Written questions by Reed.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for (a) the Home Department and (b) Science, Innovation and Technology on the potential merits of updating the Computer Misuse Act 1990 to enhance national cyber resilience through strengthened legal protections for cybersecurity researchers.

The Government recognises the significant role that UK cybersecurity professionals play in enhancing and protecting the country’s resilience against cyber threats; it is essential that we provide them with the necessary support. The Home Office is currently reviewing the Computer Misuse Act, and as part of this process, officials are considering the issue of strengthened legal protections for legitimate cybersecurity researchers. However, this work is complex and requires careful consideration. Without robust safeguards and oversight, the introduction of legal protections could significantly hinder law enforcement's ability to prosecute cyber criminality. To address this, the Home Office is collaborating with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the National Cyber Security Centre, law enforcement agencies, and the cybersecurity industry to evaluate the safeguards that would need to accompany any implementation of strengthened legal protections. An update will be provided in due course.

What estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of limitations on enhanced cybersecurity techniques under the current Computer Misuse Act 1990 on (a) the economy, (b) full-time equivalent jobs and (c) contracts awarded to other jurisdictions.

The Government recognises the major role UK cybersecurity professionals play in supporting the economy and protecting the UK’s resilience against cyber threats, and it is vital that we support them.In an increasingly digital world, the Home Office is committed to ensuring the Computer Misuse Act remains up to date and fit for purpose. The Home Office is reviewing the CMA. As part of this, officials are considering the issue of strengthened legal protections for legitimate cyber security researchers and how this could unlock economic growth. However, this work is complex and requires careful consideration, in order to protect law enforcement’s ability to prosecute cyber criminality.The Home Office will provide further updates in due course.

What steps her Department has taken to assess the impact of the barriers imposed by the Computer Misuse Act 1990 on cybersecurity professionals' ability to deploy and use artificial intelligence tools to enhance the UK’s resilience against increasing cyber threats.

The Government recognises the major role UK cybersecurity professionals play in enhancing and protecting the UK’s resilience against cyber threats, and it is vital that we support them.In an increasingly digital world, it is important that the CMA remains up to date and fit for purpose. The Home Office is in the process of reviewing the CMA, including considering the impact of emerging technologies such as AI. It is important that any changes brought forward are proportionate and do not undermine law enforcement’s ability to take action against cyber criminals. The Home Office will update on proposals taken forward in due course.

Whether the final delivery plan on myalgic encephalomyelitis will be published in March 2025; and what steps he plans to take to ensure its effectiveness without additional funding.

We aim to publish the myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), final delivery plan in the coming months. The content of the ME/CFS delivery plan has not yet been finalised. The responses to the 2023 interim delivery plan consultation, along with continued close engagement with stakeholders, will inform the development of the final ME/CFS delivery plan. The plan will focus on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people living with this debilitating disease. Following the publication of the final delivery plan, we will monitor the progress across all actions in the delivery plan to ensure timely implementation and periodically report to stakeholders as appropriate.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the International Committee of the Red Cross on its role in hostage handovers conducted by Hamas.

We are in regular contact with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which is facilitating the handover of hostages and the delivery of aid into Gaza. The UK reaffirms its support for the ICRC as the only humanitarian actor with the experience, capability, independence and mandate to carry out its important responsibilities. We believe it is critical that the ICRC is given regular access to the hostages, to fulfil its independent visiting role, as enshrined within the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2025 to Question 27041 on Palestinians: Schools, what the timeline is for the full implementation of the recommendations of the Colonna report on the neutrality of educational materials in UNRWA-run schools in (a) Gaza and (b) the West Bank; and whether he has had discussions with UNRWA on replacing the current curriculum.

The UN conducts quarterly progress reports on UNRWA's implementation of the recommendations made in the Colonna report, with the latest having issued in January 2025. This includes eight recommendations relating specifically to education. As noted in the answer to PQ 27041, on 28 January, the Minister for Development informed the House that she had discussed the issue of neutrality with UNRWA's leadership, including directly with Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2025 to Question 27042 on UNRWA: Finance, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that UK funding to UNRWA is not used (a) directly or (b) indirectly to support Hamas activities; and what assessment he has made of UNRWA's compliance with these safeguards.

A Memorandum of Understanding governs UK financial support to the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and we monitor UNRWA's activity through due diligence and annual assessments. The UK is also providing £1 million to support implementation of the recommendations in Catherine Colonna's Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality. UNRWA plays a vital role in delivering humanitarian assistance in Gaza and enabling the broader international response through its logistics and distribution network. We reiterated this position in our E3 joint Foreign Ministers' statement of 31 January, alongside France and Germany.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has set a target for research and development expenditure in 2030.

Departmental budgets are currently set up to the end of financial year 2025/26. The government is currently in the middle of a Spending Review, which will set out the government’s spending plans for R&D through to 2029/30. This will conclude in June 2025.At the Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor confirmed that total HMG investment in R&D is rising to a record allocation of £20.4bn in 2025/26. As part of this, DSIT's R&D budget is rising to £13.9bn for the 2025/26 financial year.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 23535 on Hawk Aircraft, what plans his Department has for the replacement of the Hawk T1 by 2030; and whether it is his policy to maintain a sovereign jet training capability in this process.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 December 2024 for Question 16460 to the right hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mark Francois).

