Written questions by Cartlidge.

With reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, how much of the £11bn Invest annual budget represents new money.

We will develop a new Defence Investment Plan to deliver the Strategic Defence Review’s vision. We will ensure the Plan is deliverable and affordable, considers infrastructure alongside capabilities, enables flexibility to seize new technology opportunities, and maximises the benefits of defence spending to grow the UK economy. This will supersede the old-style Defence Equipment Plan. This will deliver the best kit and technology into the hands of our front-line forces at speed and, importantly, invest in and grow the UK economy. The Defence Investment Plan will be completed later this year. The plan will highlight how the Government's historic investment in defence will deliver warfighting readiness to deter increasing threats and drive defence as an engine for jobs and growth.

With reference to Annex 1, Clause 2, of the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia [CS Mauritius No.1/2025], what protections are in place to ensure that Mauritius does not pass on information relating to an armed attack to any (a) third parties and (b) other nations.

Article 3(2) of the Treaty states that Mauritius cannot undermine, prejudice or otherwise interfere with the long-term, secure and effective operation of the military base on Diego Garcia, and that Mauritius shall cooperate to that end. This will ensure that military operations are not compromised in any way. In addition, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 June 2025 to Question 57298, any notification to Mauritius will take place after the event and will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information.

With reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, whether the new CyberEM Command will be a distinct entity to the National Cyber Force.

Yes, the Cyber and Electromagnetic Command will be a distinct entity to the National Cyber Force (NCF). It will put the UK at the forefront of cyber operations. The Strategic Defence Review is clear that the new Cyber and EM Command will not affect the NCF’s authorities or how it conducts operations, but it will cohere and oversee cyber operations for Defence.

With reference to page 5 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, who the new National Armaments Director appointed on 1 April 2025 is.

Andy Start is acting National Armaments Director (NAD). He is also the Chief Executive of the Defence Equipment and Support organisation. This is to ensure that the momentum of Defence Reform is sustained while we recruit for a permanent NAD.

Whether he plans to procure a land cruise missile.

The Strategic Defence Review signifies a landmark shift in our deterrence and defence: moving to warfighting readiness to deter threats and strengthen security in the Euro-Atlantic. Through the Strategic Defence Review, the UK’s defence and deterrence is being bolstered with 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons and a new £1.5 billion Government investment in munitions and energetics factories. Complex weapons, of which cruise missiles are one option, are a necessary part of our warfighting and deterrence. The exact laydown of our complex weapons capability mix is confidential, and it would be inappropriate to comment outside of information that will be included in the Defence Investment Plan.

With reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, whether the £15bn investment in the sovereign warhead programme will solely cover the cost of developing the sovereign warhead.

The £15 billion investment in the sovereign warhead programme this Parliament includes sustaining our existing stockpile, developing Astraea; our sovereign replacement warhead programme, and modernising our infrastructure. We will uphold our commitments as a responsible nuclear weapons state.

Whether he plans to hold discussions with local authorities that have voted to divest pension funds from UK defence companies.

The Government is committed to increasing private sector investment in the UK defence sector, recognising its vital role in driving innovation, creating jobs, and enhancing national security. The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommended the Ministry of Defence develop a dedicated financial services strategy by March 2026. We will consult a wide range of stakeholders during the production of this strategy.

What steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to invest pension funds in UK defence companies.

The Government is committed to increasing private sector investment in the UK defence sector, recognising its vital role in driving innovation, creating jobs, and enhancing national security. This commitment was underscored by the Defence Secretary’s speech at the London Stock Exchange on 13 May 2025, the roundtable he chaired with private investors on 2 April, and the establishment of the UK Defence Economic and Growth Taskforce, chaired by the Defence Secretary and the Chancellor.The Strategic Defence Review recommended the Ministry of Defence develop a dedicated financial services strategy by March 2026. We will consult a wide range of stakeholders during the production of this strategy.

When he authorised his Department to issue unredacted hard copies of the Strategic Defence Review for viewing by journalists at 10.30am in Horse Guards on 2 June 2025.

For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.

Whether UK defence companies received briefings on the contents of the Strategic Defence Review prior to 2 June 2025.

For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 56289 on Ministry of Defence: Documents, what time on 18 July 2023 the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence (a) was sent and (b) received from his Department’s messenger service and (c) was permitted access to an embargoed copy of his Department’s policy paper entitled Defence command paper 2023: defence’s response to a more contested and volatile world, published on 18 July 2023.

Officials have been unable to locate information which goes beyond that provided in my answer to the hon. Member's Question (56289).

