Written questions by Morris.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure compliance with data protection requirements relating to the processing of special category data, including data relating to health or protected characteristics.

Awaiting answer.

Whether the Department maintains a public register or internal inventory of automated decision-making systems; and whether it plans to publish such information.

Awaiting answer.

To what extent are automated decision-making systems used in relation to civil service employment, including recruitment, performance management, discipline, or allocation of work.

Awaiting answer.

What measures are in place to ensure that human oversight is substantive and effective, rather than limited to formal or nominal review.

Awaiting answer.

How does the Department define and ensure meaningful human involvement in decisions supported or made by automated systems.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department has taken to assess and mitigate risks of bias or discrimination arising from the use of automated decision-making systems.

Awaiting answer.

What consultation has taken place with recognised trade unions regarding the introduction or use of automated decision-making systems affecting staff.

Awaiting answer.

What processes are in place to enable individuals to seek human review and to challenge decisions made by automated systems in the context of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

Awaiting answer.

Whether significant Automated Decision-Making is taking place or planned within his Department, and if he will make a statement.

Awaiting answer.

What internal guidance his Department has issued on the potential impact of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 on automated decision-making.

Awaiting answer.

How individuals are informed that decisions have been taken in (a) whole and (b) part by automated means in the context of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

Awaiting answer.

What safeguards he has implemented to ensure compliance with statutory requirements relating to automated decision-making, including rights to information, human review and challenge in the context of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

Awaiting answer.

Whether any UK military personnel were onboard the USS Charlotte (SSN-766) on 4 March 2026 and, if so, how many personnel were onboard.

We do not comment on the details of either submarine operations, or the details of individual assignments of UK Service personnel.

How many vacancies currently exist in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary by seafarer grade.

Official statistical information regarding all civilians employed within the Ministry of Defence is released biannually. The last release was on 1 October 2025 and included the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. More information can be found at: Supplementary_tables_to_MOD_biannual_civilian_personnel_report_-_October_2025.ods. Grade specific data for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary is not publicly released. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary continually monitors its workforce levels to ensure it can meet operational requirements.

What recent discussions he has had with (a) Royal Fleet Auxiliary and (b) recognised trade unions on the Strategic Defence Review’s recommendations on the operational role of the RFA.

The Ministry of Defence maintains regular engagement with appropriate stakeholders concerning matters affecting the operational roles and capabilities of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Whether it is his department’s policy to apply, on a voluntary basis, the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention to the (a) merchant navy seafarers and (b) vessels in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, does not apply to warships or naval auxiliaries, including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA). The Government has therefore not designated RFA vessels as ships to which the MLC formally applies. The Ministry of Defence ensures that all personnel serving on RFA vessels are provided with working and living conditions consistent with the principles of MLC wherever this is practicable and compatible with operational requirements.In respect of merchant navy seafarers employed by the Department, the Government fully applies the provisions of the MLC in line with UK merchant shipping legislation.

How many and what the proportion of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s work has been outsourced to (a) commercial contractors and (b) international allies since January 2015 to date.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) routinely uses a blend of inhouse capability and contracted support to deliver marine engineering, logistics, and operational services in line with longstanding Defence Maritime Support policy. This work is commissioned on a vessel-by-vessel basis and varies from year-to-year depending on the RFA’s operational programme and maintenance cycles. The majority of RFA core operational activity is carried out directly by RFA civilian-crewed vessels.No RFA operational output has been outsourced to international allies. On occasion, allied naval tankers have provided replenishment-at-sea services to UK vessels under standard NATO interoperability arrangements, and UK RFA tankers have provided the same service in return. These reciprocal arrangements are routine across NATO navies.

If he will publish the names of the vessels on the UK Defence Shipping Register.

The Defence Shipping Register is a record of all vessels currently in service in the Ministry of Defence. Release of the list of vessels names would provide a complete picture of the size and capability of the service and allow individual vessel’s type, movements and locations to be traced using easily accessible public shipping trackers; I hope the hon. Member understands that it would therefore be inappropriate to release this information into the public domain.

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the requirements in the Regulations for Royal Fleet Auxiliaries BRd 875 for Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships to carry copies of merchant navy legislation.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary carries merchant navy legislation in compliance with the regulations stated in all applicable International Maritime Organisation legislation. The application of national regulation to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary is subject to regular review under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the Ministry of Defence.

What recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Transport and (b) Department for Transport agencies on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s adherence to applicable Merchant Shipping Regulations.

Under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Ministry of Defence Ships) order 1989 [Order in Council No 1991], the Royal Fleet Auxillary (RFA) was exempted from many aspects of the UK Merchant Shipping Acts in respect of registered vessels of the RFA. Although the RFA is exempt from a number of provisions within the Merchant Shipping Acts, it remains the Department’s policy to comply voluntarily. With the non‑mandatory elements, wherever practicable, the RFA will comply except where this would conflict with operational requirements.