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

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

The Long-Range Area Effects (LRAE) project is currently pre-concept. Defence is considering its wider Deep Fires options subject to outcomes of the Strategic Defence Review.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding he has allocated for urgent capability requirements for Estonia in (a) this financial year and (b) each of the next three financial years.

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

Urgent Capability Requirements (UCRs) are rapidly implemented capabilities delivered to the front line to meet urgent operational needs. The department cannot comment publicly on the specific costs associated with operations in Estonia, as the Ministry of Defence continues to deploy to this location and must protect operationally sensitive information. UCRs are reviewed on a rolling monthly basis to ensure the capability is still required and provides value for money.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the response of Lord Robertson to Question 1 in the Defence Committee Session on the Strategic Defence Review, HC 484 on 3 December 2024, if he will list the political parties that have made a formal written submission to the Strategic Defence Review.

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

In the Review's initial evidence-gathering phase, the Reviewers set out to consult widely, including with Parliament, the Defence community, academia, industry and our closest Allies and Partners, including NATO. We received several responses from UK political parties and cross-party committees with membership across several parties.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December to Question 19375 on Strategic Defence Review, whether he plans to report the Strategic Defence Review to Parliament before 30 June 2025.

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

The Reviewers are reporting regularly on progress to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Defence Secretary and will make their final report to them in the spring of 2025. The Secretary of State for Defence will subsequently publish a version of that report to Parliament. It will then be implemented by the Ministry of Defence.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his timetable is for publishing the Infrastructure and Projects Authority annual report for 2023-2024.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The IPA Annual Report is due to be published in early 2025.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish the Infrastructure and Projects Authority annual report for 2023-24.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The IPA Annual Report is due to be published in early 2025.