Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What progress his Department has made in completing the Power Improvement Project refit of the Royal Navy Type 45 fleet.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence (Lord Coaker), on 20 January 2025 to Question number HL3859 in the House of Lords: Completing the Type 45 Power Improvement Project (PIP) work is dependent on the availability of ships to undertake the upgrade, balanced against the Royal Navy’s (RN) current and future operational commitments. PIP conversions have been aligned to the routine Class Upkeep cycle, which has been optimised where feasible to accelerate delivery and increase availability. This has enabled an increase in the number of ships undergoing PIP Upkeep in parallel at HM Naval Base Portsmouth, where historically there was only a single Type 45 in Upkeep at any one time. Class availability is now maximised to ensure that the RN has been able to fulfil all its operational commitments.

With reference to recommendation 38 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in delivering an integrated frigate force comprising of (a) crewed, (b) uncrewed and (c) autonomous platforms via a new partnership with industry.

The Royal Navy has made significant early progress in delivering an integrated frigate force comprising crewed, uncrewed, and autonomous platforms, in line with Recommendation 38 of SDR 25. This initiative is central to our future Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capability and is being pursued through a new, dynamic partnership with industry. The Type-26 Frigate remains the cornerstone of the RN’s crewed anti-submarine warfare capability plan and will be at the heart of the future fleet. The Atlantic Bastion programme operates with T26 at its centre and will secure the North Atlantic against subsurface threats for the UK and NATO. We have initiated trials of several uncrewed surface and sub-surface systems with the intent that uncrewed systems will integrate with Type 26 and other fleet assets.

With reference to page 127 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made on tackling barriers to interoperability between defence and the UK Intelligence Community.

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.

With reference to page 130 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what planning he has undertaken for the deployment of reserves in defence-related medical care.

As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises a significant proportion of Reserves work in the NHS. The deployment of Reserves in Defence medical care requires careful planning given the impact on NHS staffing. There is a strong foundation of cross-Government working between the MOD and the Department of Health and Social Care, including on planning to meet Defence medical needs and other strategic health emergencies. Work is also ongoing to understand system-wide capacity and capability, potential future need and shared plans for delivery.

With reference to page 130 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what the Defence Medical Services pressures are that have been caused by workforce shortages.

As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, the workforce shortages and the fragility of global supply chains are pressures for Defence Medical Services and the NHS. Work is ongoing between the MOD and NHS to understand system-wide capacity and capability, potential future need and shared plans for delivery to meet Defence medical needs.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Senior Responsible Officer delivery confidence assessment commentary on the timing of the in-water phase for Astute Boat 6.

HMS Agamemnon has been undertaking her in-water testing and commissioning phase at BAE Systems’ Shipyard in Barrow since October 2024. We continue to work closely with industry to deliver HMS Agamemnon by the end of 2026.

What mine counter measures vessels will be in scope to be replaced by maritime autonomous systems under the Mine Hunting Capability programme.

All existing HUNT and SANDOWN-class Mine Countermeasures Vessels are planned for retirement within the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, as part of the transition to advanced autonomous systems. For operational security reasons, the Royal Navy does not release the out of service dates of individual platforms.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

The Government is committed to a successful shipbuilding and maritime technology sector. In 2024 alone, the sector contributed £3.5 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the economy and employed approximately 50,000 people, with a median annual wage of £42,785—well above the national average of £37,430. In addition, the recent announcement of the UK’s biggest ever warship export deal with Norway worth £10 billion will support over 4,000 UK jobs and deliver on the Government’s Plan for Change. The Government intends to publish a new Shipbuilding and Maritime Technology Action Plan to deliver the Government’s ambitions for national security and economic growth.

Whether the roll out of Ares as an infantry fighting vehicle is included within the budget for the (a) Mechanised Infantry Programme and (b) Armoured Cavalry 2025 programme.

ARES will be used to fulfil an Armoured Infantry capability. Subject to gaining the necessary approvals, the budget for ARES modifications will be met within the Armoured Cavalry programme not the Mechanised Infantry programme.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what the nature is of the (a) workforce shortages and (b) weapons testing delays under the Delivery Confidence of the Protector programme.

