Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

With reference to page 105 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Type 45 destroyers on NATO regional plans.

Type 45 destroyers are central to the UK's integrated air and missile defence strategy, and they have actively contributed to NATO operations through Carrier Strike Group deployments and singleton deployments with Standing Naval Maritime Groups. Upgrades to the Type 45s will serve to enhance the UK's preparedness against advancing and proliferating threats, further demonstrating the UK's commitment to NATO's deterrence and defence.

With reference to page 120 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what the future structure of the Army’s Cyber and Electromagnetic Effects Group will be.

The Department is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review, including those involving the Cyber and Electromagnetic Domain (CyberEM) Force design work on the Army’s CyberEM Effects Group is ongoing. Until this work is fully complete, there are no changes to the current CyberEM structure.

With reference to page 122 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on shaping the CyberEM domain to be led in a similar way to UK Space Command.

The design and implementation planning process is well underway. The 4 star Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) was officially launched on 1 September 2025. The 2 star Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force, previously referred to as the CyberEM Command, which operates within CSOC, is set to be established by the end of the year. The design team has visited UK Space Command to ensure that their lessons and best practice have been incorporated and will continue to share best practice during the design and implementation phase.

With reference to page 128 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on breaking down barriers to collaboration with partners across government.

Collaboration with partners across Government, including the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC), is essential to Defence outputs-both in routine activity and on operations. The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) sets a clear ambition to strengthen collaboration and interoperability, enabling delivery of the Integrated Force and the Digital Targeting Web. Defence is already interoperable with Government partners and capable of sharing data and intelligence. However, there are further opportunities to improve. To address this, multiple programmes are ongoing which aim to enhance interoperability and remove barriers to information sharing. These initiatives vary in maturity but are already being adopted across the MOD and UKIC and delivering measurable benefits.Additional work is underway to modernise data-handling approaches across National Security, leveraging technological advances to enable machine-speed sharing where appropriate. Combined with the MOD's broader technology modernisation programmes, these efforts will deliver improved capability, interoperability, and resilience across Defence and Government partners.

What maritime autonomous systems are within the scope of the Mine Hunting Capability programme.

The Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme continues to deliver an advanced suite of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) 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.

What recent progress he has made on implementing the Mine Hunting Capability programme.

The Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme continues to deliver an advanced suite of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) 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.

What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Future Materials Campus programme.

The Future Materials Campus programme remains in an early phase of its development and we are engaging with industry to support its delivery. The programme is developing a value for money model that utilises modern methods of construction and ensures flexibility to meet future demands of the nuclear deterrent programmes.

Under what agreement the UK operates the Naval Support Facility in Bahrain.

The Naval Support Facility in Bahrain operates under an arrangement reached with the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2014.

With reference to page 90 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on establishing a programme of exercises to test plans for response to an armed attack on (a) the UK and (b) NATO allies.

The Government regularly performs exercises on its ability to respond to an armed attack on the United Kingdom and our NATO Allies. The Ministry of Defence works closely with the Cabinet Office and the Home Office to test and strengthen national resilience and home defence arrangements. These exercises enhance coordination between the Armed Forces, civil authorities and emergency services, ensuring the UK remains prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to any armed threat. In addition, NATO has an extensive set of plans outlining how to respond to an armed attack on any Ally, including the UK. These exercises enhance Allied interoperability, validate defence and deterrence strategies, and reinforce the credibility of NATO's collective defence posture. The largest of these exercises is the STEADFAST series, NATO's most extensive and comprehensive exercise programme. Last year, Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024, the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War, involved around 20,000 UK personnel.

With reference to recommendation 22 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, with which NATO allies he is seeking to strengthen bilateral relations.

The UK is committed to deepening our relationship with a broad range of Allies. Pages 73-75 as well as 82 - 84 of the Strategic Defence Review provide a clear list of allies with which the UK should develop closer ties. These are: the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Poland Estonia, Norway, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithunua, The Netherlands, Romania, and Greece. This is not exhaustive; the Ministry of Defence maintains close links with all Allies in NATO.

With reference to page 91 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, by when he plans to enable the annual publication of percentage availability of in-service programmes.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) set out the need for external scrutiny of UK warfighting readiness through annual reporting of key data, as one of a number of possible measures in a wider Defence Readiness Bill. Given its potentially broad scope, a Defence Readiness Bill may be a legislative vehicle for wider Government, not just Defence. We are therefore working closely across Government through the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence programme to shape key requirements, and understand and identify the measures needed. This preliminary work will allow us introduce legislation when parliamentary time allows.

