Written questions by Cartlidge.

When he expects the new Armed Forces Commissioner to be appointed.

The Armed Forces Commissioner is the first in a series of steps that will be taken by the new Government to improve Service life and renew the contract between the nation and those who serve. The Armed Forces Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for Service personnel and their families to raise issues which impact on service life. The Armed Forces Commissioner will have the power to investigate individual complaints and to proactively launch independent reviews into issues affecting Service personnel and their families more widely, and to lay those reports before Parliament. The new Commissioner will have a right of access to information, sites and personnel in order to fulfil their role. The Commissioner will incorporate the functions currently undertaken by the Service Complaints Ombudsman. The Armed Forces Commissioner will strengthen Parliamentary oversight of issues facing our Armed Forces personnel and their families. The Commissioner will be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Defence Select Committee and will report directly to Parliament, not ministers, via an annual report. There will be opportunities to debate all aspects of the role, remit and operation of Armed Forces Commissioner when the Government brings forward the Legislation outlined in the King’s Speech. Details on budget, pay, grade, staffing and office location will be set out in due course.

What (a) salary, (b) pension and (c) relevant benefits does he expect the Armed Forces Commissioner to receive.

The Armed Forces Commissioner is the first in a series of steps that will be taken by the new Government to improve Service life and renew the contract between the nation and those who serve. The Armed Forces Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for Service personnel and their families to raise issues which impact on service life. The Armed Forces Commissioner will have the power to investigate individual complaints and to proactively launch independent reviews into issues affecting Service personnel and their families more widely, and to lay those reports before Parliament. The new Commissioner will have a right of access to information, sites and personnel in order to fulfil their role. The Commissioner will incorporate the functions currently undertaken by the Service Complaints Ombudsman. The Armed Forces Commissioner will strengthen Parliamentary oversight of issues facing our Armed Forces personnel and their families. The Commissioner will be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Defence Select Committee and will report directly to Parliament, not ministers, via an annual report. There will be opportunities to debate all aspects of the role, remit and operation of Armed Forces Commissioner when the Government brings forward the Legislation outlined in the King’s Speech. Details on budget, pay, grade, staffing and office location will be set out in due course.

Whether the office of the Armed Forces Commissioner will be located within the Ministry of Defence Main Building on Whitehall.

The Armed Forces Commissioner is the first in a series of steps that will be taken by the new Government to improve Service life and renew the contract between the nation and those who serve. The Armed Forces Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for Service personnel and their families to raise issues which impact on service life. The Armed Forces Commissioner will have the power to investigate individual complaints and to proactively launch independent reviews into issues affecting Service personnel and their families more widely, and to lay those reports before Parliament. The new Commissioner will have a right of access to information, sites and personnel in order to fulfil their role. The Commissioner will incorporate the functions currently undertaken by the Service Complaints Ombudsman. The Armed Forces Commissioner will strengthen Parliamentary oversight of issues facing our Armed Forces personnel and their families. The Commissioner will be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Defence Select Committee and will report directly to Parliament, not ministers, via an annual report. There will be opportunities to debate all aspects of the role, remit and operation of Armed Forces Commissioner when the Government brings forward the Legislation outlined in the King’s Speech. Details on budget, pay, grade, staffing and office location will be set out in due course.

How many staff will support the Armed Forces Commissioner; and what the annual cost of those staff will be.

The Armed Forces Commissioner is the first in a series of steps that will be taken by the new Government to improve Service life and renew the contract between the nation and those who serve. The Armed Forces Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for Service personnel and their families to raise issues which impact on service life. The Armed Forces Commissioner will have the power to investigate individual complaints and to proactively launch independent reviews into issues affecting Service personnel and their families more widely, and to lay those reports before Parliament. The new Commissioner will have a right of access to information, sites and personnel in order to fulfil their role. The Commissioner will incorporate the functions currently undertaken by the Service Complaints Ombudsman. The Armed Forces Commissioner will strengthen Parliamentary oversight of issues facing our Armed Forces personnel and their families. The Commissioner will be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Defence Select Committee and will report directly to Parliament, not ministers, via an annual report. There will be opportunities to debate all aspects of the role, remit and operation of Armed Forces Commissioner when the Government brings forward the Legislation outlined in the King’s Speech. Details on budget, pay, grade, staffing and office location will be set out in due course.

Where the Armed Forces Commissioner will sit in his Department's command structure; whether the Commissioner will be a military role; and what grade they will be.

The Armed Forces Commissioner is the first in a series of steps that will be taken by the new Government to improve Service life and renew the contract between the nation and those who serve. The Armed Forces Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for Service personnel and their families to raise issues which impact on service life. The Armed Forces Commissioner will have the power to investigate individual complaints and to proactively launch independent reviews into issues affecting Service personnel and their families more widely, and to lay those reports before Parliament. The new Commissioner will have a right of access to information, sites and personnel in order to fulfil their role. The Commissioner will incorporate the functions currently undertaken by the Service Complaints Ombudsman. The Armed Forces Commissioner will strengthen Parliamentary oversight of issues facing our Armed Forces personnel and their families. The Commissioner will be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Defence Select Committee and will report directly to Parliament, not ministers, via an annual report. There will be opportunities to debate all aspects of the role, remit and operation of Armed Forces Commissioner when the Government brings forward the Legislation outlined in the King’s Speech. Details on budget, pay, grade, staffing and office location will be set out in due course.