Personnel shortfalls were identified in both the RAF and Defence Equipment and Support delivery team constructs. Internal prioritisation activity has since occurred to mitigate shortfalls. Protector's schedule was also delayed due to the resultant review of activity after a fatal accident of a US contractor that occurred at the deployed weapons testing location in September 2023.

If he will set out the full scope of the Joint Crypt Key programme.

The Joint Crypt-Key Programme (JCKP) is Ministry of Defence-sponsored and delivered jointly with the National Cyber Security Centre.  The information requested is being withheld as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of the UK Armed Forces.

What progress he has made on obtaining final approval of the Full Business Case for the E7 Wedgetail programme.

The Full Business Case was approved in June 2025.

What the out-of-service dates are for each Royal Navy mine counter measures vessel.

All existing HUNT and SANDOWN-class Mine Countermeasures Vessels are planned for retirement within the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, as part of the transition to advanced autonomous systems. For operational security reasons, the Royal Navy does not release the out of service dates of individual platforms.

With reference to Box 12 page 15 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, how do mission bays facilitate (a) rapid upgrades and (b) spiral development.

The Royal Navy has embraced the mission bay concept, which are spaces on our ships into which modular capabilities can be inserted quickly, easily and at very low cost. Mission bays offer the opportunity to support a standardised footprint capability module (be this a ‘pod’ or otherwise). This supports spiral development by narrowing the boundary (or scope) of any developments to this footprint, relying upon the initial standardisation specification. Therefore, rapid upgrades can be embedded within the platform through the much shorter route of exchanging the podded or modular component, rather than engaging in constructive re-design of a system already integrated into the platform.

With reference to page 131 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on establishing a Sponsored Reserve model.

The Defence Medical Services (DMS) is exploring the potential for a ‘Sponsored Reserve’ model or equivalent to increase medical Reserve numbers, with more personnel held at readiness. The DMS is engaging with industry providers to inform this work and will assess the benefits of employing Sponsored Reserves to DMS and consider options for capability and specialty-based contracts.

With reference to page 117 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made on developing command and control at levels of classification above Secret to support UK freedom of action in space.

UK Space Command will invest in and develop a wide range of capability to enable its operations at the required classifications. For reasons of national security, we are unable to comment on projects or programmes which deliver capabilities above the OFFICIAL classification.

With reference to page 126 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what specialist military capabilities Special Forces provide in support of (a) the police and (b) civil authorities.

It is the longstanding policy of successive Governments not to comment on the details of the activity, personnel or capabilities of the UK Special Forces.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what the nature of the concern was of the aircraft certification risk for tranche one of the Chinook Capability Sustainment Programme.

The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual (NISTA) Report 2024-25 referenced the Chinook H-47(Extended Range) certification risk to highlight that timely information sharing between the US and the UK was important to meeting the Programme schedule. Significant progress has been made since the publication of the NISTA report to ensure the timely release of information from the US Government. The Programme is on track to conduct flight trials in 2027, managed in association with the US Government, ahead of final certification agreement with the UK Military Aviation Authority. The NISTA report also highlighted that considerable attention and resource is being dedicated to H-47(Extended Range) certification.

With reference to page 43 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published in June 2025, CP 1338, what progress he has made on building at least six new (a) munitions and (b) energetics factories.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) committed to invest £1.5 billion in an 'always on' pipeline for munitions and to build at least six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK this parliament. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently developing a plan to deliver this commitment alongside our wider Defence Industrial Strategy, delivering long-term investment to boost UK growth and generating skilled UK jobs and export opportunities. The MOD is carefully considering arrangements for 'always on' and for new energetics and munitions factories including their potential locations, and more detail will be set out in due course. Work is ongoing in respect to the new factories and further announcements will be made in due course.

With reference to page 109 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, when the enhanced recce-strike capability via Project ASGARD will be (a) operational and (b) shared across defence.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 September 2025, to Question 73577, which remains extant and explains the current position for the Army’s project ASGARD. The next iteration of ASGARD, focused at Corps level operations, will be tested in Quarter 2 2026.