Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What are the terms of the UK's operational freedom of action under the global F-35 programme.

The Ministry of Defence has Operational Sovereignty/Freedom of Action to operate the UK 'F-35 aircraft at the time and place of the UK Defence's choosing' and to 'procure critical capabilities to be located in the UK'.This is combined with an in-depth understanding of the aircraft's capabilities that enable Operational Readiness and risk to be assessed against national legislation, the Geneva Convention and our Duty of Care before committing the equipment and personnel to operations.

How many settlements for noise-induced hearing loss his Department made in 2024/25.

Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, there were 149 initial injury/illness awards under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) for noise-induced hearing loss which were awarded under the Senses tariff of injury table. Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, 1,083 awards for noise-induced hearing loss conditions under the War Pensions Scheme. Please note, numbers for AFCS include initial awards only. NIHL conditions which were initially rejected but were subsequently awarded, following a reconsideration or appeal in this financial year, have not been counted due to the complexity of the data. Settlements of common law compensation claims brought against the Ministry of Defence for noise-induced hearing loss are published annually. These are published the year after the relevant financial year. For example, settled claims and compensation paid in financal year (FY) 2024-25 will be published in 2026. The link below provides the most up to date information relating to common law claims in FY2023-24 including clinical negligence claims. MOD common law compensation claims statistics 2023/24 - GOV.UK

How many settlements for clinical negligence his Department made in 2024-25.

Settlements of common law compensation claims for alleged Ministry of Defence clinical negligence are published annually. These are published the year after the relevant financial year (FY). For example, settled claims and compensation paid in FY 2024-25 will be published in 2026. The link below provides the most up to date information relating to common law claims in FY2023-24 including clinical negligence claims. MOD common law compensation claims statistics 2023/24 - GOV.UK Both the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and War Pensions Scheme (WPS) are no-fault schemes to pay compensation for injuries, illness or death caused or made worse by service. Awards are granted for injuries/illnesses/deaths and not specific events within their service. Identifying if the claimant has stated their injuries/illnesses/deaths were suffered as a result of clinical negligence would not be possible to quantify, and would only be possible at a disproportionate cost as it would require a manual file search of every claim file.

What assessment has he made of the potential impact of the logistical burden of (a) armoured battlegroups and (b) vehicles from the (i) Ajax, (ii) Boxer and (iii) 433 families on the Army.

The British Army assesses logistic requirements as part of the process to deliver new vehicles and equipment into service. For reasons of operational security, I am unable to provide the details requested as to do so would reveal the readiness levels of specific platforms. On 22 November, during a routine training exercise, around 30 soldiers operating in Ajax reported being affected by noise and vibration exposure. Out of an abundance of caution, and in line with our safety protocols, the exercise was halted within 30 minutes so that those affected could receive appropriate medical care. Importantly, none of the symptoms were life-threatening or severe enough to require hospitalisation, and most soldiers have already shown significant improvement, with many returning back to their duties. As a result, I directed the Army to pause all use of Ajax for training and exercising, while a safety investigation is carried out into the events. Those investigations are ongoing and I will update the House at an appropriate point. I have in place a Ministerial led review into the Ajax programme, which will assess how effective the Department has been at implementing the actions of previous reviews, and seeking anything further that is required regarding safety. It will be conducted by experts who are not part of the AJAX programme, including Malcolm Chalmers, to provide a more independent view. It will be overseen by me and report to the Defence Secretary.

How many settlements for (a) bullying, (b) harassment, (c) discrimination, (d) physical and sexual abuse and (e) assault did his Department make in 2024-2025.

