Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

With reference to page 127 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on establishing a single defence intelligence enterprise.

As set out in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), work to establish a single defence intelligence enterprise under the banner of 'Military Intelligence Services' (MIS) is continuing. Key stakeholders across Defence have been consulted, and draft proposals have been developed. This work has been executed through the existing structures of the Intelligence Function, which has already delivered enhanced coherence across several activities. The SDR sets out the requirement for further integration under the MIS, and the enterprise continues to develop as planned. Work on the Defence Intelligence Charter is ongoing, and Defence is aiming to publish the Charter by the end of 2025 however its publication will be coordinated with a wide range of Defence Reform activity and SDR delivery and thus is subject to change with dependencies across both. The Ministry of Defence's existing intelligence capabilities, incorporating Defence Intelligence (DI), PJHQ Joint Intelligence (J2), UK Special Forces J2, and Royal Navy, Army, RAF and Space Command intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance organisations) will operate under MIS with functional leadership provided by DI.

With reference to page 120 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, whether there are existing capability gaps within the development of the Digital Warfighter group.

Development work has begun on the overall project for the Digital Warfighter Group with the intention of delivering the construct at Initial Operating Capability (IOC) by July 2026. Pending adequate resourcing and financing in line with Departmental priorities, there are no specific capability gaps within the development of the group.

How long HMS Ambush has not been operationally deployable.

I cannot provide specific detail regarding the operational deployability of HMS Ambush as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of any relevant forces.

With reference to page 23 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle piracy through Diego Garcia.

For operational security reasons, we cannot give details about specific activities or measures. We perform a variety of maritime security tasks to counter a wide range of threats from illegal fishing, terrorism, piracy and hostile state activity. We do this in cooperation with key allies and partners in the region.

With reference to page 113 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what (a) airborne early warning and (b) control capability does the RAF contribute to NATO plans in the Euro-Atlantic.

The UK will contribute the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft once operational. The Wedgetail is an airborne early warning and control aircraft that will deliver cutting-edge capabilities and strengthen the Alliance.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to page 89 of the Strategic Defence Review, updated on 8 July 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill on cyber defences.

The Strategic Defence Review sets out the high-level priorities for defence across government and highlights that greater attention must be given to the space and cyber and electromagnetic domain. This includes a more proactive posture to harden critical defence functions against cyber attacks.The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will benefit defence and the priorities of the Strategic Defence Review by strengthening UK’s overall cyber defence by ensuring that the essential and digital services (including some Critical National Infrastructure) on which the UK public, businesses and Government rely, including the Ministry of Defence, are more resilient and secure. The Bill will be introduced when Parliamentary time allows.

If he will set out when Operation Valour will end.

VALOUR is a new programme that will give veterans across the UK easier access to the essential care and support that is available to them, overseen by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs in the Ministry of Defence. It will improve the coordination of services at a national, regional and local level to ensure that veterans receive the support they need. VALOUR will deliver institutional resilience and is not just a sticking plaster, and therefore it is intended as a long-term solution to cohering the support available to our veterans; crucially making it easier to navigate and therefore access services and support they need.

With reference to recommendation 29 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on establishing an initial operating capability for a new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre.

There are a series of sprints running to scope out the governance and structure of the Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre (DUSC) that will build on the work delivered to date by the Defence Uncrewed systems Design Authority (DUxDA). The outline governance proposals for the DUSC are on course, to be presented to the 3* Uncrewed Systems (UxS) Steering Group in November for endorsement.

What progress she has made in delivering the Law Enforcement Data Service programme.

The Law Enforcement Data Service (LEDS) is progressively replacing the legacy Police National Computer (PNC). The LEDS Property product is now the sole system for processing stolen and found items across UK police forces. Currently, 52 police forces, including Jersey and Guernsey, are connected to LEDS.So far in 2025, LEDS has handled over 12 million transactions, demonstrating strong growth and reliability. LEDS Vehicles and Drivers are live and widely used, while LEDS Person is rolling out in phases to support data on suspects, criminals, and missing or wanted individuals. The “Photographs at the Roadside” feature, showing driving licence images on police devices, has saved over 1 million hours of police time since its launch in January 2021.LEDS has achieved BS10008 Certification, confirming the legal admissibility of its electronic records. A Code of Practice has been developed with the College of Policing to guide appropriate use of LEDS and PNC.The programme remains technically complex and under close ministerial oversight. Final delivery and PNC decommissioning are planned for 2026, subject to assurance from policing stakeholders and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.

What progress she has made on the East Coast Digital Programme.