What estimate he has made of the potential impact of the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia, published on 22 May 2025, on the level of contributions from the United States for the costs of running the military base on Diego Garcia.

The US continues to pay for the operating and maintenance costs of the Naval Support Facility on Diego Garcia. Our initial assessment is that the UK/Mauritius Agreement is unlikely to have any significant impact, in the short-term, on the operating and maintenance costs of the Naval Support Facility on Diego Garcia.

How much the United States contributed to the running cost of the Diego Garcia military base in the most recent financial year for which information is available.

As agreed in the US-UK Exchange of Notes which governs the US use of Diego Garcia, there is no direct payment between the US and the UK for use of the base. The US pays for the operating and maintenance costs of the Naval Support Facility on Diego Garcia.

Whether he has authorised any changes to the proposed timetable for the delivery of the multi-role strike ship since 5 July 2024.

The Multi Role Strike Ship (MRSS) programme is in the Concept Phase. It is funded from the Defence budget to enable the Royal Navy and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) to conduct detailed preparatory work with intent to deliver first of class in 2033. The Programme will submit an Outline Business Case in late 2025 and is working closely with the UK shipbuilding industry and the National Shipbuilding Office to deliver best value for money for the Navy and the Nation.

With reference to recommendation 5 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, when he plans to launch a tender to deliver the Digital Targeting Web.

The Digital Targeting Web is not a single piece of equipment or software with a single supplier, but an ecosystem that will bring together the current disparate multitude of targeting systems and software into a secure and efficiently connected, cross-classification, capability that will enable warfighting at pace and scale across all 5 operational domains on the Digital Backbone. It will easily enable the introduction of emerging and novel technology, improve data-standardisation to enable better data and information sharing so that Defence has a much-improved ability to understand and shape the battlespace. Through the automation of processes, and the more timely provision of targeting data to weapon systems, the DTW will ensure the end-to-end targeting cycle is accelerated to better support commanders and provide UK Defence with a warfighting advantage over our adversaries. There will be no ‘single supplier’ nor tender to deliver the Digital Targeting Web, but a series of accelerators will be spun up to achieve the DTW. The first industry day has been set up for 18 July 2025 where industry can find out more about the approach and potential opportunities.

With reference to Article 10, Clause 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), published on 22 May 2025, whether the annual sum referred to will come solely from his Department's budget.

The funding arrangements for the treaty are subject to the Spending Review, which will be completed on 11 June.

With reference to Article 11, Clause 1 of the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia [CS Mauritius No.1/2025], what the annual sum paid to Mauritius is in cash terms.

The schedule of payments is set out in the finance exchange of letters that was published alongside the treaty. The estimated average annual payment value is £101 million over the initial 99-year period of the treaty. This has been calculated using the standard formula set out in the Green Book that the government uses for all long-term projects. These calculations have been agreed by the Government Actuary’s Department. The full details are in the Explanatory Memorandum laid alongside the Treaty.

With reference to the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, updated on 22 April 2024, what plans he has to prioritise measures to (a) make workers feel valued and (b) encourage workers to remain working in the NHS.

The Government is committed to making the National Health Service the best place to work, to ensure the retention of our hardworking and dedicated staff. We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.NHS England is leading work nationally through its retention programme to drive a consistent, system-wide approach to staff retention across NHS trusts. This ensures trusts have access to proven retention strategies, data-driven monitoring, and can foster a more stable, engaged, productive, and supported workforce.

With reference to Annex 1, Clause 2, of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), published on 22 May 2025, for what reason Mauritius requires advanced notice of any armed attack on a third state emanating from the Base.

As the hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Defence Minister, it is standard practice for basing arrangements to include an agreement to inform a host nation about military action from their territory. Additionally, the UN Charter has a requirement to notify the UN of military action taken in self-defence. Any notification to Mauritius will take place after the event and will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information. The United Kingdom will inform Mauritius through normal diplomatic channels.

With reference to Annex 1, Clause 3, of the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia [CS Mauritius No.1/2025], whether any States, excluding the United States of America, will operate alongside the UK on the Diego Garcia military base.

Annex 1, paragraph 1 of the Treaty confirms that the United Kingdom will have unrestricted ability to control the deployment of any military, civilian and contract personnel to Diego Garcia. Annex 1, paragraph 3 of the Treaty states that for the Chagos Archipelago beyond Diego Garcia, states operating with the UK and US will also have unrestricted rights, save for overflight or undersea access which require prior notification to Mauritius. We will overall retain the ability to collaborate with our allies through the base on Diego Garcia.