This answer covers employment tribunal settlements and common law compensation claim settlements. For employment tribunal settlements, in some cases, it has been necessary to categorise harassment and discrimination together, where the claimant has alleged complaints of both within the same claim form. Bullying: nilHarassment and discrimination: seven settlementsDiscrimination: six settlementsPhysical and sexual abuse: nilAssault: nil For claims, the answer reflects settlement of common law compensation claims against the Ministry of Defence where bullying, harassment or discrimination, sexual harassment or sexual abuse and physical abuse or assault are the main causes of action. Settlements have been defined as claims where both compensation and claimant legal costs have settled. Given the way such claims are categorised and recorded, it is not possible to separate between bullying, harassment and discrimination. Sexual harassment and sexual abuse are categorised together, as are physical abuse and assault. Bullying, harassment and discrimination: Eight settlementsSexual harassment and sexual abuse: 12 settlementsPhysical abuse and assault: Fewer than five settlements This answer does not include any settlement of damages in 2024-2025 where legal costs have not been finalised. Numbers fewer than five are not provided in order to reduce the possible inadvertent disclosure of claimant identities. Both the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and War Pensions Scheme (WPS) are no-fault schemes to pay compensation for injuries, illness or death caused or made worse by service. Awards are granted for injuries/illnesses/deaths and not specific events within their service. Identifying if the claimant has stated their injuries/illnesses/deaths were suffered as a result of clinical negligence would exceed the appropriate cost limit as it would require a manual file search of every claim file. The Raising Our Standards Programme, launched in September 2024, is driving vital cultural change through improved education, training, reporting systems, and trust in leadership. We are strengthening reporting pathways to ensure employees feel safe to report and challenge behaviours. For non-criminal complaints, the MyComplaints App enables Service and Civil Servant personnel to raise issues outside their chain of command. The forthcoming Tri-service Complaints Unit will handle the most serious cases of bullying, harassment and discrimination. Together, these initiatives create a culture where victim-survivors are supported through every route they choose, empowering them with autonomy and confidence. This commitment underpins a safer, more respectful environment for all personnel.

Pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025 to question 91710 on HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, what financial gain was made from the sale of a) HMS Albion and b) HMS Bulwark to offset against the write down of the remaining value of the vessels.

Discussions with potential international partners remain commercially sensitive, and it would not be appropriate to provide details of any prospective proceeds while these engagements are ongoing.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the statement by the Chief of the Air Staff in the foreword to the 2025 Royal International Air Tattoo programme on the number of major equipment programmes planned for the next 15 years.

The Chief of the Air Staff's comments highlighted the critical role of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and the ongoing investment in modern ISR platforms for the RAF with cutting edge technology. The Government is taking steps to ensure we have the right blend of novel and traditional technologies, including with a £400 million UKDI fund and 10% novel tech ringfence.

What recent progress he has made on changing the relationship between the Office for Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee.

As Minister for Veterans and People I have responsibility for the Office for Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees, both of which report to me. This Government is steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that support to veterans is better cohered and coordinated including through the development of the VALOUR programme.

What recent progress has he made in implementing the Land Ground Based Air Defence programme.

On current plans, the Land Based Air Defence programme is scheduled to reach Initial Operating Capability for its Medium Range Air Defence capability in Q4 2026. In response to Question 45060 the then Minister for Defence Procurement (Maria Eagle) stated that the programme is working towards Initial Operating Capability of Medium Range Air Defence for warfighting by July 2026. In fact, the programme is working towards Initial Operating Capability of Medium Range Air Defence for contingent operations in Q4 2026.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of procuring Anduril's YFQ-44A collaborative combat aircraft.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 September 2025 to Question 76688.

What assessment has he made of the potential impact of the decision to reduce the order of Type 45 destroyers from 12 ships to 6 on defence.

The Type 45 destroyers have delivered world-class air defence capability to the Royal Navy since HMS DARING entered service in 2009, and they continue to play a critical role today. Their effectiveness has been demonstrated most recently by HMS DIAMOND during operations in the Red Sea in 2024, and by HMS as part of the global Operation HIGHMAST Carrier Strike Group, which is scheduled to return to the UK later this year. The Ministry of Defence regularly reviews its force structure and capabilities to ensure they remain aligned with evolving threats and operational requirements. The decision on the number of Type 45 destroyers was based on the threat assessment and strategic priorities at the time, and these platforms continue to provide a highly capable air defence shield for the fleet.

With reference to page 91 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing legislation to ensure sufficient supply of (a) services, (b) access to critical national infrastructure and (c) resources for defence.

