Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Which legacy systems will be (a) decommissioned and (b) replaced following the completion of the Data Futures Project.

The Data Futures Programme is led by the Office for Students (OfS) in collaboration with sector partners. The programme is primarily focused on enhancing data collection and reporting within the higher education sector.The programme is not directly managed by the department, and its scope and development are matters for the OfS. The department maintains an interest in its progress and continues to engage with relevant stakeholders as appropriate.Decisions regarding system changes or replacements in relation to the programme fall under the remit of the OfS and its delivery partners. The department does not hold specific information on system decommissioning linked to the programme. Any consideration of its relevance to operational data, including border movements, would be subject to further engagement with the OfS and other responsible bodies.The OfS, in collaboration with delivery partners including Jisc, are working to implement recommendations highlighted in the Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) review published in January 2025.

With reference to p.45 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth (CP 1388), where the five new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges will be located.

A £182 million defence skills package was announced at the start of September 2025 in the Defence Industrial Strategy, which aims to make defence an engine for national renewal and economic growth, harnessing the skills needed for the future, from submarine engineers to specialist welders. The package centres on establishing five Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs), training people in the skills needed to secure new defence jobs in this growing industry.DTECs will be in England. The exact locations are yet to be determined and will be appointed through a fair and transparent application process. All further education (FE) colleges that are part of the statutory FE sector in England will be able to apply, subject to meeting specific eligibility criteria, to be released in due course. The selection process for these Technical Excellence Colleges will start by the end of 2025, with delivery planned to begin from April 2026. Further details will be published in due course.

What subset of border movements are affected by the Data Futures Project.

The Data Futures Programme is led by the Office for Students (OfS) in collaboration with sector partners. The programme is primarily focused on enhancing data collection and reporting within the higher education sector.The programme is not directly managed by the department, and its scope and development are matters for the OfS. The department maintains an interest in its progress and continues to engage with relevant stakeholders as appropriate.Decisions regarding system changes or replacements in relation to the programme fall under the remit of the OfS and its delivery partners. The department does not hold specific information on system decommissioning linked to the programme. Any consideration of its relevance to operational data, including border movements, would be subject to further engagement with the OfS and other responsible bodies.The OfS, in collaboration with delivery partners including Jisc, are working to implement recommendations highlighted in the Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) review published in January 2025.

Whether her Department has taken recent steps to expand the Data Futures Project.

The Data Futures Programme is led by the Office for Students (OfS) in collaboration with sector partners. The programme is primarily focused on enhancing data collection and reporting within the higher education sector.The programme is not directly managed by the department, and its scope and development are matters for the OfS. The department maintains an interest in its progress and continues to engage with relevant stakeholders as appropriate.Decisions regarding system changes or replacements in relation to the programme fall under the remit of the OfS and its delivery partners. The department does not hold specific information on system decommissioning linked to the programme. Any consideration of its relevance to operational data, including border movements, would be subject to further engagement with the OfS and other responsible bodies.The OfS, in collaboration with delivery partners including Jisc, are working to implement recommendations highlighted in the Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) review published in January 2025.

With reference to page 130 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that the NHS is prepared for mass military casualties in the event of a major war.

There is a strong foundation of cross-government working between the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Defence (MOD).A series of joint Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response exercises have taken place, and planning continues so that the National Health Service and the MOD can respond to a wide range of incidents and emergencies which could affect health or patient care. As part of this planning, the MOD and DHSC are exploring the United Kingdom’s ability to manage various combat scenarios and the treatment of casualties.MOD is also participating in DHSC’s cross-government Exercise PEGASUS, the national Tier 1 pandemic preparedness exercise set to assess the UK’s ability to respond to a pandemic. Both activities focus on understanding 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 recent progress he has made on creating integrated crisis plans.

The creation of integrated crisis plans are broader than health and will consider the recommendations identified in the NATO Medical Action Plan. These recommendations and the creation of integrated crisis plans will be discussed as part of the ongoing engagement between the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and the Ministry of Defence.

With reference to the Government's news story entitled, Update on Gaza medical evacuation scheme, published on 22 August 2025, what estimate he has made with Cabinet colleagues on the number of Gazan (a) children and (b) immediate family members that will be accepted for evacuation and treatment in the UK.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Statement HCWS899 made to the House on 1 September 2025 by my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.The safety, privacy, and wellbeing of these severely ill and vulnerable patients and their families remains our absolute priority. We will not be providing further operational details on the numbers who have arrived at this stage.

With reference to page 114 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, when sixth-generation aircraft will replace (a) Typhoon and (b) F-35.

With regard to Typhoon out of service dates I refer the hon. Member to the response by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry on 1 September 2025 to Question 69517. The F35 aircraft will remain a cornerstone of our CA capabilities out to the 2060s. The UK’s sixth generation Combat Air Capabilities will be delivered by the Global Combat Aircraft, alongside uncrewed platforms and the current generation of aircraft.