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 23535 on Hawk Aircraft, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the high fatigue index in the remaining Hawk T1 fleet on the total number of available UK-based training hours for personnel.

Hawk T1 is not employed in a flying training role. The Hawk T1 airframes are solely allocated to sustaining the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows.As given in the answer to Question 23535, across all airframes we have retained more than sufficient overall remaining available fatigue life to ensure all Red Arrows tasking until 2030 as planned.

What the annual cost is to maintain the Hawk T1 fleet under the existing fleet maintenance contract.

There are two support contracts in place to support the Hawk TMk1 to its out of service date in March 2030 and the Hawk TMk2 to 2033. Specific terms and conditions are subject to commercial confidentiality. In the financial year from 2023-24 the value for solely the TMk1 aircraft maintenance was £27.7 million.

How many UK personnel have been trained on jet aircraft in (a) the UK and (b) overseas in each of the last five years; and in which countries overseas training has taken place.

In the last five years there have been 82 UK personnel trained on fast jet (FJ) aircraft in the UK and 22 UK personnel trained on fast jet aircraft overseas. Overseas training has taken place in the USA and Italy. Financial Year2020-212021-222022-232023-242024-25TOTALFJ Pilots trained in the UK2428571882FJ Pilots trained overseas0078722

What was the total cost to the public purse of training personnel on jet aircraft in (a) the UK and (b) overseas in each of the last five years; and what proportion of the total training budget each represents.

The UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) cost for the Fast Jet training element over the last 5 years was circa £500.4 million. That includes fixed and multiple variable costs such as fuel, instructor and trainee salary, infrastructure/accommodation upkeep, aerodrome operations and runway refurbishment. The cost detail for Fast Jet Outsourced Training over the last five years is being withheld to protect commercial confidentiality. Outsourcing services are negotiated Government to Government via Memorandums of Understanding and Technical Arrangements and therefore it is not appropriate to disclose specific cost detail. It is not possible to state what proportion of the total training budget this represents as the information is not held in this format and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with UNRWA on ensuring that educational materials used in UNRWA-run schools in the West Bank and Gaza do not incite violence and hatred.

Education is an essential component of the humanitarian response in Gaza, and critical to building the foundations for a sustainable and lasting peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people, grounded in a two-state solution. It is therefore essential that partners delivering education services across the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), not least the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), uphold the highest standards of neutrality. £1 million of the UK's funding support for UNRWA has been earmarked to implement the recommendations of Catherine Colonna's Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality. On 28 January, the Minister for Development informed the House that she had discussed the issue of neutrality with UNRWA's leadership, including directly with Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. She also spoke to UNRWA staff members on their work to implement the recommendations of the Colonna report during her visit to the region on 3-5 December. We welcome the initiatives launched by UNRWA to ensure neutrality of its educational material and teaching, in addition to its longstanding work with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Palestinian Authority to reform curricula and educational materials.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what conditions he has placed on the restoration of funding to UNRWA.

Since the Foreign Secretary restored funding to UNRWA in July 2024, the UK has committed £41 million to UNRWA to deliver essential services for civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, and to Palestinian refugees across the region. A Memorandum of Understanding governs UK financial support to UNRWA. We continue to monitor UNRWA's activity through due diligence and annual assessments.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 17477 on RFA Argus: Amphibious Vehicles, whether his Department has identified reductions in amphibious capability from the use of RFA Argus in place of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark.

The previous administration had no plans for either HMS Albion or HMS Bulwark to return to sea ahead of their leaving service in the 2030s, therefore there has been no reduction in capability. RFA Argus, alongside Bay Class, is a highly capable ship and will continue to support Royal Marine operations until the introduction of Multi-Role Support Ships in the early 2030s.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 17476 on Amphibious Vehicles, whether his Department has identified reductions in amphibious capability from the use of Bay Class Landing Ship Docks in place of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark.

The previous administration had no plans for either HMS Albion or HMS Bulwark to return to sea ahead of their leaving service in the 2030s, therefore there has been no reduction in capability. The Bay Class are highly capable ships and, alongside RFA Argus, will continue to support Royal Marine operations until the introduction of Multi-Role Support Ships in the early 2030s.

What steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Education to encourage young people to pursue careers in STEM fields within the defence sector.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is taking steps itself to secure important skills in areas such as digital, cyber, STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), nuclear and space. As we tackle these challenges we will continue to work closely ...

What measures his Department is taking to help ensure the retention of UK STEM graduates within the highly skilled defence workforce.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is taking steps itself to secure important skills in areas such as digital, cyber, STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), nuclear and space. As we tackle these challenges we will continue to work closely ...

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 December to Question 17489 on Electronic Warfare: Training, what percentage of the Ministry of Defence's demand for personnel with cyber warfare skills is being met; and how many pers

This Government inherited a retention and recruitment crisis with every part of our Armed Forces not meeting their recruitment targets. Cyber is a key area for the military and we are seeking to expand the number of people working in cyber. The Defence Se...