Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Department has ownership of the Office for Small Business Growth.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 December 2025 to Question 96235. The Office will be owned by the National Armaments Director.
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 8 December to Question 95413 on Military Exercises, whether the reduction in Army overseas training exercises from financial year 2026-27 will result in the retirement of any military platforms.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Our overseas training programme is kept under review to ensure it reflects Defence priorities and operational requirements, both for the UK and our partners. The programme is inherently dynamic and decisions taken one year do not determine activity in future years. This approach allows the Services to select the most appropriate activities to meet current training needs. This approach ensures flexibility, avoids duplication, and delivers value for money while maintaining our ability to meet NATO and wider operational commitments.
The decision of whether to participate in an exercise would not impact plans to retire individual vessels, nor would it impact upon plans to retire military platforms.
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 8 December to Question 95413 on Military Exercises, whether there will be any change to the amount of training exercises conducted by the Royal Air Force in financial year (a) 2025-2026, (b) 2026-2027, (c) 2027-2028 and (d) 2028-2029.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
As outlined in my previous response, the single Services remain committed to prioritising training exercises in alignment with both our own and partners' operational needs, as well as the priorities outlined in the Strategic Defence Review
The exact number of training exercises and the scale of the RAF's participation in such exercises vary from year to year due to a range of factors including operational commitments and UK and host nation political considerations.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has changed the Royal Navy's rules of engagements in light of the incursion by the Russian submarine Krasnodar.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 27 November 2025, to Question 93047.
The Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence continuously assess our Rules of Engagement to ensure our Armed Forces can act appropriately against malign activities and future threats. For reasons of national security, I am not able to disclose specific detail on Rules of Engagement.
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 8 December to Question 95413 on Military Exercises, whether the scale back of the Royal Navy's participation in overseas training will result in the early retirement of any Royal Navy vessels.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Our overseas training programme is kept under review to ensure it reflects Defence priorities and operational requirements, both for the UK and our partners. The programme is inherently dynamic and decisions taken one year do not determine activity in future years. This approach allows the Services to select the most appropriate activities to meet current training needs. This approach ensures flexibility, avoids duplication, and delivers value for money while maintaining our ability to meet NATO and wider operational commitments.
The decision of whether to participate in an exercise would not impact plans to retire individual vessels, nor would it impact upon plans to retire military platforms.
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 8 December to Question 95413 on Military Exercises, if he will list the countries in which Army overseas training exercises will be reduced from financial year 2026-27.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Our overseas training programme is kept under review to ensure it reflects Defence priorities and operational requirements, both for the UK and our partners. The programme is inherently dynamic and decisions taken one year do not determine activity in future years. This approach allows the Services to select the most appropriate activities to meet current training needs. This approach ensures flexibility, avoids duplication, and delivers value for money while maintaining our ability to meet NATO and wider operational commitments.
The decision of whether to participate in an exercise would not impact plans to retire individual vessels, nor would it impact upon plans to retire military platforms.
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 8 December to Question 95413 on Military Exercises, if he will list the countries in which Royal Navy overseas training exercises will be reduced over the next four years.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Our overseas training programme is kept under review to ensure it reflects Defence priorities and operational requirements, both for the UK and our partners. The programme is inherently dynamic and decisions taken one year do not determine activity in future years. This approach allows the Services to select the most appropriate activities to meet current training needs. This approach ensures flexibility, avoids duplication, and delivers value for money while maintaining our ability to meet NATO and wider operational commitments.
The decision of whether to participate in an exercise would not impact plans to retire individual vessels, nor would it impact upon plans to retire military platforms.
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 8 December to Question 95413 on Military Exercises, if he will list the Royal Navy overseas training exercises that will be reduced over the next four years.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Our overseas training programme is kept under review to ensure it reflects Defence priorities and operational requirements, both for the UK and our partners. The programme is inherently dynamic and decisions taken one year do not determine activity in future years. This approach allows the Services to select the most appropriate activities to meet current training needs. This approach ensures flexibility, avoids duplication, and delivers value for money while maintaining our ability to meet NATO and wider operational commitments.
The decision of whether to participate in an exercise would not impact plans to retire individual vessels, nor would it impact upon plans to retire military platforms.
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 Answer by the Minister for the Armed Forces on 15 December 2025, Official Report, Column 606, what percentage of the 5,400 drones bought in 2024 were made by British companies.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on autonomy and drones, will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force and set out in the Defence Investment Plan. Due to operational security considerations, it is important to guard against the threat of adversary data aggregation regarding the specific detailed breakdown of UK military capability, including platform numbers and types, so would be inappropriate to comment further.
The Uncrewed Systems Centre (USC) announced in SDR 2025, stated that it should be established by February 2026. Further announcements relating to its launch, leadership framework, location and staffing will be made in conjunction with its opening.
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 Answer by the Minister for the Armed Forces on 15 December 2025, Official Report, Column 606, how many new staff will be employed as part of the drone uncrewed centre of excellence.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on autonomy and drones, will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force and set out in the Defence Investment Plan. Due to operational security considerations, it is important to guard against the threat of adversary data aggregation regarding the specific detailed breakdown of UK military capability, including platform numbers and types, so would be inappropriate to comment further.
The Uncrewed Systems Centre (USC) announced in SDR 2025, stated that it should be established by February 2026. Further announcements relating to its launch, leadership framework, location and staffing will be made in conjunction with its opening.