Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Veterans and People during the debate on Defence of 24 March 2026, Official Report, column 267, when was the contract for the 20 uncrewed surface vessels signed.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As part of Project Beehive, the Royal Navy has ordered 20 uncrewed surface vessels under a contract worth £12.3 million. The fleet of 20 vessels will be used by the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando Royal Marines for operations, training and development activities to help set the foundation for further uses of autonomous and uncrewed technology.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the comments by the Minister for Veterans and People in the Opposition Day Debate entitled Defence, Column 267, 24 March 2026, when the 20 uncrewed surface vessels will be in service.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As part of Project Beehive, the Royal Navy has ordered 20 uncrewed surface vessels under a contract worth £12.3 million. The fleet of 20 vessels will be used by the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando Royal Marines for operations, training and development activities to help set the foundation for further uses of autonomous and uncrewed technology.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 27 of the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, published on 24 March 2026, how many personnel have transitioned from the Department for Business and Trade to his Department as of 25 March 2026.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As of 25 March 2026, 83 Civil Servants from the UK Defence Exports team had transferred from the Department for Business and Trade to the Ministry of Defence.
The total number of personnel who will transition from the Department for Business and Trade to the Ministry of Defence is 94, and this transition was fully completed on 1st April 2026. This move marked the final step in the transition of full responsibility for the UK Defence Exports team from the Department for Business and Trade to the Ministry of Defence.