Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the naval mine hunting capability of the Royal Navy.

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

The Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme continues to deliver an advanced suite of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) and SWEEP (the first Sovereign minesweeping capability since 2006) into service within the Royal Navy, enabling frontline mine warfare specialists to enhance operational effectiveness. These cutting-edge autonomous mine-hunting systems are deployed by the Mine and Threat Exploitation Group for evaluation, training, and operational deployment.

The comprehensive scope of the MHC programme encompasses multiple USVs, UUVs, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for identification and neutralisation, and a state-of-the-art, sovereign mine-sweeping capability. Additionally, the programme has delivered HMS STIRLING CASTLE, a dedicated support vessel designed to enhance the deployment and sustainment of autonomous systems.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any money has been paid to the NHS as a result of NHS employees publishing content on personal social media platforms that was filmed during working hours, using NHS equipment or uniforms, and related to their work.

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

This information is not held centrally by the Department. However, NHS England has not received any payments from anyone in relation to National Health Service employees publishing content on their personal social media platforms.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to paragraph 88 of the policy paper entitled UK Government Resilience Action Plan, published on 14 July 2025, how many meetings have been attended by civil servants within their Department in relation to the Home Defence Programme; which directorate in the Department owns the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme; and what the job title is of the civil servant leading and cohering the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

DCMS Ministers have regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience.

The Resilience Action Plan sets out the Government’s strategic approach to how we will strengthen our domestic resilience and invest to protect the nation. DCMS officials regularly attend meetings to discuss the implementation of the Resilience Action Plan as well as matters of national security and defence.

The department is actively contributing to this work and regularly attends Cross-Whitehall fora on national resilience including meetings on the Home Defence Programme.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 88 of the policy paper entitled UK Government Resilience Action Plan, published on 14 July 2025, how many meetings have been attended by civil servants within their Department in relation to the Home Defence Programme; which directorate in the Department owns the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme; and what the job title is of the civil servant leading and cohering the Departmental contribution to the Home Defence Programme.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Senior officials from the Resilience and Recovery Directorate in MHCLG regularly attend meetings to discuss matters of national security, defence and resilience as well as the associated public communications required to deliver these lines of efforts. The conversation on National Defence was a recommendation in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which the Government accepted. The Ministry of Defence is the lead department for delivering the SDR, with support from the Cabinet Office, and particularly from the National Security Secretariat.

As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the national conversation will be a multi-year, cross-departmental effort designed to deliver on the whole-of-society approach to national security and defence allowing Government, the private sector and public to play their part in strengthening the UK’s resilience to any potential future shocks. This work addresses the risks and threats the UK faces, including those below and above the threshold of an armed attack.

MHCLG is actively supporting this work, including liaising with Local Resilience Forums.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to encourage a higher uptake of regular diabetes health checks for eligible patients.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Improving the uptake of annual diabetes health checks recommended by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is a key primary care metric in the NHS Oversight Framework, which is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/nhs-oversight-framework-2025-26/

The framework sets out how NHS England will assess providers and integrated care boards, to identify where support is needed and promote improvement.

The annual checks are based on NICE’s nine recommended care processes to manage diabetes and to reduce the risk of complications. NHS England is also working closely with National Health Service systems to monitor the improvement of achievement rates in delivering the annual diabetes health checks. To help deliver this, NHS England has recently launched a new National Diabetes Audit Care Processes and Treatment Targets dashboard to support systems to benchmark and improve delivery of the health checks.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 92 of the Strategic Defence Review, how many meetings officials from their Department have attended on the national conversation on defence and security; which directorate in their Department is responsible for the departmental contribution to that national conversation; and what the job title is of the official responsible.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Officials from the department regularly attend meetings to discuss matters of national security, defence and resilience as well as the associated public communications required to deliver these lines of efforts. The conversation on national defence was a recommendation in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which the government accepted. The Ministry of Defence is the lead department for delivering the SDR, with support from the Cabinet Office, and particularly from the National Security Secretariat.