With reference to page 91 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, by when he plans to enable the annual publication of a summary of assessments on programme availability.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) set out the need for external scrutiny of UK warfighting readiness through annual reporting of key data, as one of a number of possible measures in a wider Defence Readiness Bill. Given its potentially broad scope, a Defence Readiness Bill may be a legislative vehicle for wider Government, not just Defence. We are therefore working closely across Government through the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence programme to shape key requirements, and understand and identify the measures needed. This preliminary work will allow us introduce legislation when parliamentary time allows.

With reference to page 91 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, when he plans to introduce the Defence Readiness Bill.

We are developing proposals for inclusion in defence readiness legislation, including on potential military and civilian personnel requirements. That work will include consideration of the potential impacts of defence mobilisation in crisis or conflict on other areas. Any decisions on any future mobilisation will be taken in the context of the specific nature of the crisis and the circumstances applying at that time.

With reference to page 100 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what the full scope is of the National Endeavour approach to the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

The National Endeavour covers all programmes and policies which contribute to the delivery of the nuclear deterrent. This includes investing in the infrastructure, capabilities, science, people, and places which are critical to the nuclear deterrent. Some aspects of this work are delivered directly by the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, as outlined in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise 2025 Annual Update to Parliament (available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-nuclear-enterprise-2025-annual-update-to-parliament/). Other aspects are being driven forward by other Government Departments.

On what date the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement with the United States was last renewed.

The most recent renewal of the 1958 Mutual Defense Agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States entered into force on 14 November 2024. The agreement is now enduring in its entirety following the removal of the 10-yearly renewal provisions.

With reference to Box 12 page 105 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, what (a) uncrewed surface vessels and (b) uncrewed underwater vehicles are currently in operational service with the Royal Navy.

As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review 2025, Atlantic Bastion is the Royal Navy’s plan to secure the North Atlantic for the UK and NATO against the persistent and growing underwater threat posed by a modernising Russian submarine force. The UK’s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities are central to European defence and vital to meeting the Alliance’s evolving needs.To support this, the Royal Navy will deploy a Type 26 ASW frigate force, designed to operate both uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs). The Navy is accelerating the integration of these systems, building on its existing wide range of uncrewed capabilities.For operational security reasons, details of USVs and UUVs currently in active service are not publicly disclosed.

What is the out-of-service date of all Royal Navy Batch 1 OPVs.

The Royal Navy constantly reviews out-of-service dates to achieve maximum availability of its platforms for operational tasking. For operational security reasons, the Royal Navy does not release the out-of-service dates of individual platforms. The class out-of-service date for OPV Batch 1 is 2028. The Royal Navy continues to assess its future capability requirements in accordance with the Strategic Defence Review and the Defence Investment Plan.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of replacing the Royal Navy’s Batch 1 OPVs on retirement.

The Royal Navy constantly reviews out-of-service dates to achieve maximum availability of its platforms for operational tasking. For operational security reasons, the Royal Navy does not release the out-of-service dates of individual platforms. The class out-of-service date for OPV Batch 1 is 2028. The Royal Navy continues to assess its future capability requirements in accordance with the Strategic Defence Review and the Defence Investment Plan.

What is the projected cost of Project Astrea in this Parliament.

Funding for the Astraea programme is included within the £15 billion investment in the sovereign nuclear warhead programme this Parliament, announced in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review. That investment also includes sustaining our current Mk4A warhead and modernising the associated infrastructure. However, I am withholding the projected cost of the Astraea programme in this Parliament for the purpose of safeguarding our national security.

With reference to page 112 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in improving the RAF’s (a) productivity, (b) agility and (c) adaptability.

The RAF has established, and is operating an approach which drives increased output, improved affordability and enhanced workforce effectiveness to deliver the recommendations set out in the Strategic Defence Review. Through delivery of prioritised and measured outcomes the RAF is committed to contribute to an increase in productivity, agility and adaptability. The Chief of the Air Staff's Optimise Directive is part of the RAF's productivity approach, which coheres initiatives aimed at delivering benefits across the Royal Air Force and ensuring the best use of resources.