Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2026 to UIN 111525, how many Structured Mental Health Assessments were completed i) prior to and ii) post discharge.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help develop a funding solution for the BBC World Service.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 25 February in response to Question 114008.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many vessels and of what type would be required to escort an aircraft carrier in a peer conflict.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The number and type of vessels required to escort an aircraft carrier will vary depending on the mission, threat, operating area, and the contribution of allies.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2026 to Question 111023 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what were the nature and purpose of the modifications above the current production baseline.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Modifications to Ajax platforms above the current baseline cover rapid embodiment of design changes which are of demonstrable benefit to the Army. Examples include software enhancements and component reliability improvements. These modifications must be recorded as a concession until such time the design change is approved and the baseline is updated.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of procurement programmes that were cancelled from (a) May 1997 to May 2010, (b) May 2010 to May 2015, (c) May 2015 to July 2024 and (d) July 2024 to present.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

As would be expected of any responsible organisation, the Ministry of Defence regularly reviews its programmes and assets to determine how best to meet future threats including taking appropriate action to address changes.

Prior to 1999-2000, the Department's spend on cancelled programmes over £100,000 were published in their Appropriation Accounts, before transitioning to Resource Accounts until 2023-24, where the current Annual Report and Accounts process began. These accounts are available until 2024-25.

The threshold was changed to £250,000 in 2012-13 and then to £300,000 in 2015-16, which remains the current threshold, to reflect inflation.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of 30 reserve service days to cover the relevant training and deployment reservists are expected to undertake.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 February 2026 to Question 112387 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of compounded leasehold reform on the housing-with-care for older people sector.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 108467 on 3 February 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to give freehold home owners the right to self property management.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with Sussex Integrated Care Board on its policy on access to fertility services.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

No such discussions have taken place.

Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. We expect these organisations to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, ensuring equal access to fertility treatment across England.

NICE is currently reviewing the fertility guideline and will consider whether its current recommendations for access to National Health Service-funded treatment are still appropriate. The draft guidance was consulted on between 10 September and 21 October 2025, and final guidance is expected to be published in March 2026. We expect ICBs to consider and reflect the updated NICE fertility guideline in their commissioning decisions when it is published, and we are working with NHS England to support greater consistency in provision.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of removing the 10% commission charge on the sale of park homes.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 97962 on 15 December 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what exchanges of personnel with European navies have taken place in the last 5 years.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Royal Navy maintains a range of personnel exchange and liaison arrangements with European partners through bilateral relationships and NATO activity, supporting interoperability and professional development. These arrangements are reviewed routinely.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what exchanges of personnel with European navies are planned for 2026.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Royal Navy maintains a range of personnel exchange and liaison arrangements with European partners through bilateral relationships and NATO activity, supporting interoperability and professional development. These arrangements are reviewed routinely.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how his Department plans to regulate the property management sector, especially for leaseholders.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Questions UIN 85213 on 4 November 2025 and UIN 113165 on 2 March 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 February 2026 to Question 111525 on Armed Forces: Mental Health Services, whether veterans receive a second Structured Mental Health Assessment after discharge.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Veterans’ healthcare is the responsibility of the NHS; however, where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for mental healthcare, DMS works in partnership with the NHS to ensure continuation of care. Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need are able to access Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) for up to six months after discharge to provide continuity of care during the transition period until appropriate handover to other services can be completed as required.

In England, Op COURAGE provides a broad range of specialist mental health and wellbeing care and support for service leavers, reservists and veterans, with similar services available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Importantly, unlike many other services, Op COURAGE accepts self-referral, empowering patients to take control of their care needs. Op COURAGE has received over 35,000 referrals to date; over one third of all referrals were made directly by veterans. I would encourage any veteran who is struggling with their mental health to self-refer or seek the support of their GP to access Op COURAGE.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the average time it takes for service personnel to be issued with a FMed133 following discharge.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the importance of facilitating the transfer of healthcare information to civilian healthcare provider(s) when an individual leaves the Armed Forces.

Service Personnel are issued with an FMed133 at their final medical. Final medicals are completed within the last 90 days of service; therefore, Personnel are issued with their FMed133 prior to discharge.

Personnel are also advised to register with an NHS GP one to three months prior to discharge and provide their NHS GP with a copy of their FMed133.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has assessed the adequacy of National Minimum Wage compliance for Royal Fleet Auxiliary roles.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Royal Fleet Auxillary salaries are benchmarked against comparable roles across the wider maritime industry to ensure competitiveness and reflect market conditions. Constructive pay discussions with the Maritime Trade Unions are ongoing, focused on supporting retention and delivering a modern, growing organisation capable of meeting current and future defence tasking.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 February 2026 to Question 111525, how many Structured Mental Health Assessments (SMHAs) were completed i) in person and ii) virtually.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost; however, Structured Mental Health Assessments (SMHAs) are typically conducted in person as part of the release medical provided on discharge from the Armed Forces.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion of his Department’s Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit is committed and accounted for (a) by contracts already in place and (b) other existing spending commitments in (i) 2026-27, (ii) 2027-28 and (iii) 2028-29 financial years.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Department does not routinely put forecast figures into the public domain. The Ministry of Defence's forward spending plans are being considered as part of work on the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether DEFCON 514 is applicable to the contract between his Department and General Dynamics UK for the supply of Ajax-family vehicles.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

DEFCON 514 is not applicable to the Ajax contract with General Dynamics UK, however similar provisions are included.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2026 to Question 108465 on Ammunition: Factories, when the construction of the planned new munitions factories is expected to (a) begin and (b) be completed.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 February to Question 108465.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Type 31 Frigates will have Mk.41 VLS incorporated during construction and prior to launch.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

We intend to fit the Type 31 frigate with the Mark 41 vertical launch system. Working closely with the US Navy, we are progressing the next steps of the Mk41 procurement, including assessment of all installation and integration options. At this stage, as I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand, it would be inappropriate to provide any further information whilst this commercially sensitive work is ongoing.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Type 31 Frigates will have Mk.41 VLS added during the Capability Insertion Period.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

We intend to fit the Type 31 frigate with the Mark 41 vertical launch system. Working closely with the US Navy, we are progressing the next steps of the Mk41 procurement, including assessment of all installation and integration options. At this stage, as I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand, it would be inappropriate to provide any further information whilst this commercially sensitive work is ongoing.

State visits to the US

Local government and social care

Heating oil prices

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

90th anniversary of the Spitfire