As set out in the SDR, the national conversation will be a multi-year, cross-departmental effort designed to deliver on the whole-of-society approach to national security and defence allowing government, the private sector and public to play their part in strengthening the UK’s resilience to any potential future shocks. This work addresses the risks and threats the UK faces, including those below and above the threshold of an armed attack.

The department is actively supporting this work. It plans to promote communications as part of National Preparedness Week later this year and is increasing engagement with its sectors on resilience issues.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers in their Department have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience.

The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build the UK’s resilience to any potential escalation to conflict. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK. It is informed by and reflects the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan.

The department is actively supporting this work. Officials in the department are in regular discussions with The Ministry of Defence and other government departments.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many retired civil servants are awaiting their first pension payment; and what is the average length of time they have been waiting.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.

The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.

Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Capita is prioritising the most urgent cases and as of 28 February 2026, all death in service cases are now either settled, progressed to the final stage or awaiting a member response. All ill-health retirement cases were also addressed by 6 March 2026 and service levels in these areas are being maintained.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office has met with the Capita CEO both before and after the transition. This oversight is supported by Cabinet Office officials and the taskforce, who remain in daily contact with Capita leadership. Ministers are regularly updated with progress being made to ensure the recovery remains on track.

The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of timely payments made through the civil service pension scheme.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.

The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.

Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Capita is prioritising the most urgent cases and as of 28 February 2026, all death in service cases are now either settled, progressed to the final stage or awaiting a member response. All ill-health retirement cases were also addressed by 6 March 2026 and service levels in these areas are being maintained.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office has met with the Capita CEO both before and after the transition. This oversight is supported by Cabinet Office officials and the taskforce, who remain in daily contact with Capita leadership. Ministers are regularly updated with progress being made to ensure the recovery remains on track.

The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Remediable Service Statement's are outstanding as of 19 March 2026, and what estimate he has made as to when all remaining statements will be issued.

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

As at 16 March 2026, the number of members awaiting their initial Remediable Service Statements (RSS) was 37,515.

100,592 members have successfully been issued with their RSS. Any pension adjustments arising from members' elections will be backdated with interest to ensure members receive their full entitlement.

The Ministry of Defence is working with the scheme administrator to finalise the timeline for issuing all RSSs. Once a timeline has been finalised, this will be communicated with members.

Regular progress updates are available to members at the following link on the Armed Forces Pensions gov.uk website:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans#remediable-service-statement-delivery-update

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any a) instruction and b) guidance is given to Instructors at Army Training Centres not to fail recruits undergoing Phase 1 training.

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

The British Army upholds consistently high professional standards for all recruits undertaking Basic Training. Throughout this period, recruits are trained and mentored to ensure they meet and maintain these standards, not only during Basic Training, but throughout the entirety of their military careers.

Instructors seek first to “train in” rather than “select out” individuals. Recruits will not progress beyond Basic Training until they have met the prescribed Basic Training output standard.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average staffing complement is for a ministerial private office within their Department; what grades those staff are appointed at; what the typical remuneration and contracted working hours are for those posts; and what the staff turnover rate is.

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

The size and set-up of each ministerial private office can vary significantly, as they are often determined by the specific requirements and nature of the workload involved at any given time. This flexibility ensures that each office is best equipped to meet its unique responsibilities and demands.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to adopt a similar policy as the United States' Navy’s No Sailor Lives Afloat Initiative.

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

The Royal Navy already employs a range of measures to support work‑life balance and to minimise the need for personnel to live on board when ships are in harbour, including the use of shore‑side accommodation, flexible duty arrangements, and planned maintenance periods designed to maximise time ashore. These arrangements are kept under continuous review to ensure they meet operational requirements and the wellbeing needs of Service personnel.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service leavers who left in 2014 subsequently rejoined in a) 2014, b) 2015, c) 2016, d) 2017, e) 2018, f) 2019, g) 2020, h) 2021 and i) 2022.

