Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry during the Urgent Question on Ministry of Defence: Palantir Contracts of 10 February 2026, Official Report, column 691, whether the publication of files relating to Peter Mandelson will include reference to his visit to Palantir headquarters in Washington DC on 27 February 2025.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process for complying with the Humble Address motion. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Defence Investment Plan will contain costings for all (a) current and (b) future defence programmes.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We are working flat out to complete the Defence Investment Plan and it will be published as soon as possible.
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 UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, whether the new surface-to-air missile will be assessed using Minimum Deployable Capability.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is now entering the international industrial selection phase. The new weapon system will be introduced through the spiral acquisition model, delivering a Minimum Deployable Capability followed by iterative enhancements.
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 UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, what will the new surface-to-air weapon be called.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is entering the concept demonstration phase. No project name has yet been allocated and the name of the weapon system will depend on which proposal is taken forward into production.
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 UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, what is the name of the first project to be delivered by 2027.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is entering the concept demonstration phase. No project name has yet been allocated and the name of the weapon system will depend on which proposal is taken forward into production.
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 UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, what is the name of the first project to be delivered by 2027.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is entering the concept demonstration phase. No project name has yet been allocated and the name of the weapon system will depend on which proposal is taken forward into production.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to Question 107088 on Poland: Defence Procurement.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
I responded to the hon. Member on 10 March 2026.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to Question 106547 on Poland: Military Aid.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
I responded to the hon. Member on 10 March 2026.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he held discussions with Ministers regarding the deployment of capabilities to Cyprus between 19 February and 2 March 2026.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Defence Secretary strongly recognises the strategic importance Cyprus provides to the UK and its allies, with discussions regarding capability deployments in the region being seen as a priority for our operational interests and broader security cooperation.
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 UK and Poland agree enhanced missile defence and helicopter training cooperation, published on 13 January, if he will list the new capabilities for which the UK and Poland have agreed exploration of development and procurement.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The UK and Poland will engage in joint training which will include a mix of live training and Digital Synthetic elements to maximise the benefits to both nations’ service personnel.