1) There are no current plans to construct a new East Coast Main Line (ECML) station at Alconbury Weald. The Department recognises the importance of the ECML and is starting work with Network Rail and industry stakeholders on development of a long-term strategy of investment for the route. 2) The following progress has been made on the East Coast Digital Programme. In May 2025, the first phase of the scheme was complete with the removal of conventional lineside signals, and all services using digital signalling on the Northern City Line (NCL) between Finsbury Park and Moorgate. This is the first no signals commuter railway in the country, and first of any kind since the early Cambrian Line pilot in 2011. 100,000 services have now operated on NCL using digital signalling. The infrastructure between Welwyn and Hitchin has been upgraded for the first European Train Control System (ETCS) section on the ECML. In line with the approach taken on NCL, the Welwyn to Hitchin section will initially operate as an overlay (i.e. able to operate with both conventional and digital signalling) to facilitate driver conversion training. The work is being led by Network Rail who, subject to the necessary assurances and regulatory processes, anticipate being able to begin driver train using digital signalling through that section from summer 2026. 3) Work to implement the ETCS on the East Coast Mainline between Huntingdon and Kings Cross is scheduled to be completed in the early 2030s.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2025 to Question 75323 on Railways: Mobile Broadband, how much funding her Department plans to provide for low earth orbit satellite technology.

The Department was successful in securing funding of £33m capital and £24m resource (or operational expenditure) as part of the Spending Review to fit all mainline trains with Low Earth Orbit satellite technology to upgrade on -train wifi.

With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, which projects are affected by the challenges to recruit the required (a) skills and (b) experience levels in the Army Programme Management Office.

These resource challenges are impacting a significant portion of the Army Portfolio. The confidence assessments of the programmes are available in the National infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, accessible here: https://ar25.nista.grid.civilservice.gov.uk/tables. The Army Programme and Portfolio Office actively manages the prioritisation of programmes to ensure its workforce is allocated where it is most needed. To retain and enhance this skilled cohort, the office offers comprehensive Portfolio, Programme and Project Management training packages to develop current personnel and to attract talent into the team.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the level of reaction from China to the use of the Taiwan Strait for navigation by HMS Spey in June 2025.

Wherever the Royal Navy operates, it does so in full compliance with international norms and exercises its rights to freedom of navigation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). HMS SPEY navigated the Taiwan Strait in June 2025, and the People's Liberation Army Navy response was assessed as safe and professional.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress she has made on the (a) refurbishment and (b) remodelling of the British Embassy Tokyo compound.

The sale of a portion of British Embassy Tokyo's land has been completed. To protect the historic Residence and Chancery, and improve facilities on the Embassy compound, works will take several years to complete. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continually reviews its global estate to maintain a world-class platform for promoting UK interests and maximising value for British taxpayers' money.

What (a) financial, (b) manpower and (c) other material contributions the UK has made to foreign comparative testing with the US in the last 12 months.

The Ministry of Defence actively supports the Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) programme by collaborating on programme development and working with FCT representatives to identify promising UK technologies. Detailed outcomes remain the responsibility of the individual companies and the FCT.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing the 15% tax rate paid by bookmakers on racing to align with the 21% tax rate on online gaming on the number of jobs in the horse racing industry.

There has been ministerial engagement between my Department and His Majesty’s Treasury to ensure that they are aware of the specific way British horseracing is funded and the potential implications of any changes to taxation. Future proposals on Gambling Duties are a matter for HMT, should legislative changes come about, we expect them to be accompanied by tax and impact notes from HMT, as is standard practice.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of aligning the 15% tax rate paid by bookmakers on racing with the 21% tax rate on online gaming on the horse racing industry.

There has been ministerial engagement between my Department and His Majesty’s Treasury to ensure that they are aware of the specific way British horseracing is funded and the potential implications of any changes to taxation. Future proposals on Gambling Duties are a matter for HMT, should legislative changes come about, we expect them to be accompanied by tax and impact notes from HMT, as is standard practice.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled 4.2% pay rise for police officers across England and Wales, published on 1 August 2025, what proportion of the £120 million was allocated to Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

This Government is committed to ensuring that policing has the resources it needs and the allocation of funding to police forces remains an important consideration.The method for distributing the additional funding will be communicated in due course.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing legislation to enable a phase out of animal testing in medical research over the next decade.

The legal framework in the UK already requires that animals are only ever used in science where there are no validated alternatives available.The Government is committed to supporting alternatives to animals in science and will shortly publish a strategy to support their adoption.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Manchester Digital Campus project on national security.

The Government Property Agency is working with the Cabinet Office to progress a business case for the Manchester Digital Campus (“MDC”). Subject to final approval MDC will form a central component of this Government’s Digital, AI and Innovation Campus in Manchester and would build capacity benefitting multiple Government Missions.