We are reviewing which additional legal powers the Government might need across the range of Defence business as part of our work in developing the defence readiness legislation announced in the Strategic Defence Review.

What assessment has he made of the potential implications for his policies of the use of anti-satellite weapons in all orbital regimes by a) Russia and b) China.

Space is increasingly contested, and actors are demonstrating the capability and intent to employ sophisticated counterspace capabilities. In response, Defence is enhancing resilience and redundancy in UK space systems to deter threats to and, if necessary, protect national interests. As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, we are delivering assured space-based capabilities by focusing on supporting UK freedom of action in space, decision advantage for real-time understanding, and integrated support to operations, including resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing systems, in collaboration with cross-Government partners.

What potential undersea threats have been identified off the coast of northern Scotland by Royal Air Force P8 Poseidon aircraft a) ZP802, b) ZP803, c) ZP805, d) ZP806, e) ZP808 and f) ZP808 since 1 August 2025.

The Ministry of Defence takes threats to the UK's waters seriously, and UK Armed Forces are ready to respond to any potential threat. We are unable to disclose specific details around the missions conducted by the RAF's P8 Poseidon aircraft, as to do so would undermine operational security.

Whether restrictions have been placed on offensive operations in space involving Space Warfighters.

The Ministry of Defence continuously assess its response options to ensure our Armed Forces can act appropriately against malign activities and future threats. For reasons of national security, we are not able to disclose specific details of military operations or response options. To do so would be beneficial to our adversaries.

What the outcomes were of his meeting with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission on foreign and security policy.

On 22 October 2025, the Defence Secretary met in London with the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the first foreign and security policy dialogue between the United Kingdom and the EU established under the recently agreed UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership. The Foreign Secretary also held a separate engagement with the High Representative during the visit. Together, these discussions underscored the shared commitment to strengthening defence and security cooperation at this critical moment for Euro-Atlantic Security, particularly in support of Ukraine. The Defence Secretary and the High Representative’s discussion emphasised the importance of effectively implementing the UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership, including as a means of bolstering NATO. Their talks also covered European defence industrial mechanisms, including the SAFE initiative, EU Defence Readiness 2030, and the use of frozen Russian assets to help ensure Ukraine receives the support it needs in its defence against Russia. They looked ahead to future dialogues as an opportunity to further shared objectives.

What assessment has he made of the potential benefit of forward mounting Royal Marines from the Fleet Contingency Troop to HMS Somerset in order to provide interdiction options for the tracking of the Russian ship Yantar.

The Ministry of Defence continually evaluates the most appropriate options and resources to address the evolving threats faced by the United Kingdom. For security reasons, we cannot disclose specific assessments or operational decisions publicly. However, we can confirm that the Ministry of Defence maintains robust and responsive capabilities to safeguard the UK’s territorial waters and ensure national security as required.

With reference to the press conference he gave on 19th November 2025 regarding the use of lasers by the Russian ship Yantar, what changes has he made to the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement.

The Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence continuously assess our Rules of Engagement to ensure our Armed Forces can act appropriately in response to malign activities and evolving threats, including unsafe or unprofessional behaviour by foreign vessels and aircraft. For reasons of national security, I am not able to disclose specific detail on Rules of Engagement.

What level of readiness is 42 Commando’s Fleet Contingency Troop held at in order to conduct maritime interdiction operations in UK territorial waters.

The Ministry of Defence continually evaluates the most appropriate options and resources to address the evolving threats faced by the United Kingdom. For security reasons, we cannot disclose specific assessments or operational decisions publicly. However, we can confirm that the Ministry of Defence maintains robust and responsive capabilities to safeguard the UK’s territorial waters and ensure national security as required.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025 to question 89765 on Military Aircraft: Procurement, what the in-year saving made by cancelling the Shadow Mk2 upgrade programme was.

The decision to cancel the Shadow Mk2 upgrade programme was driven by delays in delivering the required capability and an assessment of increased costs for uncontracted work. As a result, no direct in-year savings were realised from this decision. However, allocated sustainment funding continues to support the operational output of the existing Shadow R Mk1 fleet.