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 1,701–1,720 of 2,966 · Ministry of Defence
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44502 on Puma Helicopters: Decommissioning, whether the First Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles make use of jungle training facilities in Brunei.
The resident Battalion of The Royal Gurkha Rifles continue to make use of jungle training in Brunei within the permitted training parameters.
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44502 on Puma Helicopters: Decommissioning, whether he plans to provide an interim capability for Brunei between 7 April 2025 and 7 April 2026 for non-UK SF training.
Mitigations against jungle training in Brunei are in place. The six Airbus H145 HC2 Jupiter helicopters will deploy and commence operational activity in 2026.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of upgrading the A400M fleet to include an air to air refuelling system.
The A400M fleet is equipped with an Air-to-Air refuelling probe. The aircraft is fully cleared to receive fuel while airborne from Voyager aircraft.
Pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 43141 on Armed Forces: Grants, whether officer cadets in the University Officer Training Corps are entitled to apply for a bursary.
Members of the University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) are entitled to apply for bursaries in order to support them through university, helping them reach their full potential. UOTC cadets are primarily civilian university students who have volunteered for a leadership development programme alongside their studies. Whilst they undertake military training and have a formal association with the Army, they remain prospective entrants and are not considered established Service personnel with a regular or reserve commitment. This status means they are eligible to apply for bursaries as they are still classed as applicants to join the Armed Forces. This is reflected in the Army Commissioning Regulations which explicitly lists UOTC cadets as eligible applicants.
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44502 on Puma Helicopters: Decommissioning, how much more it costs in monetary terms to operate a CH47 Chinook than a Puma over a month.
It is not possible to provide comparable figures for different aircraft over a month. Operating costs associated with individual platforms are dependent on several variables, including the operational outputs delivered in any given month which would affect the flying hours and therefore cost to operate. I can however confirm that the overall cost of operating a Chinook H47 is less than the cost of operating a Puma HC2.
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44502 on Puma Helicopters: Decommissioning, whether the Brunei Jungle Warfare Skills meet will occur in 2025 if a replacement for the Puma capability is not in place.
The Jungle Warfare Skills Meet (JWSM) will not occur in 2025 but will run again in 2026 on a biennial cadence, in line with the intention of The Royal Brunei Land Force.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the RAF's air to air refuelling system.
All capability requirements, including those for Air-to-Air refuelling, are being considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review process.
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April to Question 44502 on Puma Helicopters: Decommissioning, what steps he is taking to ensure that there will be no loss of operational output from the Chinook fleet as a result of the deployment of two CH47 Chinook helicopters in Cyprus.
Of the two Chinook H-47 currently deployed to cover the aerial firefighting season in Cyprus, one is earmarked for retirement as part of the planned decommissioning of the oldest 14 aircraft in the Chinook fleet. There is no impact on Chinook fleet operational outputs as a result of the forward deployment of two Chinook H-47 to Cyprus.
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44502 on Puma Helicopters: Decommissioning, whether the two CH47 Chinook helicopters currently deployed in Cyprus are provided from the fleet of the 14 Chinook helicopters being decommissioned.
Of the two Chinook H-47 currently deployed to cover the aerial firefighting season in Cyprus, one is earmarked for retirement as part of the planned decommissioning of the oldest 14 aircraft in the Chinook fleet. There is no impact on Chinook fleet operational outputs as a result of the forward deployment of two Chinook H-47 to Cyprus.
Pursuant to the Answer of 12 March to Question 34638 on Puma Helicopters: Decommissioning, whether he has a formal target date for when the H145 HC2 Jupiter helicopter will enter service in (a) Brunei and (b) Cyprus.
The HC145 HC2 Jupiter is on track to deliver Initial Operating Capability in 2026 to both Brunei and Cyprus.
What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) Programme.
The Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) Projects will enable the Ministry of Defence to contract for Submarine and Naval Base services delivered through Clyde and Devonport in March 2026, and for Ships and wider Naval Base services from October 2028.The NSIGN Programme continues to progress through the Assessment Phase with the NSIGN (Submarines) Project Outline Business Case (OBC) being approved in April 2025. Work is progressing with the NSIGN(Ships) and NSIGN (Naval Bases) Projects, both of which will be seeking OBC approval in Autumn 2025.
What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Next Generation (fixed) Communication Network Programme.
The Next Generation Communication Network Programme is focussed on delivering the required security enhancements that will allow consolidation of service provision and financial savings. In addition, work has now commenced on how best to achieve the network transformation required by Defence, whilst migrating legacy services to a sustainable, and modernised networking approach.
What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the New Style of Information Technology Deployed Programme.
The programme achieved Acceptance into Service, and declaration of Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in the Land Environment in March 2024. In the last 12 months the programme has released an updated Operational Network (OpNET) capability with significantly enhanced build software. This is currently being deployed across the land environment and will facilitate the withdrawal of legacy systems from the land environment before the end of 2025. Following installation of OpNET to both Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers, the programme is now focussed on extending this capability across the Rest of the Fleet. During financial year 2024-25 OpNET was installed to RFA TIDEFORCE, HMS SUTHERLAND, and HMS SCOTT. Plans are in place for six further installations during the current financial year.
Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, how much has been spent on HESTIA (Facilities Management); and when the business case was first submitted.
The committed spend on HESTIA as at 31 March 2025, is £1.51 million.. The date when the business case was submitted for each of the seven regional HESTIA contracts can be found below: Regional HESTIA ContractDate that the Business Case was submittedSouth West10 July 2017Wales and West Midlands01 March 2017East03 July 2017North02 February 2017Scotland and Northern Ireland30 January 2017South East28 October 2016South26 April 2016
Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, how much has been spent on the Defence Digital ICT manage services project; and when the business case was first submitted.
This information is being withheld on the grounds of National Security as its’ disclosure would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the United Kingdom.
Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, what expenditure was involved in the Future Maritime Support Programme; and when the business case was first submitted.
The Full Business Case for the Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) was submitted in November 2020 and contracts were awarded in April 2021. The current total approved budgetary limit for FMSP through to contract expiration in 2026 is £6.853 billion.An extension of the current contract to 2028 is currently being costed.
Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, what expenditure is involved in the Defence Marine Services - Next Generation; and when the business case was first submitted.
The Full Business Case (FBC) was submitted to the Department’s Investment Approval Committee (IAC) members on 21 January 2025. Permission to proceed with the award of contracts was received on 9 April 2025. The FBC authorised an Approved Budgetary Limit of £1.393 Billion over 10 years for the DMS-NG programme (including Ministry of Defence cost and risk provision).
Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, what expenditure was involved in the Sheffield Forgemaster Recapitalisation; and when the business case was first submitted.
The Government will provide a full update on the Sheffield Forgemasters recapitalisation later this year.
Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, how much has been spent on Submarine Disposal Capability; and when the business case was first submitted.
As of April 2025, the Submarine Disposal Capability Project has spent £300,000. The Project submitted its business case to His Majesty’s Treasury in February 2025.
Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April to Question 43178 on Defence: Procurement, what expenditure is involved in the Astute programme; and when the business case was first submitted.
The Astute programme’s Approved Budgetary Level is currently £12.2 billion. The business case was submitted to HM Treasury in March 2025.