Written questions by Cartlidge.

With reference to recommendation 35 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, when he plans to begin the National Endeavour public communications campaign.

The ‘National Endeavour’ communications campaign began in July 2024. It is an enduring Government Communications Service (GCS) ‘low/no-cost’ campaign which aims to highlight and improve understanding of the work of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, its importance to our national security, and its contribution to our economy. Any expenditure under the campaign would be managed and approved in accordance with GCS processes, as with all Departmental communications campaigns.

With reference to page 90 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, who will lead the Home Defence Programme.

Defence plays a leading role in the development of the Cabinet Office-led cross-Government Home Defence Programme, overseen centrally by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. As set out in the National Security Strategy and the Resilience Action Plan, this coordinates civil and military preparations across the whole of Government for some of the most serious risks we could face, including communicating, empowering and engaging with all tiers of resilience actors to ensure that all sectors are prepared for and able to respond to the most catastrophic of risks. A broad range of Government Departments are engaged in supporting this work. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK, informed by and reflecting the recommendations from Government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan.

With reference to recommendation 33 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, whether he plans to take legislative steps to direct industry to prioritise defence nuclear requirements in the current Parliament.

The Strategic Defence Review set out the need for Defence Readiness legislation this Parliament to give the Government more robust or additional powers to make the UK safe. This could include measures to improve the preparedness of key industries including nuclear, to better protect our Critical National Infrastructure and to support the mobilisation of wider Defence, including industry reserves. As I set out to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy on 30 June, a Defence Readiness Bill is potentially a legislative vehicle for the wider Government, not just Defence. We are therefore working closely across Government through the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence programme to shape our key requirements, and understand and identify the measures needed. This will lay the groundwork to introduce legislation when Parliamentary time allows, but we do not yet have a specific timescale for when this will come before Parliament.

With reference to clause 25 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, which body will be responsible for external scrutiny of UK warfighting readiness.

As set out in the evidence session with the House of Commons Defence Select Committee (HCDC) on 8 July, we expect the HCDC to have a central role in scrutinising UK warfighting readiness.

With reference to recommendation 35 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, what steps he plans to take to enhance parliamentary scrutiny of the nuclear deterrent.

In May this year, this Government published an update to Parliament on the major programmes in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise and, in July, provided a guide to Parliamentarians on the work underway to maintain and renew the nuclear deterrent. These publications are available at the following locations: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-nuclear-enterprise-2025-annual-update-to-parliament/defence-nuclear-enterprise-2025-annual-update-to-parliament https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6880af493f770776241204e7/The_UK_s_nuclear_deterrent_-_the_National_Endeavour_Explained.pdf We will continue to update Parliament on how investment in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise is contributing to national security and economic prosperity. The Government will keep under review mechanisms for reporting and accountability to Parliament.

With reference to page 88 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, how many of his Department's public engagement days have taken place since 5 July 2024.

Linked to the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, the Reserve Forces and Cadet Associations (RFCAs) have conducted 369 engagement days since 5 July 2024. This number defines ‘public engagement days’ with employers throughout the year, both nationally (Armed Forces Day) and regionally, and inclusive of employer visits to military bases. Plans to increase the number of public engagement days have yet to be finalised as the Ministry of Defence seeks to ensure efficiency and impact.

With reference to recommendation 26 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, when he plans to commence the two-year series of public outreach events explaining current threats and future trends.

Linked to the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, the Reserve Forces and Cadet Associations (RFCAs) have conducted 369 engagement days since 5 July 2024. This number defines ‘public engagement days’ with employers throughout the year, both nationally (Armed Forces Day) and regionally, and inclusive of employer visits to military bases. Plans to increase the number of public engagement days have yet to be finalised as the Ministry of Defence seeks to ensure efficiency and impact.

With reference to page 88 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, whether he plans to increase the number of his Department's public engagement days.

Linked to the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, the Reserve Forces and Cadet Associations (RFCAs) have conducted 369 engagement days since 5 July 2024. This number defines ‘public engagement days’ with employers throughout the year, both nationally (Armed Forces Day) and regionally, and inclusive of employer visits to military bases. Plans to increase the number of public engagement days have yet to be finalised as the Ministry of Defence seeks to ensure efficiency and impact.

With reference to page 65 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether it is his policy to reduce his Department's civil service costs by at least 10% by 2030.

The ambition set out in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) is to reduce Civil Service-related costs by at least 10% by 2030. As part of the Defence Reform and Efficiency Plan (which is one of the foundations of our Defence Investment Plan) we are developing plans to reduce these costs. We are working across Defence to review the workforce we need to deliver Defence outcomes, making sure we have got the requirement right, whether that is Regular or Reserve personnel, Civil Servants or contractors. We will also use this as an opportunity for prioritisation, As set out in the SDR, we are developing plans for how to use the latest automation, and AI technology to reduce costs. Importantly, this is a productivity-driven ambition, not a headcount target. Civil Servants are integral to success; therefore, we will invest in performance, skills, and productivity. This will support building a stronger, more agile organisation to deliver better outcomes through smarter use of technology, less bureaucracy, and higher productivity.​

With reference to recommendation 29 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what proportion of the new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre will be staffed by (a) military and (b) civilian personnel.

