Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

If he will publish the full scope of the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Shield concept.

This Government remains firmly committed to the objectives set out in the Strategic Defence Review. The Royal Navy Warfighting Ready Plan 2029 provides an ambitious and strategic blueprint for how the Navy with strengthen and evolve its capabilities in line with the Strategic Defence Review, in order to fulfil its role to protect the nation and its interests at a time of growing maritime threat and technological advancement. Atlantic Shield and Strike form part of the Royal Navy Warfighting Ready Plan.Atlantic Shield and Atlantic Strike will drive significant transformation over the next four years, subject to resource allocation through the Defence Investment Plan.

With reference to the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth (CP 1388), page 85, what progress he has made in establishing a coordinating authority for market engagement within the National Armaments Director Group.

We have taken the first steps to deliver the Defence Industrial Strategy commitment to strengthen early engagement with industry and integrate market insight into force and capability development. The Market Engagement Coordinating Authority has been initiated within the National Armaments Director Group and is now in its development phase. Work is underway to build out its full capability, with Initial Operating Capability planned for Q1 2026. Once operational, the Authority will bring coherence and transparency to Defence’s engagement with industry, unify Defence’s demand signals and enable structured engagement earlier in the capability development cycle, giving suppliers confidence to invest and helping accelerate acquisition.

Whether Ministers in her Department will have a role in the decision on the chosen option for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire.

Decisions on local government reorganisation proposals are subject to collective agreement across government.

Between what dates has the Ajax programme previously been paused and for what reasons.

Issues of noise and vibration were recognised in mid-2020, with a stop notice issued in June 2021. All dynamic movement and transition activity was halted whilst the programme underwent a significant reset. The Army resumed training on Ajax in 2023 and paused later again in 2025.

When she plans to publish the police reform white paper.

A Police Reform White Paper is being developed in partnership with policing. This is a comprehensive package of reform to policing in England and Wales that will strip out duplication and waste and ensure policing can keep up with the fast-changing nature of crime.This is a once-in-a-generation moment for policing, and it is important that the reforms reflect the Home Secretary’s ambition. We will publish the White Paper in early 2026.

What specific changes have been made by General Dynamics in the last five years to resolve issues related directly to noise and vibration identified with the Ajax programme prior to the declaration of Initial Operating Capability.

A significant and in-depth review of the platform was undertaken by a joint Authority and General Dynamics team in 2020 -2021 to confirm the causes of noise and vibration, identify solutions and validate them through extensive testing.The Ajax platforms were thoroughly assessed using a Noise and Vibration calculator (in line with Health and Safety Executive advice) to determine the safe operating envelopes for the platform across different speeds and terrains. Whole Body and Hand Arm Vibration levels were well understood, and effective mitigations were in place. Noise levels have been well documented, and an effective hearing protection and combined communication system has been implemented.Following this review several actions were taken to reduce crew exposure to noise and vibration.  These included:Improving overall Ajax build quality.Review and amendment of build tolerances for key crew interfaces such as seats and control handles.Changes to seat structures to provide greater vibration attenuation.Improvements to track tensioning procedures to ensure correct track tension which reduces vibration.

How many Ajax-platform vehicles, broken down by variant, had been delivered to the British Army as of 1st December 2025.

170 Ajax platforms have been delivered to Field Army Units up to and including 1 December 2025. The breakdown by variant is as follows: AJAX87ARES33ATHENA25ARGUS3APOLLO13ATLAS9

How many Challenger 2 tanks remain in service with cavalry regiments following the donation of tanks to Ukraine and the conversion programme to Challenger 3.

There are 285 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks in service in the British Army. The Ministry of Defence does not break down equipment numbers further due to operational sensitivity. Eight vehicles are allocated to Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) for the design, build and testing phase of Challenger 3 conversion. The manufacturing phase is yet to start.

What element of Ajax Initial Operating Capability was declared by General Dynamics on 23 July 2025.

The Initial Operating Capability for the Ajax Programme was not declared by General Dynamics on 23 July 2025.

How many Challenger 2 tanks have now begun conversion to Challenger 3.

There are 285 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks in service in the British Army. The Ministry of Defence does not break down equipment numbers further due to operational sensitivity. Eight vehicles are allocated to Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) for the design, build and testing phase of Challenger 3 conversion. The manufacturing phase is yet to start.

