Written questions by Cartlidge.

With reference to the oral Answer to the hon. Member for Dumfries and Galloway of 24 March 2025, Official Report, Column 632, if he will list all British candidates he has met with regarding a Jet Trainer replacement since 5th July 2024.

Ministers and officials from the Ministry of Defence regularly meet for routine discussions with a range of defence sector aerospace companies, including those who produce jet trainer aircraft. The UK’s Hawk T1 aircraft is scheduled to remain in service until 2030 and the Hawk T2 aircraft out-of-service date is in 2040. A decision on the production, sustainment and replacement of the aircraft will not be taken until after the Strategic Defence Review is completed.

What steps his Department is taking to help prevent service personnel working in the bomb disposal portfolio from contracting medical diseases.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the health and safety of our people and we have robust policies and processes in place to ensure Defence activities are conducted in a safe manner. We will keep the evidence base for associations between military occupational exposures and bladder cancers under review, consulting with independent external medical experts as required to determine if there are any risks to Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Ammunitions personnel which need to be addressed. All activities across Defence, including bomb disposal, must be conducted within the elements of a Safe System of Work (SSW). A SSW is a method of work which puts in place control measures arising from a risk assessment, in order to manage identified hazards. In accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, the MOD ensures it supplies its people with suitable PPE, and training, to ensure they are protected against risks to their health and safety for the activity they are undertaking. Additionally, Defence ensures it has procedures in place for the testing, inspection, maintenance and storage of PPE. For bomb disposal, Defence has the UK’s in-house experts in chemical, biological, and radiological threats. These experts are employed in the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories (DSTL) which provide constant operational support and advice to the bomb disposal community and wider Defence. When faced with unknown substances, new threats or known contamination, DSTL are there to provide expert guidance and advice.

If he will launch an investigation into the potential medical impact of work in the bomb disposal portfolio on service personnel.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the health and safety of our people and we have robust policies and processes in place to ensure Defence activities are conducted in a safe manner. We will keep the evidence base for associations between military occupational exposures and bladder cancers under review, consulting with independent external medical experts as required to determine if there are any risks to Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Ammunitions personnel which need to be addressed. All activities across Defence, including bomb disposal, must be conducted within the elements of a Safe System of Work (SSW). A SSW is a method of work which puts in place control measures arising from a risk assessment, in order to manage identified hazards. In accordance with the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, the MOD ensures it supplies its people with suitable PPE, and training, to ensure they are protected against risks to their health and safety for the activity they are undertaking. Additionally, Defence ensures it has procedures in place for the testing, inspection, maintenance and storage of PPE. For bomb disposal, Defence has the UK’s in-house experts in chemical, biological, and radiological threats. These experts are employed in the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories (DSTL) which provide constant operational support and advice to the bomb disposal community and wider Defence. When faced with unknown substances, new threats or known contamination, DSTL are there to provide expert guidance and advice.

How many service personnel live in Substitute Service Single Accommodation as of 25 March 2025.

As at 25 March 2025, 4,551 Service personnel live in Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA). This figure is based on Regular and Reserve Personnel. 2,792 properties are used as SSSA to house Service personnel.

What the annual cost to the public purse is of substitute service single accommodation.

The total cost to the public purse for Substitute Single Service Accommodation for Financial Year 2024-25 is £75,240,044. This figure includes rent, monthly service fees and utilities costs. However, utilities data for March 2025 is not yet available.

What the annual cost to the public purse is of substitute service single accommodation broken down by region.

The information is not held in the format requested. The total number of Substitute Service Single Accommodation is not held by region.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of his Department’s stockpile levels in the context of proposals to send a British peacekeeping force to Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence remains fully engaged with industry, allies and partners to ensure that stockpile levels are sufficient to support current and future operations. Defence stockpile levels are classified and therefore any further commentary would be inappropriate.

How many Substitute Service Single Accommodation properties are in use.

As at 25 March 2025, 4,551 Service personnel live in Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA). This figure is based on Regular and Reserve Personnel. 2,792 properties are used as SSSA to house Service personnel.

Whether he plans to order additional A400M aircraft this Parliament.

All capability requirements, including those for tactical airlift, are being considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review process.

Whether his Department has had discussions on the rules of engagement for a potential UK peacekeeping or reassurance force in Ukraine.

The UK is playing a leading role in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine. Operational planning continues but it is long-standing Government policy not to comment on Rules of Engagement. The only person who would benefit from that is Putin.

What discussions he has has with his US counterpart on a security guarantee in the event of a UK peacekeeping or reassurance force in Ukraine.

The Defence Secretary regularly speaks with his US and international counterparts, including on our collective support to Ukraine’s armed forces. The UK, along with a number of allies and partners, held further discussions this week at the Permanent Joint Headquarters to consider in detail how best to ensure Ukraine can defend itself from future Russian aggression. We will continue to keep the US informed on that planning process.

What the entitlement requirements for an application to live in Substitute Service Single Accommodation.

Individuals are permitted to occupy Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA) up to two working days prior to the date of posting to a new place of duty subject to the following criteria: a. Single Living Accommodation (SLA) is not available (at the time of requirement) up to 45 minutes travelling time by public transport (or up to a 10 miles radius when there is no viable public transport at the discretion of the Local Service Commander) of the duty station (60 mins for London only). b. They should expect to occupy SSSA for a minimum of six months and spend not less than four nights each week in the accommodation. c. They are single or Serving unaccompanied; they must either be separated from their family who are residing in Service Family Accommodation (SFA), Substitute Service Family Accommodation (SSFA) or their own property which is more than 50 miles or 1½ hours travelling time (by public transport) from their duty station. If the Commanding Officer considers that due to exceptional circumstances these limits should be reduced, a case is to be submitted through the chain of command to the Ministry of Defence Project Manager. Where the Service Person’s (SP) family occupy surplus SFA and the SP is Serving unaccompanied at the duty station, and Notice to Quit has been served, the SP will be required to Serve accompanied. d. Where both spouse/civil partner are Serving members of the Armed Forces and are Serving unaccompanied at different duty stations, where no SLA exists both have an entitlement to SSSA; they are awaiting allocation of SFA, where no SLA exists providing the waiting period is likely to exceed six months. However, entitlement to SSSA will cease when individuals are allocated SFA at the permanent duty station. e. They are awaiting allocation of SFA, where no SLA exists providing the waiting period is likely to exceed six months. However, entitlement to SSSA will cease when individuals are allocated SFA at the permanent duty station. The full entitlement requirements for Substitute Service Single Accommodation are set out in Joint Service Publication 464 (Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations), Volume 2, Part 1, Chapter 8, Para 8.200; and Annex A to Section 2, Chapter 8 sets out the levels of accommodation entitlement, which differs depending on rank. This information can be found at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-464-tri-service-accommodation-regulations-tsars

Whether a UK peacekeeping or reassurance force in Ukraine would in principle cover (a) land, (b) sea, (c) air, (d) space and (e) cyber domains.

The Prime Minister has been clear that we must all come together to support Ukraine to remain in the fight and back US efforts to make real progress to ensure Ukraine can defend itself from future Russian aggression. Planning so far has looked across the full range of European military capabilities including aircraft, tanks, troops, intelligence and logistics capabilities – and discussions have centred on how European nations can contribute their own capabilities to support any future force. Discussions continue around military planning of air, sea and land forces that would be required to support a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

If he will list the other countries in the coalition of the willing that have committed in principle to deploy troops to Ukraine in a peacekeeping or reassurance capacity.

With France, the UK is leading plans to put together a Coalition of the Willing. 31 nations joined a planning meeting last week at the Permanent Joint Headquarters, with over 200 military planners convening this week for further meetings focused on how we keep the skies, the seas and the border safe, looking across the full range of European military capabilities including aircraft, tanks, troops, intelligence and logistics.We can not provide a list of the countries that have committed in principle to deploy troops to Ukraine. That is a matter for those countries to provide details on.

Whether he has held discussions with his US counterpart on deploying air capabilities in Ukraine.

The Defence Secretary regularly speaks with his US and international counterparts, including on our collective support to Ukraine’s armed forces in response to Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion. The UK along with Allies and partners, recently held discussions on future security arrangements for Ukraine across the air, maritime and land domains. The specifics of these plans are subject to further discussions. The UK is set to host further joint planning meetings at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood this week, where discussions will continue over several days.

If he will publish minutes of his meeting with military chiefs and the Prime Minister at Permanent Joint Headquarters on 20 March 2025.

I recognise the importance of this Government's commitment to being open and transparent. However, as a former Defence Minister I hope that the hon. Gentleman will recognise that on this occasion the importance of national security outweighs this interest to ensure the safety of the UK and its citizens remains upheld.

How many homes on the defence estate were constructed in the years (a) since 2000, (b) 1980-1999, (c) 1960-1979, (d) 1940-1959, (e) 1900-1939 and (f) before 1900.

The table below provides the number of Service Family Accommodation homes, broken down into the decades they were constructed. Year/Decade Total2000 – to date6,0331980 – 19997,1351960 – 197916,6401940 – 195914,1921900 – 19392,640Pre 190011Unknown (no data held)349

How many properties on the defence estate are categorised as (a) detached houses, (b) semi-detached houses, (c) terraced houses, (d) bungalows, (e) flats without lifts and (f) flats with lifts.

The information is not held in the format requested. The table below details the number of Service Family Accommodation broken down by the type of property, which is categorised by the Department as follows: Type of PropertyGarageTotal (circa)HouseNo22,613HouseYes22,591MaisonetteNo80MaisonetteYes89BungalowNo154BungalowYes83FlatNo1,357FlatYes33 Total47,000 Please note that these figures are as at 1 March 2025

What the average rent paid per month is on the defence estate for (a) detached houses, (b) semi-detached houses, (c) terraced houses, (d) bungalows, (e) flats without lifts and (f) flats with lifts.

This information is not held. The Combined Accommodation Assessment System (CAAS) determines the accommodation charge for individual Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties based on condition, scale, and location. SFA entitlement depends on various factors, such as family size and rank of Serving person. Charging rates for SFA for Service personnel are set by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB).

What the annual maintenance cost is for all homes on the defence estate in the most recent period for which figures are available.

The annual cost for responsive and planned maintenance for Service Family Accommodation from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, for the Future Defence Infrastructure Services Regional Accommodation Maintenance Services contracts, is £39,066,509.