The Strategic Defence Review recommends that a new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre (DUSC) should be established at Iinitial Operating Capability by February 2026, with centralised authority to accelerate the adoption of Uncrewed System technologies across all three Services. Cost, staffing, governance and basing options are currently under development in tandem with the Defence Investment Plan due to be published in the Autumn.

With reference to recommendation 48 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, whether his Department will be formally reviewing the current flying training arrangements for fast jets.

The Strategic Defence Review recommended that the Hawk T1 and T2 be replaced with a cost-effective advanced jet trainer. This new aircraft will be fully integrated within the Military Flying Training System. A programme team is being established to deliver this capability change within fast jet flying training.

With reference to recommendation 12 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, when he expects responsibility for UK Defence and Security Exports to be formally transferred from the Department for Business and Trade to his Department.

The Machinery of Government change between the Department for Business and Trade and Ministry of Defence began with the formal transfer of Ministerial responsibility on 31 July 2025. The detailed workstreams to complete the change are planned to conclude in the first half of 2026.

With reference to recommendation 7 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, when he expects his Department to establish a revitalised system for science and technology and innovation.

The Government endorses the Strategic Defence Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations; implementation is underway as priority business through a whole of UK Defence effort, supported by Other Government Departments including the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT). Ongoing collaboration, at a senior and working level, between Defence and DSIT (including UK Research and Innovation) will ensure shared awareness of priority technology objectives and subsequent cross Departmental planning, prioritisation and engagement with academia and industry. Changes have already been made to how science, innovation and technology is managed within Defence, including the establishment of UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) on the 1 July 2025 within the new National Armaments Director Group. This work is enabling flexibility to seize new technological opportunities and maximise the potential of Defence spending to grow the UK economy.

With reference page 90 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, what recent progress his Department has made on developing the Home Defence Programme.

Defence plays a leading role in the development of the Cabinet Office-led cross-Government Home Defence Programme, overseen centrally by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. As set out in the National Security Strategy and the Resilience Action Plan, this coordinates civil and military preparations across the whole of Government for some of the most serious risks we could face, including communicating, empowering and engaging with all tiers of resilience actors to ensure that all sectors are prepared for and able to respond to the most catastrophic of risks. A broad range of Government Departments are engaged in supporting this work. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK, informed by and reflecting the recommendations from Government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan.

With reference to recommendation 12 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, when he expects the review of export licensing policies to (a) begin and (b) conclude.

The Strategic Defence Review sets a path for the next decade and beyond to transform Defence and make the UK stronger both at home and abroad. The Government endorses the Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations.The implementation of the Review’s recommendations is underway. Implementation will be priority business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort.

With reference to recommendation 12 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, when he expects the new framework for building and sustaining government-to-government relationships to be created.

Design work for the Exports function is well underway and building momentum through several pilot government to government exports. Initial stand up is expected no later than end October 2025 with full implementation continuing over the next 12 months.

With reference to recommendation 27 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, whether he plans to (a) update and (b) establish new legislation to protect UK critical national infrastructure by the end of the current Parliament.

The Strategic Defence Review set out the need for Defence Readiness legislation this Parliament to give the Government more robust or additional powers to make the UK safe. This could include measures to improve the preparedness of key industries including nuclear, to better protect our Critical National Infrastructure and to support the mobilisation of wider Defence, including industry reserves. As I set out to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy on 30 June, a Defence Readiness Bill is potentially a legislative vehicle for the wider Government, not just Defence. We are therefore working closely across Government through the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence programme to shape our key requirements, and understand and identify the measures needed. This will lay the groundwork to introduce legislation when Parliamentary time allows, but we do not yet have a specific timescale for when this will come before Parliament.

With reference to page 136 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, updated 8 July 2025, when he expects each Front Line Command board to establish a board member responsible for infrastructure.

Army and Air Command have appointed senior representatives with responsibility for infrastructure as part of their role. Following the Strategic Defence Review and taking into account Defence Reform, the Navy is currently reviewing their position.

With reference to recommendation 35 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, if he will publish the potential total cost of delivering the National Endeavour public communications campaign.

The ‘National Endeavour’ communications campaign began in July 2024. It is an enduring Government Communications Service (GCS) ‘low/no-cost’ campaign which aims to highlight and improve understanding of the work of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, its importance to our national security, and its contribution to our economy. Any expenditure under the campaign would be managed and approved in accordance with GCS processes, as with all Departmental communications campaigns.

With reference to recommendation 27 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, what discussions his Department has held with the Cabinet Office on the protection of UK critical infrastructure since 2 June 2025.

The Strategic Defence Review set out the need for Defence Readiness legislation this Parliament to give the Government more robust or additional powers to make the UK safe. This could include measures to improve the preparedness of key industries including nuclear, to better protect our Critical National Infrastructure and to support the mobilisation of wider Defence, including industry reserves. As set out to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy on 30 June 2025, a Defence Readiness Bill is potentially a legislative vehicle for the wider Government, not just Defence. We are therefore working closely across Government through the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence programme to shape our key requirements, and understand and identify the measures needed. This will lay the groundwork to introduce legislation when Parliamentary time allows, but we do not yet have a specific timescale for when this will come before Parliament.