Written questions by Cartlidge.

What recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Submarine Dismantling Project.

The Submarine Dismantling Project remains on track for the demonstrator submarine, SWIFTSURE, to be fully dismantled by the end of 2026.

What progress he has made on the proposed Security Pact with the European Union.

The Government has been clear about our commitment to negotiate an ambitious Security and Defence Partnership with the EU to strengthen European security and reinforce NATO. Talks are ongoing, and no agreements have been reached. I hope the hon. Member will understand that we will not provide a running commentary on their substance.

Whether any military personnel have been deployed to Birmingham to support the response to the ongoing disruption to waste collection.

Following a Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request from the Ministry of Housing, Community, and Local Government, a small number of military personnel deployed to support Birmingham City Council. This support, which was focused on operational planning only has now concluded.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed Security Pact with the European Union on UK operational independence.

The Government has been clear about our commitment to negotiate an ambitious Security and Defence Partnership with the EU to strengthen European security and reinforce NATO. Talks are ongoing, and no agreements have been reached. I hope the hon. Member will understand that we will not provide a running commentary on their substance.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 42281 on Defence Equipment: Technology, what percentage of his Department's equipment procurement budget was spent on novel technology (a) as of 22 April 2025 and (b) in each of the last five financial years.

The Ministry of Defence continues to invest significant funding into novel technologies such as various uncrewed systems and our cutting edge Directed Energy Weapons. Further detail on the novel technologies ringfence will be finalised through the Spending Review.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed Security Pact with the European Union on the UK procurement system.

The Government has been clear about our commitment to negotiate an ambitious Security and Defence Partnership with the EU to strengthen European security and reinforce NATO. Talks are ongoing, and no agreements have been reached. I hope the hon. Member will understand that we will not provide a running commentary on their substance.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the potential provision of military support in relation to waste collection in Birmingham.

Following a Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request from the Ministry of Housing, Community, and Local Government, a small number of military personnel deployed to support Birmingham City Council. This support, which was focused on operational planning only has now concluded.

What the remuneration package is for (a) the Chair and (b) all other members of the Defence Housing Strategy review team.

In line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, Natalie Elphicke-Ross has been appointed as the Chair of the Defence Housing Strategy review team. Natalie will bring with her a wealth of technical and industry expertise to get the most out of on this once in a generational opportunity to recapitalise our Defence Estate. This is a paid position, at a rate of £600 per day. The daily rates being paid to other members of the Defence Housing Strategy Review Team varies. The average payment for external members appointed as contractors, not direct Ministerial appointments, is less than £600 per day.

When the next Chief of the Defence Staff will be announced.

Future appointments will be announced in due course.

How many personnel are currently held at readiness for UK resilience tasks.

As of the 23 April 2025, Defence holds c. 1,600 personnel at readiness for operations designed to support UK resilience. The tasks they are attributed to are wide ranging, from support in the instance of flooding (provided by the UK Standby Battalions) to the provision of fuel tanker drivers in the instance of a national shortage (Op ESCALIN). Of these 1,600 personnel, 900 are held at extremely high readiness within the UK Standby Battalions for domestic resilience tasks. This responsibility rotates through units and, as of 23 April 2025, is held by personnel from across the Army including the infantry, cavalry, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. We take resilience tasks to mean operations designed to provide assistance to the civil authorities where there is either a capacity or skillset shortfall, excluding the provision of additional security in the instance of a significant terrorist attack.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 April to Question 41493 on Defence: Finance, if he will provide a breakdown of the calculations used to reach the £14.2 billion figure referred to.

£14.2 billion is the difference between the NATO qualifying spend of £66.3 billion in 2024-25 and 2.5% of GDP in financial year 2027-28, which is £80.5 billion based on the OBR's latest growth forecast.

Pursuant to the Answer of 07 April 2025 to Question 43150 on Strategic Defence Review, when the Prime Minister last met with (a) Lord Robertson, (b) General Barrons and (c) Fiona Hill.

As the Prime Minister reported in his Statement on Defence and Security in the House of Commons, the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) is being finalised. It will help set the path for Britain's defence for the next decade. The Defence Secretary meets regularly with the Review team and has done throughout the SDR process.

What units are currently held at readiness for UK resilience tasks.