What steps he plans to take to ensure that the Armed Forces Commissioner (a) is accountable to Parliament and (b) operates in a transparent manner.

The Armed Forces Commissioner is the first in a series of steps that will be taken by the new Government to improve Service life and renew the contract between the nation and those who serve. The Armed Forces Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for Service personnel and their families to raise issues which impact on service life. The Armed Forces Commissioner will have the power to investigate individual complaints and to proactively launch independent reviews into issues affecting Service personnel and their families more widely, and to lay those reports before Parliament. The new Commissioner will have a right of access to information, sites and personnel in order to fulfil their role. The Commissioner will incorporate the functions currently undertaken by the Service Complaints Ombudsman. The Armed Forces Commissioner will strengthen Parliamentary oversight of issues facing our Armed Forces personnel and their families. The Commissioner will be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Defence Select Committee and will report directly to Parliament, not ministers, via an annual report. There will be opportunities to debate all aspects of the role, remit and operation of Armed Forces Commissioner when the Government brings forward the Legislation outlined in the King’s Speech. Details on budget, pay, grade, staffing and office location will be set out in due course.

If he will take steps to review the resources and powers available to the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces.

The Armed Forces Commissioner is the first in a series of steps that will be taken by the new Government to improve Service life and renew the contract between the nation and those who serve. The Armed Forces Commissioner will be a direct point of contact for Service personnel and their families to raise issues which impact on service life. The Armed Forces Commissioner will have the power to investigate individual complaints and to proactively launch independent reviews into issues affecting Service personnel and their families more widely, and to lay those reports before Parliament. The new Commissioner will have a right of access to information, sites and personnel in order to fulfil their role. The Commissioner will incorporate the functions currently undertaken by the Service Complaints Ombudsman. The Armed Forces Commissioner will strengthen Parliamentary oversight of issues facing our Armed Forces personnel and their families. The Commissioner will be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Defence Select Committee and will report directly to Parliament, not ministers, via an annual report. There will be opportunities to debate all aspects of the role, remit and operation of Armed Forces Commissioner when the Government brings forward the Legislation outlined in the King’s Speech. Details on budget, pay, grade, staffing and office location will be set out in due course.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on defence on the delivery schedule for (a) Type 26 and (b) Type 31 frigates.

The Government is fully committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as possible. The Government will set out a clear path to 2.5% at a future fiscal event. The Government will deliver a programme for defence which is affordable and provides the c...

Whether he plans to review his Department’s extreme weather contingency plans.

Defence policy requires all Defence establishments to have business continuity and appropriate contingency plans in place to address risks of disruptions and that these plans are reviewed regularly. The effects of climate change on Departmental business resilience is recognised as a risk factor. As such, extreme weather contingency planning is a regular activity on Defence sites. Defence developed and launched its own Climate Impact Risk Assessment Methodology in 2010 to identify measures to improve the resilience of the Defence estate to climate related hazards, and to ensure continuity of the outputs of Defence establishments.

Whether he plans to implement recommendation seven of the Kerslake Commission on Armed Forces Housing's report entitled Homes unfit for heroes: The poor condition of armed forces accommodation and what needs to change, published in April 2024.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 July 2024 to Question 167.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on defence on the development of heavy uncrewed ground systems.

The Government is fully committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as possible. The Government will set out a clear path to 2.5% at a future fiscal event. The Government will deliver a programme for defence which is affordable and provides the c...

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on defence on procurement of further tranches of F-35 Lightning jets.

The Government is fully committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as possible. The Government will set out a clear path to 2.5% at a future fiscal event. The Government will deliver a programme for defence which is affordable and provides the c...

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on defence on the delivery of uncrewed systems for the armed forces.

The Government is fully committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as possible. The Government will set out a clear path to 2.5% at a future fiscal event. The Government will deliver a programme for defence which is affordable and provides the c...

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on defence on the procurement of a new multi-role support ship.

The Government is fully committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as possible. The Government will set out a clear path to 2.5% at a future fiscal event. The Government will deliver a programme for defence which is affordable and provides the c...

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on defence on the delivery of the Shadow Mk1 fleet.

The Government is fully committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as possible. The Government will set out a clear path to 2.5% at a future fiscal event. The Government will deliver a programme for defence which is affordable and provides the c...

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on defence on upgrades to the existing fleet of Typhoon fighter jets.

The Government is fully committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as possible. The Government will set out a clear path to 2.5% at a future fiscal event. The Government will deliver a programme for defence which is affordable and provides the c...

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on defence on the development of the Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank.

The Government is fully committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as possible. The Government will set out a clear path to 2.5% at a future fiscal event. The Government will deliver a programme for defence which is affordable and provides the c...

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for reaching 2.5% GDP of expenditure on defence on the Land Environment Tactical Communications and Information Systems programme.

The Government is fully committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as possible. The Government will set out a clear path to 2.5% at a future fiscal event. The Government will deliver a programme for defence which is affordable and provides the c...

What his policy is on AUKUS.

The Secretary of State for Defence reaffirmed the UK's staunch commitment to AUKUS, during a visit earlier this month to Sheffield Forgemasters with the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles. During the visit, the Secretary...

What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on AUKUS.

The Secretary of State for Defence has regular meetings with the Prime Minister, and other Cabinet colleagues, on a wide range of defence issues including AUKUS. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also spoken to United States President, Biden and Australian ...