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

It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the average staffing complement is for a ministerial private office within their Department; what grades those staff are appointed at; what the typical remuneration and contracted working hours are for those posts; and what the staff turnover rate is.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

Private Office in the Scotland Office has an average staffing complement of 12 staff and serves 2 Ministers, appointed from EO to Grade 6. Typical contracted hours for these posts are 37 hours a week, with additional private office allowance paid to qualifying staff for regular out of hours work.

In the last 12 months, there has been a turnover rate of 50% in Private Office.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on a) turnover rates within Royal Navy catering services, b) the quality of food provided in messes, and c) sales receipts in mess facilities of returning responsibility for cooking and catering at shore‑based establishments to the Catering Services branch; and whether he has estimated the cost of phasing in such changes over time.

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

The Royal Navy continuously reviews the catering provision provided to Service personnel to ensure this meets the standards expected. Recent initiatives have been introduced to further enhance nutrition, consistency, and customer satisfaction. There are currently no plans for the catering provision provide to shore-based establishments to be delivered by the Catering Services branch.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether police and fire call handlers are required to have working knowledge of (a) What Three Words and (b) the NATO phonetic alphabet.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Police Call Handlers are not required to have working knowledge of What Three Words and the Nato Phonetic Alphabet. This is an operational matter for Chief Constables.

For matters regarding the Fire Service, I would direct my Rt Hon friend to the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government, which is responsible for fire policy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2026 to Questions 118252, 118255 and 118258, for what reason the College of Policing and Independent Office for Police Conduct have not met their statutory obligation to respond within 56 days to the Prevention of Future Deaths reports of Oladeji Omishore, Sean Fitzgerald and Ashley Crews.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

I refer my Honourable friend to the response published on 19 March and suggest that he consider writing to the College of Policing and the Independent Office for Police Conduct concerning their statutory obligations to respond to the respective coroners who published the PFD reports in these cases.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department seeks feedback from military personnel on the catering service provided by Sodexo.

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

The Ministry of Defence actively seeks and acts upon the feedback from Military Personnel regarding catering services provided by Sodexo.

Military Personnel are able to submit feedback by scanning site QR codes displayed on tables, using digital feedback applications, or through established local engagement channels. Additionally, each catering facility maintains a comments and suggestions book, which is regularly reviewed.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many vehicles are part of the Land Rover WOLF fleet.

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

I can confirm that as of 19 March 2026, there are 5,826 platforms in-service in the Land Rover WOLF fleet. This figure includes those in the active fleet and those in or awaiting to commence the disposal process.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the average staffing complement is for a ministerial private office within their Department; what grades those staff are appointed at; what the typical remuneration and contracted working hours are for those posts; and what the staff turnover rate is.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Ministerial private offices are small teams whose composition varies by Minister and portfolio. Private secretaries are paid in line with Civil Service pay frameworks, with contractual hours set out in individual contracts. The Department does not hold data on turnover for individual private offices.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average staffing complement is for a ministerial private office within their Department; what grades those staff are appointed at; what the typical remuneration and contracted working hours are for those posts; and what the staff turnover rate is.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMT ministerial private offices hire an average 6.5 FTE per office. Staff are appointed at grades: AO, EO, HEO, SEO, G7, G6 and Deputy Director. Contracted working hours for these staff members are 37 hours per week.

Staff salaries for the appointed grades are typically between £26,200 - £117,800. Designated posts may also benefit from Private Office Allowance.

The average staff turnover over the last 3 years was between 20-30%, which can include staff on loans to HMT returning to their home departments, or individuals leaving to other government departments, including on promotion.

Found: Current membership Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour; Slough) (Chair) Mr Calvin Bailey (Labour; Leyton

Found: (Labour; Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North) Sarah Champion (Labour; Rotherham) Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Chair); Lincoln Jopp; Emma Lewell; Mike

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Chair); Mr Calvin Bailey; Emma Lewell;

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Chair); Mr Calvin Bailey; Emma Lewell;

Found: Members present: Dame Meg Hillier (Chair); Debbie Abrahams; Liam Byrne; Sarah Champion; Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi