Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the number of civil servants working on the Defence Investment Plan has changed since June 2025.

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

The Defence Investment Plan has been supported by a flexible cross‑Defence team, with personnel allocated at the right level to reflect the complexity of the work and ensure progress to publication.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants are working on the Defence Investment Plan.

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

The Defence Investment Plan has been supported by a flexible cross‑Defence team, with personnel allocated at the right level to reflect the complexity of the work and ensure progress to publication.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military personnel are working on the Defence Investment Plan.

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

The Defence Investment Plan has been supported by a flexible cross‑Defence team, with personnel allocated at the right level to reflect the complexity of the work and ensure progress to publication.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) small, (b) medium and (c) large businesses in the defence industry in (i) July 2024 and (ii) March 2026.

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

This information is not held in the format requested.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Sea Cadet units there were in (a) July 2024 and (b) March 2026.

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

The latest available data for cadet forces is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-sponsored-cadet-forces-statistics-2025/mod-sponsored-cadet-forces-1-april-2025

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of freezing Army personnel postings in the context of the geopolitical situation.

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

The Department has no plans to freeze Army personnel movements in the context of the geopolitical situation and personnel management continues under existing arrangements to meet the needs of the Army, and to ensure the right people capability is provided to fulfil our national Defence commitments.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Air Cadet squadrons there were in (a) July 2024 and (b) March 2026.

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

In July 2024 there were 877 Royal Air Force Air Cadet Squadrons, and as of March 2026 there was 871.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expected cost is to his Department of meeting net zero and environmental targets over the next five years.

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

The Ministry of Defence will contribute to the UK’s Net Zero and environmental targets primarily through the Greening Government Commitments. These commitments provide the central framework for Departments and their agencies to reduce their impact on the environment over a five-year period.

The Greening Government Commitments for the period 2025-2030 are currently under review to ensure that they remain aligned with this government’s priorities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army Cadet detachments there were in (a) July 2024 and (b) March 2026.

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

In July 2024 there were 1,586 Army Cadet Force detachments. In March 2026 there were 1,568.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people employed in the defence industry in (a) July 2024 and (b) March 2026.

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

The ‘MOD Supported Employment Estimates Report’ presents the number of direct and indirect jobs supported by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in 2023-24 by UK region and industry group. The report can be found on the gov.uk website at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-supported-employment-estimates-202324/mod-supported-employment-estimates-202324

For financial year 2023-24 (the most recent time period available), 272,000 direct and indirect jobs were supported through MOD expenditure with UK industry. The Statistics covering 2024-25 will be published later this summer.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of freezing Royal Air Force personnel postings in the context of the geopolitical situation.

Answered by Al Carns

The Department has no plans to freeze Royal Air Force personnel movements. Personnel management continues under existing arrangements.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of freezing Royal Navy personnel postings in the context of the geopolitical situation.

Answered by Al Carns

The Department has no plans to freeze Royal Navy personnel movements. Personnel management continues under existing arrangements.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many civil servants in her Department attended at least one session on (a) equality, diversity and inclusion, (b) culture and (c) wellness in each of the last three years.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many language sessions were offered to civil servants in her Department in each of the last three years; and in what languages.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many civil servants in her Department took part in a language course in each of the last three years; and in what languages.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many people in her Department work in HR and the People function.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many equality, diversity and inclusion related events the Permanent Secretary in her Department has attended since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many FTE civil servants were allocated to the Iran desk in each of the last three years for which data is available; and what their grades were.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many civil servants in her Department held a language qualification in each of the last three years; and in what languages.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much her Department spent on (a) equality, diversity and inclusion, (b) culture and (c) wellness (i) training courses and (ii) events in each of the last three years.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many courses were offered internally on (a) equality, diversity and inclusion, (b) culture and (c) wellness in each of the last three years.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many full-time equivalent civil servants were allocated to the China desk in each of the last three years for which data is available; and what were their grades.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many FTE civil servants were allocated to the Russia desk in each of the last three years for which data is available; and what their grades were.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In responding to the Hon Member's eleven detailed questions about the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's relative focus on its public sector equality duty obligations compared to certain key foreign policy priorities, I refer him to the answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88798, and inform him that - by comparison - the Department currently has more than 400 staff in the UK and overseas working on various aspects of the Iran crisis, the conflict in Ukraine, and our policies in respect of Russia and China.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many FTE civil servants primarily focus on China policy; and their grades.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

As of 15 April 2026, there are 34.5 FTE civil servants in DBT and based in the UK who work in the China Team or have a role that includes China as the primary focus. However, these individuals may also perform duties unrelated to China policy. There are additional staff members who contribute to China policy, although it may not be their primary responsibility.”

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Air Cadets there were in (a) July 2024 and (b) March 2026.

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

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes annual accredited official statistics on the strength of MOD-sponsored Cadet Forces. Statistics as at 1 April 2024 and 2025 (the latest iteration) can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mod-sponsored-cadet-forces-statistics-index. The next iteration of these statistics is expected to be published in June 2026 with information as at 1 April 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Army cadets there were in (a) July 2024 and (b) March 2026.

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

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes annual accredited official statistics on the strength of MOD-sponsored Cadet Forces. Statistics as at 1 April 2024 and 2025 (the latest iteration) can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mod-sponsored-cadet-forces-statistics-index. The next iteration of these statistics is expected to be published in June 2026 with information as at 1 April 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many sea cadets there were in (a) July 2024 and (b) March 2026.

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

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes annual accredited official statistics on the strength of MOD-sponsored Cadet Forces. Statistics as at 1 April 2024 and 2025 (the latest iteration) can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mod-sponsored-cadet-forces-statistics-index. The next iteration of these statistics is expected to be published in June 2026 with information as at 1 April 2026.

Found: 81.2%) Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat, North Devon) (added 9 Feb 2026) 14 of 16 (87.5%) Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst

Found: Members present: Andy Slaughter (Chair); Pam Cox; Warinder Juss; Tessa Munt; Sarah Russell; Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst

Found: Members present: Andy Slaughter (Chair); Pam Cox; Warinder Juss; Tessa Munt; Sarah Russell; Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst

Found: Paul Foster Mr Mark Francois Gerald Jones Jayne Kirkham Mike Martin Ian Roome Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst

Found: David Reed (Conservative; Exmouth and Exeter East) Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat; North Devon) Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst

Found: Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst: I am Neil Shastri-Hurst.