Written questions by Cartlidge.

For what reason his Department has removed the Chief of the Defence Staff from the Department’s Finance and Economics pre-release access lists, other than the Departmental resources and Statistical Bulletin-MOD Regional Expenditure with UK Industry and Supported Employment releases.

Pre-release access for Official Statistics are restricted to eligible personnel and regularly reviewed. This is in line with our responsibility under the Pre-release Access to Official Statistics Order (2008) and the Code of Practice for Statistics. In line with the order, these lists must be:Limited to those required to draft, make statements, or take action shortly after the time of publication.Restricted to a minimum number of recipients to maintain public trust. The MOD Regional Expenditure with UK Industry and Supported Employment (last released 3rd August 2023) has now been rearranged into two statistical releases:the MOD Regional Expenditure statistic,the UK Industry and Supported Employment statistic.In the routine review of access for these statistics the Chief of Defence Staff was omitted from the new pre-release access lists and has been re-added. The Chief of the Defence Staff has full access to comprehensive data on MOD programmes and finances, including that which is not published as part of statistical releases.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of his decision to retire HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion on the operational capability of the Royal Marines.

The retirement of HMS Albion and Bulwark will not impact the operational programme of the Royal Marines, who continue to deploy globally. Both are currently held at lower readiness having not been to sea since 2023 and 2017 respectively. On current planning, neither was due to go to sea again before their planned out of service dates of 2033 and 2034. The Royal Marines are supported by the three Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary)s and RFA ARGUS, which also provides aviation support and acts as a hospital ship. These ships will continue to support amphibious capability until they are succeeded by planned Multi Role Support Ships.

What estimate he has made of the cost of the commercial service to bridge the availability gap for rotary capability in (a) Brunei and (b) Cyprus.

The Ministry of Defence signed a £122 million contract in 2024 to purchase six H-145 aircraft. These aircraft will replace the aging Puma aircraft to fulfil key capabilities in Cyprus and Brunei. A range of options are being explored to fill the capability gaps in the interim period before the arrival of H-145.

What estimate he has made of the cost of repairing the structural damage to HMS Devonshire.

There is no ship of the name HMS Devonshire currently in service with the Royal Navy.

With reference to his Oral Statement of 20 November 2024 on Defence Programmes Developments, Official Report, columns 287-289, whether retention bonuses for Army personnel will be made available to the (a) Royal Navy and (b) RAF.

The Ministry of Defence pay retention payments in a variety of ways depending on the needs of the single-Services. Retention payments for the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are targeted where they are most needed, and where they make the most efficient use of tax-payers money. From January 2025, a new £8,000 retention payment will be awarded to eligible regular Privates and Lance Corporals who have served four years. The payment targets Army Personnel as they enter a critical part of their career, with 12,000 personnel expected to benefit over the next three years.

With reference to his Oral Statement of 20 November 2024 on Defence Programmes Developments, Official Report, columns 287-289, whether he plans to extend the retention bonuses for aircraft engineers to non-aircraft engineers.

The single-Services each pay targeted retention payments where they are most needed, and where they provide the most efficient use of tax-payers money. As part of the Government’s commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who serve, eligible Tri-service aircraft engineers will be given £30,000 when they sign up for additional three years’ of service. From April 2025, this will be applicable to around 5,000 personnel in total.

What proportion of the cost of running the UK-US military base in Diego Garcia was covered by the United States in financial year 2023-24.

It is not possible to determine relative proportions of the running cost of the base in Diego Garcia. The United States is responsible for any costs it incurs, while the UK remains responsible for the cost of the UK element of the base only.

What the cost to the public purse was of running the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia in financial year 2023-24.

The direct cost to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for running the UK element of the UK-US military base in the British Indian Ocean Territory in financial year 2023-24 was £3.8 million. This excludes minor costs incurred directly by, for example, visiting units or HQ elements in the UK. Any costs incurred by other Government Departments cannot be provided by the MOD.

Whether his Department will receive additional funding to cover any additional costs arising from the Chagos Island settlement.

Negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago were opened in 2022 under the previous Government. The lead Department for the negotiations was the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence was closely updated and engaged in all the key aspects of the negotiations. The agreement secured with Mauritius protects the effective operation of the joint UK/US base on Diego Garcia for at least the next 99 years. Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.

On what date he agreed his Department’s contribution to the Chagos Island settlement.

Negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago were opened in 2022 under the previous Government. The lead Department for the negotiations was the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence was closely updated and engaged in all the key aspects of the negotiations. The agreement secured with Mauritius protects the effective operation of the joint UK/US base on Diego Garcia for at least the next 99 years. Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.

With reference to his answer to Urgent Question on 11 November 2024 from the Hon. Member for South Suffolk, when he first became aware of the costs to be borne by his Department arising from the agreement with Mauritius on sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.

Negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago were opened in 2022 under the previous Government. The lead Department for the negotiations was the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence was closely updated and engaged in all the key aspects of the negotiations. The agreement secured with Mauritius protects the effective operation of the joint UK/US base on Diego Garcia for at least the next 99 years. Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.

What role artificial intelligence has played in (a) sifting and (b) evaluating Strategic Defence Review submissions.

AI is helping the Strategic Defence Review team comprehend and analyse over 8,000 responses across the propositions, totalling over 2.2 million words. This is enhancing the review team's ability to focus on complex tasks, such as applying robust challenge to submissions through Panel Sessions during October and November. AI is not a replacement for human judgment, but an enabler of greater efficiency and one part of facilitating a more comprehensive Review Process. Decisions on drafting are solely made by the reviewers: Lord George Robertson, General Sir Richard Barrons and Dr Fiona Hill.

How many submissions have been received for the Strategic Defence Review.

Over 1,700 individuals and organisations responded providing over 8,000 answers across 23 Propositions. Respondents included Serving and retired members of the Armed Forces, the defence industry, the public, academics, Parliamentary colleagues, and our closest allies and partners, including NATO.

How much financing his Department will contribute to the Chagos leasing settlement.

Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 September 2024 to Question 3738 on Defence: Research, whether the spending review process will cover spending on defence research and development in (a) this financial year and (b) the next four financial years.

Spend on research and development will be covered within Departmental plans as part of the Spending Review process. The Chancellor has set out the time period to be covered by this process.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the agreement to cede sovereignty of the Chagos islands to Mauritius on the risk of espionage from hostile states.

The negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands were announced in the House of Commons on 3 November 2022 by the then Foreign Secretary. Their aim was to ensure the continued effective operation of the joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia. We now have this historic agreement, that ends the uncertainty over the future of the base on Diego Garcia, which plays such a crucial role in regional and international security. We have full Mauritian backing for robust security arrangements, including preventing foreign armed forces from establishing themselves on the outer islands, or otherwise undermining the effective operation of the Base, meaning the base is more protected than ever from foreign malign influence in a more insecure world.

How much funding he plans to provide for the resettlement of personnel leaving the armed forces in the 2024-25 financial year.

Resettlement services are offered to all personnel leaving the Armed Forces, with employment support and training delivered through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to all Regular Service Leavers. The CTP is the official provider of Armed Forces resettlement support to all Regular Service Leavers, regardless of time served. The new CTP Contract launched on 1 October 2024 and looks to build on the success of the previous contract in providing a ‘gold standard’ of resettlement support to Service Leavers as part of the wider transition support provided by the Ministry of Defence which includes through-career attainment of life skills, and access to Defence Transition Services which offers targeted support for those facing challenges in successful transition. Service personnel leaving the Regular Armed Forces are entitled to access resettlement services two years prior to their discharge date and for two years post discharge. Resettlement services are delivered under the CTP (Defence Commercial Category B) contract with a total budget provision of £110 million over 10 years. We will not be releasing the requested annual figure as this is commercially sensitive.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2024 to Question 121 on Armed Forces: Visas, when his Department first held discussions with the Home Office on ending visa fees for serving personnel.

Ministry of Defence officials began engagement with the Home Office in late July 2024 to discuss this manifesto commitment.

Whether the core Global Combat Air Programme will be piloted.

The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) core aircraft is being designed to be crewed when it comes into service, but the programme sustains an important technological and industrial pathway to developing advanced uncrewed capabilities. That will allow the programme to maximise the benefits of autonomy and artificial intelligence in a crewed aircraft and explore options for wider uncrewed systems to augment its capabilities.

If he will make an estimate of the number of homes on the defence estate that could be brought back into use in the next 12 months.

During financial year 2024-25 the Ministry of Defence (MOD) plans to refurbish circa 200 long-term empty Service Family Accommodation properties, to bring them back into use for Service families. Data for the number of houses that could be bought back into use in financial year 2025-26 is not held as financial budgets have not yet been agreed. The programme of extensive refurbishments to long-term empty houses was launched in September 2023 and has allowed the MOD to significantly increase the number of high-quality homes available to Service families.