Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he had discussions with Cabinet colleagues prior to the decision not to contest a compensation payment to the band Kneecap following their exclusion from the Music Export Growth Scheme.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

There were no discussions with Cabinet colleagues prior to the decision by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade not to contest the claim brought by Kneecap for review of the decision not to award them a grant under the Music Export Growth Scheme.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to Ministry of Defence test ranges for (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises without a sponsor from his Department.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) make a vital contribution to economic growth and are a valuable source of technical innovation in defence. This is recognised in the Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, as well as the Department’s Social Value policies.

Small and medium-sized enterprises can apply to use many Ministry of Defence (MOD) test ranges through the Test, Trials, Training and Evaluation (T3E) Service (https://www.t3e.uk/en/) managed on behalf of the MOD by QinetiQ. This includes enterprises that do not have a MOD sponsor.

As part of the Defence Industrial Strategy and MOD’s Test and Evaluation Transformation programme, the Department is reviewing how best to support SMEs with access to relevant test facilities, including MOD and commercially run test ranges available to UK companies.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to streamline the permissions process for small and medium-sized enterprises for testing new defence capabilities that fall outside Civil Aviation Authority regulations.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) as the air safety regulator for the Defence Air Environment sets the regulatory framework for Air System Test activity.

It continues to support the Ministry of Defence’s ambitions, and has reorganised, upskilled and developed an updated and flexible approach to certification and regulation of new capabilities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the status is of the (a) modification and (b) integration processes for the second and third E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The modification of the second and third E-7 Wedgetail aircraft continues.

The second Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar is fitted to aircraft two and the third MESA is on site and scheduled to be fitted in June 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) acquisition, (b) modification, (c) training and (d) infrastructure development costs are of each of the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The whole life costs of the E7 programme are subject to approval by His Majesty's Government and cannot be confirmed until this process concludes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any issues have been reported to his Department on the Ajax armoured vehicle’s ability to fire on the move.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

No issues have been reported; the Ajax armoured vehicle’s ability to fire on the move has been successfully demonstrated.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Ajax armoured vehicle programme has completed its full safety case.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Yes. Full safety cases are in place for all Ajax variants.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Civil Aviation Authority is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises to test innovative aerospace technologies that require exemptions from standard Civil Aviation Authority boundaries.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department through its Future of Flight programme and support for Jet Zero technology is working with the CAA to enable testing of innovative aerospace technologies by mainly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This includes:

• Introducing a new “Recognised Test Sites” status for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) platforms which allow drones manufacturers and operators to apply for authorisation to conduct operations at these recognised test sites with streamlined procedures;
• Developing an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) delivery model alongside industry;
• Expanding the Hydrogen in Aviation Regulatory Challenge in the current financial year by working with a range of companies, including SMEs, to prepare for the use of hydrogen as a zero-carbon aviation fuel.
• The Future Flight Challenge (a UKRI funded project) has provided funding to support innovators to access CAA expertise, guidance, and viewpoints on regulations by providing a focal point of contact and information.
• The CAA launched the Innovation Hub to create an environment where innovation in aviation can develop in line with the CAA principles such as helping innovators maximise regulatory preparation for the demonstration of their aviation systems, by testing them in safe environments and learning how they address regulatory challenges.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many test flights the first E-7 Wedgetail aircraft has successfully completed.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 January 2025 to Question 25383 to the hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire South (Johanna Baxter).

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the defence sector with (a) high costs and (b) limited access to suitable facilities for (i) developing and (ii) testing new technologies.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are a vital part of the UK defence supply base, contributing to growth through high-skilled jobs and dual use technology. We are supporting their competitiveness through investment from the National Security Strategic Investment Fund and by improving access to defence supply chains through a new SME hub, which will set direct SME spending targets for the Ministry of Defence by June this year. Our new UK Defence Innovation Organisation will further support defence SMEs to take state-of-the-art technology from the drawing board to the production line, and into the hands of our Armed Forces.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46691 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether he plans to report to Parliament on the programme of resettlement on islands other than Diego Garcia.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to his previous Question, 48365.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46691 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether his Department has conducted a risk assessment on the possibility of foreign-aligned groups using the Chagos Archipelago resettlement programme.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

There will be robust security provisions to protect the base, including a robust mechanism and review process to ensure no activity in the other islands can impinge upon base operations, as well as a prohibition on the presence of foreign security forces on the outer islands, either civilian or military.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46691 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether resettlement will be limited to the Chagossian diaspora; and what criteria will be used to determine eligibility for participation.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This agreement will enable Mauritius to develop a programme of resettlement on the islands, other than Diego Garcia. The terms of resettlement will be for Mauritius to determine.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46691 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, what vetting process will be used to determine participation in the resettlement programme.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to his previous Question, 48365.