As of the 23 April 2025, Defence holds c. 1,600 personnel at readiness for operations designed to support UK resilience. The tasks they are attributed to are wide ranging, from support in the instance of flooding (provided by the UK Standby Battalions) to the provision of fuel tanker drivers in the instance of a national shortage (Op ESCALIN). Of these 1,600 personnel, 900 are held at extremely high readiness within the UK Standby Battalions for domestic resilience tasks. This responsibility rotates through units and, as of 23 April 2025, is held by personnel from across the Army including the infantry, cavalry, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. We take resilience tasks to mean operations designed to provide assistance to the civil authorities where there is either a capacity or skillset shortfall, excluding the provision of additional security in the instance of a significant terrorist attack.

Whether there has been any delay to the refitting of HMS Trent.

There has been no delay to HMS TRENT's refit. She started a capability refit in October 2024, which completed in December 2024. This was followed by a Capability Insertion Period, which is now complete. HMS Trent is currently undergoing planned force generation and machinery trials alongside in Malta, before proceeding to sea in mid-May.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 April to Question 43215 on Armed Forces: Recruitment, what his Department's targets are for applications for (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Air Force in the 2025-26 financial year.

The current Government inherited a crisis in recruitment and retention from the last administration. We have made a series of announcements to improve recruitment since July 2024. The Army’s target for applications for all streams (Regular soldier, Regular Officer, Army Reserve soldier and Officer) for Recruiting Year 2025-26 is 198,000 (rounded). Whilst neither the Royal Navy nor Royal Air Force set formal targets for volume of applications, both closely monitor other recruitment metrics including attendance at the various suitability assessments and performance against intake targets. In addition, the RAF has a KPI for achieving a target for Expressions of Interest, set for their marketing contractors. This data is used to hold each Service to account and to forecast progress using known assessment pass rates and overall conversion rate.

What is his target date for the completion of HMS Trent's maintenance period.

There has been no delay to HMS TRENT's refit. She started a capability refit in October 2024, which completed in December 2024. This was followed by a Capability Insertion Period, which is now complete. HMS Trent is currently undergoing planned force generation and machinery trials alongside in Malta, before proceeding to sea in mid-May.

What recent progress his Department has made on the New Medium Helicopter programme.

The New Medium Helicopter (NMH) Programme is an initiative to acquire a modern medium-lift support helicopter, addressing multiple rotary wing requirements to improve efficiency and operational flexibility. The NMH programme is part of a wider holistic approach on the Ministry of Defence's use of rotary wing capability. The tender evaluation remains ongoing and will complete before a commitment decision is made. All capability requirements, including NMH, are being considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review process.

What recent assessment he has made of the progress of the Ground Based Air Defence programme.

The Land Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) programme strives to modernise Defence’s ground-based air defence capabilities in the face of rapidly developing threats and is a high priority for the Army. This includes the development of an integrated layered air defence system comprising countering Small Air Targets, Short and Medium Range Air Defence. The programme is now working towards an Initial Operating Capability of Medium Range Air Defence for warfighting by July 2026. This includes two Surface-to-Air Missile Operations Centres, and two enhanced Wireless Enabled Network sets. By June 2027, a further 800 Thales (Belfast) lightweight multi role missiles (LMM) will also be procured. The programme has begun to deliver Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS) capability for dismounted close combat forces, albeit in relatively low numbers. The focus is now switching to higher level UAS detect and non-kinetic systems, and upgrades to vehicle mounted weapon systems to enable them to engage UAS.

What recent progress his Department has made on the Future Materials Campus programme.

The Future Materials Campus consolidates the delivery of several complex infrastructure projects at AWE Aldermaston. These will renew existing facilities for the manufacture and storage of nuclear materials, provide improved science and analysis capabilities, and invest in new capabilities for nuclear material recovery. The Programme remains in an early phase of its delivery, as reflected by the Amber rating in the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report 2023-24.

Whether there will be equal levels of single service representation for (a) the National Armaments Director Group and (b) its supporting staff.

It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirements and Service representation levels for the new organisational structure created as part of Defence Reform. This will be subject to refinement as planned implementation continues, and in response to operational and policy requirements as they emerge. It is, however, anticipated that the guiding principle of military post rotation within the single Services will continue to apply in the new structure.