Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
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 procure any further new medium-lift helicopters beyond the 23 announced.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Army does not currently plan to procure any additional medium lift helicopters beyond the 23 already announced.
As with all major capabilities, the size of the medium lift fleet will be kept under review to ensure it remains aligned with Defence planning assumptions and operational need.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to publish a strategy on stockpiling one-way attack drones on UK territory.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
In addition to the ongoing deployment of the Callen‑Lenz Nyan One‑Way Effector with UK Forces on Operation CABRIT, the Army, supported by Defence Equipment and Support and Defence Science Technology Laboratory, is reviewing long‑term stockpile options to ensure an appropriate balance between resilience, production capacity, the ability to upgrade at pace, and maintaining a predominantly UK/European supply chain.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to stockpile one way attack drones on UK territory.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
In addition to the ongoing deployment of the Callen‑Lenz Nyan One‑Way Effector with UK Forces on Operation CABRIT, the Army, supported by Defence Equipment and Support and Defence Science Technology Laboratory, is reviewing long‑term stockpile options to ensure an appropriate balance between resilience, production capacity, the ability to upgrade at pace, and maintaining a predominantly UK/European supply chain.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February to Question 112837 on Navy: North Atlantic Ocean, whether the £14 million referred to is separate to the £10 million of pre-concept funding announced.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I can confirm that the £10 million is included in the £14 million pre-concept funding that has been announced.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Enemy weapons detector in the hands of soldiers five years early, published on 14 February 2026, what is the in service date for SONUS.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to questions 117361 and 117362 on 9 March 2026 which remain extant.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February to Question 110439 on Defence: Expenditure, what the remaining 0.47% of GDP to be spent on defence in 2027-28 that will not be spent on the MOD budget will be spent on.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to him on 4 March 2026 in response to his Question 116532.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February to Question 110439 on Defence: Expenditure, if he will itemise what the UK will spend on defence in 2027-28 that will not be defined as MOD budget expenditure.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to him on 4 March 2026 in response to his Question 116532.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he held any discussions with (a) officials from his Department or (b) his ministerial colleagues on the deployment of HMS Dragon before 3 March 2026.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on this and other topics, with both officials and Ministerial colleagues. HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on 10 March 2026 and for operational security reasons, we will not comment on the duration of her deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date did he first discuss the deployment of HMS Dragon to Cyprus.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on this and other topics, with both officials and Ministerial colleagues. HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on 10 March 2026 and for operational security reasons, we will not comment on the duration of her deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the decision was made to deploy HMS Dragon to Cyprus.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
As the Secretary of State informed the House on 9 March 2026 - the Chief of the Defence Staff reviewed the proposal to deploy HMS Dragon to the Eastern Mediterranean on the 3 March 2026 and the Secretary of State signed it off the same day. Before coming to this decision, discussions were held on this and other topics, with both officials and Ministerial colleagues. HMS Dragon departed from Portsmouth on 10 March 2026 and for operational security reasons, we will not comment on the duration of her deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean.