Every parliamentary written question tabled by James Cartlidge this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 2,421–2,440 of 2,980 · Ministry of Defence
How many housing officers were employed by the Ministry of Defence as of 10 March 2025.
Currently, 15 Joint Office Areas are operational in the United Kingdom. The Ministry of Defence continues to review the number to ensure we best support the families we serve. Currently, there are 120 Housing Officers and 16 Senior Housing Officers employed by Pinnacle on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
What his target date is for the publication of the Military Housing Strategy.
Work on a new Military Housing Strategy has begun, with plans for publication in Summer 2025. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) Year three Review of the Future Defence Infrastructure Service Accommodation Contracts has started and is on target to complete by Summer 2025. The target date for the launch of the Defence Homes Website is Spring 2025. The Home Hub Portal will be launched this Spring to a closed user group of 200/300 families. The launch date of a Home Hub Portal with Full Operating Capability to all families will follow at the end of the year, once actions following the closed user group testing have been completed.
When he plans to provide an Answer to Question 28549 on Ministry of Defence: Pay, tabled on 4 February 2025.
I will respond to the hon. Member shortly.
When he plans to provide an Answer Question 26308 on Army and Marines: Training, tabled on 24 January 2025.
I will respond to the hon. Member shortly.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision by the US to pause intelligence sharing with Ukraine on the use of Storm Shadow missiles supplied by Britain.
There is a long-standing position of successive Governments not to comment on specific intelligence capabilities or detail concerning intelligence operations.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision by the US to pause intelligence sharing with Ukraine on the use of UK RC-135W Rivet Joint to support intelligence gathering for Ukraine.
There is a long-standing position of successive Governments not to comment on specific intelligence capabilities or detail concerning intelligence operations.
What assessment he has made of the potential implication for his policies of the decision by the US to pause intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
There is a long-standing position of successive Governments not to comment on specific intelligence capabilities or detail concerning intelligence operations.
Whether he plans to implement the Modernised Accommodation Offer.
This Government is clear that our people are our greatest strength, and provision of Service accommodation is essential to their operational effectiveness. An attractive accommodation offer helps deliver military capability and contributes to retaining Service personnel. Changes to family accommodation entitlements under the Modernised Accommodation Offer are still under review and will be confirmed in due course. The Ministry of Defence remains committed to widening the entitlement to family accommodation to maintain a mobile, deployable, and winning force, whilst also meeting the varying needs of all its people. This includes widening entitlement to those personnel with children resident over 80 nights per year.
What the out of service date is for Desert Hawk III.
Project TIQUILA is delivering next-generation Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) that will enhance decision superiority and enable the delivery of kinetic effects on the modern battlefield. Project TIQUILA has delivered VXE30 and INDAGO 4 equipment to front-line units, who are currently being trained on them ahead of reaching Initial Operating Capability (IOC). The VXE30 RPAS will reach IOC in April 2025, and the INDAGO 4 RPAS will reach IOC in June 2025. The Desert Hawk III Mini-Uncrewed Aerial System exited service at its Out of Service Date in March 2023.
Whether he plans to expand the deployment of Peregrine on naval vessels beyond HMS Lancaster.
The performance of the Peregrine system has been continuously monitored since it was deployed on HMS Lancaster, and it continues to be assessed. There is a significant focus on improving integration and maximising performance as the crew's operating experience of the Peregrine system grows. The Royal Navy's transition to uncrewed systems is expected to be addressed in the Strategic Defence Review.
What progress he has made on Project Tiquila.
Project TIQUILA is delivering next-generation Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) that will enhance decision superiority and enable the delivery of kinetic effects on the modern battlefield. Project TIQUILA has delivered VXE30 and INDAGO 4 equipment to front-line units, who are currently being trained on them ahead of reaching Initial Operating Capability (IOC). The VXE30 RPAS will reach IOC in April 2025, and the INDAGO 4 RPAS will reach IOC in June 2025. The Desert Hawk III Mini-Uncrewed Aerial System exited service at its Out of Service Date in March 2023.
When Indago 4 will reach minimum deployable capability.
Project TIQUILA is delivering next-generation Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) that will enhance decision superiority and enable the delivery of kinetic effects on the modern battlefield. Project TIQUILA has delivered VXE30 and INDAGO 4 equipment to front-line units, who are currently being trained on them ahead of reaching Initial Operating Capability (IOC). The VXE30 RPAS will reach IOC in April 2025, and the INDAGO 4 RPAS will reach IOC in June 2025. The Desert Hawk III Mini-Uncrewed Aerial System exited service at its Out of Service Date in March 2023.
With reference to the £1.6bn funding for air defence missiles announced on 2 March 2025, whether he has held discussions with relevant stakeholders on a potential expansion of the Belfast manufacturing site.
Any expansion of the Thales manufacturing site in Belfast would be a matter between the company and the local authorities in Northern Ireland.
Whether there have been any changes to the process of issuing security clearances to representatives of defence businesses by his Department since 5 July 2024.
UKSV (Cabinet Office) is the sole provider of National Security Vetting and is responsible for issuing security clearances. Ministry of Defence (MOD), including Defence suppliers accredited by MOD to act as a sponsor for National Security Vetting, is a customer of UKSV. There have been no changes to the process of issuing security clearances to representatives of Defence businesses since 5 July 2024.
When the VXE30 drone will reach minimum deployable capability.
Project TIQUILA is delivering next-generation Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) that will enhance decision superiority and enable the delivery of kinetic effects on the modern battlefield. Project TIQUILA has delivered VXE30 and INDAGO 4 equipment to front-line units, who are currently being trained on them ahead of reaching Initial Operating Capability (IOC). The VXE30 RPAS will reach IOC in April 2025, and the INDAGO 4 RPAS will reach IOC in June 2025. The Desert Hawk III Mini-Uncrewed Aerial System exited service at its Out of Service Date in March 2023.
What the average time taken was for the issuing of security clearances by his Department for businesses in the defence sector in the latest period for which data is available.
UKSV (Cabinet Office) is the sole provider of National Security Vetting and is responsible for issuing security clearances. Ministry of Defence (MOD), including Defence suppliers accredited by MOD to act as a sponsor for National Security Vetting, is a customer of UKSV. There have been no changes to the process of issuing security clearances to representatives of Defence businesses since 5 July 2024.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the deployment of Peregrine on HMS Lancaster.
The performance of the Peregrine system has been continuously monitored since it was deployed on HMS Lancaster, and it continues to be assessed. There is a significant focus on improving integration and maximising performance as the crew's operating experience of the Peregrine system grows. The Royal Navy's transition to uncrewed systems is expected to be addressed in the Strategic Defence Review.
Pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025 to Question 33516 on Defence: Finance, whether his plan to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence expenditure in the 2026-27 financial year includes expenditure on the intelligence and security services.
The Prime Minister has announced that the definition of defence spending will be updated to recognise what our security and intelligence agencies do to boost our security, as well as our military. That, combined with the increase to defence spending, will mean that in 2026-27 the UK will spend 2.6% of GDP on NATO-qualifying defence expenditure.
Whether the Strategic Defence Review will consider the UK's nuclear capability.
As stated in the Strategic Defence Review's published Terms of Reference, the Government has a total commitment to the independent UK nuclear deterrent. The Review is considering the efficiency and effectiveness of the nuclear programme.As a Government we are proud to have a triple lock commitment to the UK's nuclear deterrent. This comprises continuing the construction of four new Dreadnought Class submarines, maintaining the Continuous at Sea Deterrent; and delivery of all future upgrades needed, including the replacement warhead.
How many 7.62mm rounds have been procured for Ukraine since 5 July 2024.
The UK has provided over six million rounds of small arms and light weapons ammunition to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We cannot comment on specific calibres of ammunition or more detailed procurement and delivery schedules due to operational security.