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 5 March 2025 to Question 33516 on Defence: Finance, whether his plan to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence expenditure in the 2026-27 financial year includes expenditure on the intelligence and security services.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Prime Minister has announced that the definition of defence spending will be updated to recognise what our security and intelligence agencies do to boost our security, as well as our military. That, combined with the increase to defence spending, will mean that in 2026-27 the UK will spend 2.6% of GDP on NATO-qualifying defence expenditure.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Strategic Defence Review will consider the UK's nuclear capability.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
As stated in the Strategic Defence Review's published Terms of Reference, the Government has a total commitment to the independent UK nuclear deterrent. The Review is considering the efficiency and effectiveness of the nuclear programme.
As a Government we are proud to have a triple lock commitment to the UK's nuclear deterrent. This comprises continuing the construction of four new Dreadnought Class submarines, maintaining the Continuous at Sea Deterrent; and delivery of all future upgrades needed, including the replacement warhead.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which countries his Department classifies as threats with regards to offensive cyber operations.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence works closely with HMG partners to monitor, understand and counter the cyber threat to the UK from hostile states and organised criminals. In the last year, disruptive cyber activities against the UK and its partners have been attributed to Russian and Chinese state-affiliated actors; others based in Iran and North Korea also remain a threat to the UK.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Military Aviation Authority in increasing the testing of uncrewed systems.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) as the air safety regulator for the Defence Air Environment sets the regulatory framework for Uncrewed Air System (UAS) Test and Evaluation (T&E) but does not own, direct or deliver any UAS T&E activity.
In support of the Ministry of Defence’s uncrewed ambitions, over the past five years the MAA has reorganised, upskilled and developed an updated and flexible approach to certification and regulation of UAS.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has considered adapting the Military Aviation Authority for uncrewed testing.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) as the air safety regulator for the Defence Air Environment sets the regulatory framework for Uncrewed Air System (UAS) Test and Evaluation (T&E) but does not own, direct or deliver any UAS T&E activity.
In support of the Ministry of Defence’s uncrewed ambitions, over the past five years the MAA has reorganised, upskilled and developed an updated and flexible approach to certification and regulation of UAS.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, assessment he has made of the preparedness of the Military Aviation Authority for uncrewed testing.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) as the air safety regulator for the Defence Air Environment sets the regulatory framework for Uncrewed Air System (UAS) Test and Evaluation (T&E) but does not own, direct or deliver any UAS T&E activity.
In support of the Ministry of Defence’s uncrewed ambitions, over the past five years the MAA has reorganised, upskilled and developed an updated and flexible approach to certification and regulation of UAS.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Military Aviation Authority is fully optimised for uncrewed testing.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) as the air safety regulator for the Defence Air Environment sets the regulatory framework for Uncrewed Air System (UAS) Test and Evaluation (T&E) but does not own, direct or deliver any UAS T&E activity.
In support of the Ministry of Defence’s uncrewed ambitions, over the past five years the MAA has reorganised, upskilled and developed an updated and flexible approach to certification and regulation of UAS.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any new orders have been placed as part of the Next Generation Munitions Solution agreement since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
This information is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has placed any new orders for 155mm shells since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
This information is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security.
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 of the Prime Minister of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, column 631, whether it remains his policy to proceed with the decommissioning of (a) HMS Albion and (b) HMS Bulwark.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
All named ships remain scheduled for decommissioning in line with the Secretary of State’s announcement of 20 November 2024.
We continue to invest in the capabilities needed to meet current and future operational requirements. This will see the introduction of the Type 26 and Type 31 Frigates, the Multi-Role Support Ships, and the Fleet Solid Support Ships.