Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 10 of his Department’s Defence Industrial Strategy, published 8 September 2025, what progress his Department has made on boosting defence skills across the country by establishing Defence Technical Excellence Colleges.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs) will be specialist training centres for students aged 16 and above that will equip them with the cutting-edge technical skills required for critical defence roles.
In April 2026, we announced five DTECs in England: City College Plymouth, Yeovil College, Rotherham College (RNN Group), Lincoln College, and Blackpool and the Fylde College. These are due to commence operations during the 2026/27 academic year.
As part of their Defence Growth Deals, we have also announced our intention to establish two DTECs in Scotland and one in Wales. We are working with the relevant devolved governments and education authorities to establish these.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 120 of his Department’s Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made on changing the CyberEM domain to help achieve a tech-enabled Integrated Force capable of outthinking and outmanoeuvring adversaries.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to question 21458 on the 8 September 2026.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-08-28/21458
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 6 of his Department’s Defence Industrial Strategy, published 8 September 2025, what steps his Department has taken to reduce timescales to get new projects on contract.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to question 21463 on 8 September 2026.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-08-28/21463
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 88 of his department’s Defence Industrial Strategy, published 8 September 2025, what progress has been made on portfolio driven delivery.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to thanswer I gave on 8 September 2026 to Question 22886.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-08-28/22886
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown of funding sent and allocated to Ukraine.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
In line with the figures for 2022-23 and 2023-24 previously published as part of the NAO’s report into the military support provided to Ukraine, the table below sets out the figures for 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Activity | 2024-25 ÂŁmillion | 2025-26 ÂŁmillion |
Rapid Procurement | 1,427 | 1,477 |
Operational Support including NATO Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) | 506 | 632 |
International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) contributions | 0 | 14 |
Cost of Support to Ukraine | 632 | 578 |
Training | 206 | 170 |
Replenishment | 250 | 194 |
Total | 3,021 | 3,065 |
The figures in the Department’s Annual Report and Account for 2025-26 include a further £191 million accountancy adjustment, which has been excluded for clarity.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his proposed timetable is for increasing funding for the total number of Active Reserves by 20%.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
Any funding for increasing the UK's Active Reserve forces will be considered as part of future Spending Reviews.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 68 of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026. whether the funding for science, innovation and technology from 2030 to 2035 is already factored into his Department's budget.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As set out in the Defence Investment Plan, funding for investments beyond 2029-30 will be set out as part of future Spending Reviews and subsequent budget-setting processes, in the usual way.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 90 of his department’s Defence Industrial Strategy, published 8 September 2025, what progress has been made on streamlining decision-making processes.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
This Government inherited a slow and burdensome procurement system. We have announced a series of changes to speed up procurement. As part of this effort, the Department is streamlining decision making as part of reforms to drive pace and agility into acquisition. Business cases are now considered at a single decision point, removing sequential endorsement and approval points whilst ensuring there remains appropriate rigour in the investment approvals system. Our teams have access to tools that enable proportionate project delivery assurance tailored to their programmes and work to review and improve our tools and assurance processes continues.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, , with reference to page 67 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, to what extent operation planning for enduring deployments at scale takes into account pastoral, practical, and financial support for families.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
The British Armed Forces defines fighting power through three core, mutually supporting components detailed in doctrine (JDP 0-01): the conceptual, the moral, and the physical. Pastoral care, practical and financial support form part of the moral component and is therefore, central to our operational planning.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many regular personnel there are in the Armed Forces.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
The Department publishes quarterly service personnel statistics at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2026