Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether projects for repairs under the listed places of worship that are already underway will be eligible for support under the proposed Places of Worship Renewal Fund.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Places of Worship Renewal Fund will have a budget of £23 million per year. Further details regarding the eligibility criteria and application process will be published in due course. The fund will begin in the financial year 2026-27.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether funding provided through the Proposed Places of Worship Renewal Fund will be subject to an annual cap.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Places of Worship Renewal Fund will have a budget of £23 million per year. Further details regarding the eligibility criteria and application process will be published in due course. The fund will begin in the financial year 2026-27.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what eligibility criteria her department intends to apply to the proposed Places of Worship Renewal Fund.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Places of Worship Renewal Fund will have a budget of £23 million per year. Further details regarding the eligibility criteria and application process will be published in due course. The fund will begin in the financial year 2026-27.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to extend the scope of support for people using heating oil who are not eligible for the Household Support fund or the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Support for vulnerable households affected by the rising cost of heating oil will be treated as crisis payments under the Crisis and Resilience Fund and as per guidance, local authorities have flexibility to determine eligibility for crisis payments.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q37 of the oral evidence given by the National Armaments Director to the Defence Committee on 17 March 2026, HC 1779, whether the number of staff in his Department working on the Defence Investment Plan was reduced during Christmas recess.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
From the beginning, the Defence Investment Plan has been supported by a flexible cross‑Defence team, with military and civilian personnel allocated at the right level to reflect the complexity of the work and ensure progress to publication. Although they had at least Christmas day off, as is established practice, this work has been continuous.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 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 there is a upper limit on the amount her Department can draw from the special reserve.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Iran’s indiscriminate attacks are a threat to Britain, our allies and our partners in the region.
As she set out in the House on 9 March, the Chancellor has approved access for the Ministry of Defence to the special reserve to deploy additional capabilities in the Middle East. The net additional costs of operations will be funded by the Treasury.
We do not yet know how long the conflict will last or what further action will be required, but the Chancellor is being responsive in an uncertain world, and is protecting the public finances in the national interest.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 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, for how long will her Department be permitted to spend money allocated from the special reserve.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Iran’s indiscriminate attacks are a threat to Britain, our allies and our partners in the region.
As she set out in the House on 9 March, the Chancellor has approved access for the Ministry of Defence to the special reserve to deploy additional capabilities in the Middle East. The net additional costs of operations will be funded by the Treasury.
We do not yet know how long the conflict will last or what further action will be required, but the Chancellor is being responsive in an uncertain world, and is protecting the public finances in the national interest.
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 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 allocated to his Department through the special reserve can only fund operations in the Middle East.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Funding from the Special Reserve is not limited to any single region. The Reserve exists to meet the net additional costs of National Security Council (NSC)‑approved operations, subject to HM Treasury agreement.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many further phases will be conducted as part of Defence Reform following the implementation phase.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Having determined top level accountabilities and implemented the associate structural changes to establish the new four Areas on 1 April 2025, Defence Reform is currently in a design phase, during which the new Defence Operating Model is being developed and agreed. From 1 April 2026, Defence Reform moves to the next phase, implementing and refining the operating model in live operation. This implementation phase runs through financial year 2026-27 and includes completing remaining detailed design, informed by early experience of live operation. The aim is to complete implementation and detailed design by 1 April 2027. From that point, responsibility for embedding the Defence Operating Model will sit fully with Defence operating on a business-as-usual basis, with change sustained through normal leadership and governance arrangements, rather than programme mechanisms.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the implementation phase of Defence Reform will conclude.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Having determined top level accountabilities and implemented the associate structural changes to establish the new four Areas on 1 April 2025, Defence Reform is currently in a design phase, during which the new Defence Operating Model is being developed and agreed. From 1 April 2026, Defence Reform moves to the next phase, implementing and refining the operating model in live operation. This implementation phase runs through financial year 2026-27 and includes completing remaining detailed design, informed by early experience of live operation. The aim is to complete implementation and detailed design by 1 April 2027. From that point, responsibility for embedding the Defence Operating Model will sit fully with Defence operating on a business-as-usual basis, with change sustained through normal leadership and governance arrangements, rather than programme mechanisms.