What assessment has he made of the adequacy of the safety assurances the Chief of the General Staff gave the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry regarding the Initial Operating Capability status of the Ajax programme.

The safety of Service personnel remains the top priority for Defence. As previously confirmed, prior to Ajax Initial Operating Capability being announced, assurances were provided regarding the safety of the platform. I have commissioned a Ministerial review of the information given to Ministers as it is vital that advice given to Ministers is timely and accurate. However, it would not be appropriate to provide any further detail relating to these assurances, whilst the review is ongoing.

What vehicles other than the Ajax platform within the Army’s armoured fleet can fulfil the armoured reconnaissance role; and at which formation level.

There are no other platforms within the Army’s armoured fleet which can fulfil the armoured reconnaissance role; Ajax has been specifically designed for this purpose.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the National Security Strategy of the United States of America, published on 5 December 2025, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of the US declaration that where necessary the use of lethal force to replace the failed law enforcement-only strategy will be used to combat cartels on intelligence sharing.

I refer the Hon Member to the responses provided in the Urgent Question debate on 3 December.

Pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2025 to question 88991 on Ajax Vehicles: Noise, on what date he received written assurances that Ajax was safe to operate from the (a) Chief of the Defence Staff and (b) National Armaments Director.

The safety of Service personnel remains the top priority for Defence. As previously confirmed, prior to Ajax Initial Operating Capability being announced, assurances were provided regarding the safety of the platform. I have commissioned a Ministerial review of the information given to Ministers as it is vital that advice given to Ministers is timely and accurate. However, it would not be appropriate to provide any further detail relating to these assurances, whilst the review is ongoing.

Under the Lunna House Agreement, by when does he plan to deliver innovative offshore support vessels, which will act as motherships for uncrewed mine hunting and undersea warfare systems.

The Lunna House announcement on 4 December 2025 highlighted the UK's intent, conveyed to the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Støre, to deliver the Offshore Support Vessel as the mothership for the Mine Hunting Capability programme. The delivery and in service dates of the Offshore Support Vessels is to be determined as part of the Defence Investment Plan and the development of the Anglo-Norwegian Memorandum of Understanding.

How many service personnel have failed hearing assessments after operating as vehicle crew within (a) roles and( b) units equipped with an (i) Ajax and (ii) Ajax-platform vehicle.

It will take time to collate and review the information needed to answer the hon. Member's question. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

What is the status of all Royal Navy frigates under construction and when is the first due to come into service.

As of December 2025, the Royal Navy has five of eight Type 26 City-class frigates and three of five Type 31 Inspiration-class frigates under construction at BAES and Babcock shipyards. The first Type 26, HMS Glasgow, is expected to enter service in the late 2020s, while the first Type 31, HMS Venturer, is planned to enter service by the end of the decade.

How many submarines are due to be dismantled under the Submarine Dismantling Programme.

I welcome the hon. Gentleman’s interest in this area. There is currently one decommissioned submarine undergoing dismantling at Rosyth Dockyard (HMS Swiftsure). A further 22 decommissioned submarines are awaiting disposal: six are at Rosyth Dockyard, all defueled, and 16 at Devonport Dockyard, of which four are defueled and 12 are awaiting defueling.

With reference to the National Security Strategy of the United States of America, published on 5th December 2025, what assessment has he made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of a US readjustment of its global military presence to address urgent threats in the Western Hemisphere.

Whilst it is for the United States (US) to answer questions about the specifics of their own National Security Strategy, the UK will continue to work closely with the US to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security through NATO, support Ukraine, and deepen our cooperation on emerging technologies and economic security. Our commitment to NATO and to European security is ironclad.

With reference to the press release titled UK and Norway to operate together to counter Russian undersea threat through major new defence agreement, published on 4th December 2025, by when does he expect a combined fleet of at least 13 warships, bolstered by autonomous systems to be ready to hunt Russian submarines and protect critical infrastructure in the North Atlantic.

The Type 26 frigates are expected to begin entering service from 2028, to be operated by the UK and Norwegian Navies. This is part of a carefully managed modernisation programme. There will also be significant long-term investment in the six Daring Class destroyers (Type 45’s), to enhance and sustain these world beating Air Defence platforms into the late 2030s. The Royal Navy continues to invest in uncrewed and autonomous systems. These nascent capabilities are being integrated to augment our highly capable crewed platforms, increasing mass and persistence to find, track - and if required - act against our peer adversaries' subsurface capabilities in the North Atlantic.