What recent progress he has made in developing an integrated layered air defence system as part of the Land Ground Based Air Defence programme.

Integrated Air and Missile Defence investments will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force. Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on homeland Integrated Air and Missile Defence, will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan to be published this year.

With reference to page 117 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made on helping to shape the UK space market to support exports to (a) Europe, (b) Asia and (c) the Middle East.

The Ministry of Defence is proactively supporting the UK space industry to access export opportunities. Since June 2025, in conjunction with other Departments, we have supported UK space sector companies to attend trade missions and export-focused events in Australia, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, and will support events in Germany and France before the end of 2025.This work compliments our significant investment in defence space technologies and satellite communications, collaboration with UK industry and international partners, and participation in European Space Agency programmes; all of which contribute to supporting exports.

With reference to the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, from which date the Integrated Force Model will be fully operational.

The Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ) is the central command hub for the UK Armed Forces, led by the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS). The MSHQ has been operational since April 2025, bringing together military strategy, operations, and force development in one integrated structure. The Integrated Force Model, as per the Strategic Defence Review, has four elements: a single force design; a common set of foundational enablers; digital enablement at its core; and collaboration with other government departments in real time. All these elements are subject to ongoing work through the Defence Investment Plan which will provide the framework through which the Ministry of Defence is modernised.

With reference to page 78 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, how much funding the UK provides to the Five Power Defence Arrangements.

The UK provided £240,000 in financial year (FY) 2023-24 and £266,000 in the FY 2024-25.

What the role of the jHub is within Strategic Command.

JHub delivers numerous innovation workstreams in support of operations to users across Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (formerly UK Strategic Command) and works closely with the new UK Defence Innovation organisation. These innovation projects spearhead the rapid adoption of new technologies, processes, and ideas which accelerate and reduce risk within the force development cycle and deliver valuable capabilities directly into the hands of the Warfighter.

What recent progress he has made on implementing the next generation fixed communication network.

The next generation fixed communication network programme has made good progress towards delivering its outcomes. Acceleration of programme benefits is now underway with opportunities being taken to expedite the closure of the legacy BT Network, and associated DFTS Contract. This will incrementally deliver financial savings to the department, culminating in a significant cost reduction for Defence. Concurrently the delivery of new support contracts that will enable transition to the future state are in development. This will enable detailed planning to commence with Fujitsu for the transition to modern network support arrangements. Demonstratable progress has also been made through the development and implementation of a modern technical architecture solution and supporting operational model design that will transform how network services are procured and managed into the future.

With reference to page 109 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what level of readiness the UK contribution to the Strategic Reserve Corps is held at.

NATO requires the Strategic Reserve Corps (SRC) to be held at graduated levels of readiness to meet the requirements of the Defence and Deterrence of the Euro Atlantic family of plans. The UK holds the SRC at readiness in line with this and communicates its specific readiness levels with NATO.

With reference to recommendation 33 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of amending the Single Source Contract Regulations.

In accordance with recommendation 33 of the Strategic Defence Review a comprehensive review of the Single Source Contract Regulations has been commissioned. The initial consultation will run from October 2025 through to January 2026 with recommendations drafted and approved by 31 March 2026.

With reference to page 105 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, updated on 8 July 2025, what his planned timeframe is for changing the Royal Navy’s personnel balance between (a) regulars and (b) reservists.

The outputs of the Strategic Defence Review including the recommendation to increase the size of the Active Reserve by 20% are being reviewed through the Defence Investment Plan, with future strategic workforce planning to be modelled into the Royal Navy's structures through next year's strategic planning cycle.

With reference to recommendation 29 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, by when he plans to create an always on munitions production capacity.

The SDR committed to invest £1.5bn in an 'always on' pipeline for munitions and to build at least 6 new energetics and munitions factories in the UK this parliament. The Ministry of Defence 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 we have announced that at least 13 sites across the UK have been identified as potential energetics and munitions factories. We are inviting industry to submit proposals to meet the government’s requirements for energetics production.

With reference to page 130 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what recent progress he has made on undertaking a sprint review.

The sprint review is initiated and led by the Ministry of Defence, working with the Department of Health and Social Care and other Governmental and private organisations. A series of meetings are planned for late 2025 which will explore and progress the joint plans to meet the recommendations outlined in the Strategic Defence Review.

What his Department's projected completion date is for Project Morpheus.

Following the closure of the Evolve to Open Transition Partner Contract in 2023, the Army has sought to achieve the objectives of MORPHEUS through iterative and incremental delivery. The Army has already demonstrated some of these capability goals through Project ASGARD. The Army continues to deliver tactical communications updates and upgrades across Defence and therefore the objectives of Project MORPHEUS remain ongoing under the revised Land Domain C4 sub-portfolio.