Written questions by Cartlidge.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of General Data Protection Regulations on the training of armed forces personnel to use uncrewed systems.

The Department has policies and procedures in place to ensure that all its processes are compliant under Data Protection legislation and Ministry of Defence personnel are mandated to complete data protection training on an annual basis. This was most recently reviewed and updated in 2024. There have been no specific reports of GDPR restrictions affecting activities. Training regularly features drones as part of exercises. We are constantly experimenting with and embracing innovative technology, including in drone warfare.

What information his Department holds on the number of UK companies that have applied to join the AUKUS Authorised User Community exemption from the US International Traffic in Arms regulations.

So far, 269 entities have applied to join the AUKUS Authorised User Community exemption from the US International Traffic in Arms regulations.

Whether his Department plans to take steps to increase the uptake of UK companies applying to join the AUKUS Authorised User Community.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is always seeking opportunities to encourage membership of the Authorised User Community (AUC) and has actively engaged in a wide range of outreach activities with industry. These outreach activities have included participating in webinars and in person workshops through the trade association ADS Group and related trade associations in the US and Australia, to increase awareness, as well as attending various export control events. These activities have been undertaken by the UK both individually and in collaboration with Australian and US counterparts, with multiple in person tri-partite briefings being held in each of the three countries. The most recent event supported by the MOD was a Webinar arranged by ADS Group entitled 'Update and Discussions on the Authorised User Community under AUKUS' at which over 250 companies registered to attend. The MOD will also be attending major trade shows such as DSEi, where this year there is an AUKUS pavilion.

How many US companies have been approved by the US Government to join the AUKUS Authorised User Community.

The Ministry of Defence does not have access to information on how many US companies are members of the US Authorised User Community (AUC). US companies are deemed to be members of the US AUC if they have registered with the Directorate of Defence Trade Controls (DDTC), the body responsible for overseeing the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). DDTC does not provide this information to either the UK or Australia but, as a guide, any US company which has exported military end use items out of the US will be registered with DDTC. The numbers could therefore be in the thousands.

With reference to the Written Statement of 6 May 2025 on Veterans Support, HCWS619, whether VALOUR services will offer legal advice for veterans subject to judicial proceedings arising from service on Operation Banner.

As a part of our ongoing commitment to veterans involved in Northern Ireland legal processes, the Ministry of Defence provides welfare support and where appropriate, legal support, at public expense.

With reference to the Written Statement of 6 May 2025 on Veterans Support: A New Approach, HCWS619, if the regional field officers will be (a) service personnel, (b) veterans, (c) civil servants and (d) recruited from elsewhere.

VALOUR is a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. A new VALOUR HQ within the Ministry of Defence, a network of field officers, regional VALOUR-recognised support centres, and development funding to support local delivery will be established, overseen by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. VALOUR will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities, better connect local and national services and ensure veterans’ support is data driven. With new funding for veterans from the Ministry of Defence budget, the detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR will be designed in collaboration with relevant partners and further details will be announced in due course.

With reference to the Written Statement of 6 May 2025 on Veterans Support, HCWS619, what the regional breakdown will be of Regional Field Officers.

VALOUR is a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. A new VALOUR HQ within the Ministry of Defence, a network of field officers, regional VALOUR-recognised support centres, and development funding to support local delivery will be established, overseen by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. VALOUR will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities, better connect local and national services and ensure veterans’ support is data driven. With new funding for veterans from the Ministry of Defence budget, the detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR will be designed in collaboration with relevant partners and further details will be announced in due course.

With reference to the Written Statement of 6 May 2025 on Veterans Support: A New Approach, HCWS619, whether the £50 million funding is in addition to the previously announced funding for defence made by the Prime Minister in his Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, columns 631-634.

VALOUR is a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. A new VALOUR HQ within the Ministry of Defence, a network of field officers, regional VALOUR-recognised support centres, and development funding to support local delivery will be established, overseen by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. VALOUR will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities, better connect local and national services and ensure veterans’ support is data driven. With new funding for veterans from the Ministry of Defence budget, the detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR will be designed in collaboration with relevant partners and further details will be announced in due course.

With reference to the Written Statement of 6 May 2025 on Veterans Support, HCWS619, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of this announcement on Op COURAGE.

VALOUR is a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. A new VALOUR HQ within the Ministry of Defence, a network of field officers, regional VALOUR-recognised support centres, and development funding to support local delivery will be established, overseen by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. VALOUR will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities, better connect local and national services and ensure veterans’ support is data driven. VALOUR will ensure that services such as Op COURAGE are connected with others so that veterans receive the support they require.

With reference to the Written Statement of 6 May 2025, HCWS619, on Veterans Support, whether VALOUR will be administered by the Office for Veterans Affairs.

VALOUR is a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. A new VALOUR HQ within the Ministry of Defence, a network of field officers, regional VALOUR-recognised support centres, and development funding to support local delivery will be established, overseen by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. VALOUR will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities, better connect local and national services and ensure veterans’ support is data driven. With new funding for veterans from the Ministry of Defence budget, the detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR will be designed in collaboration with relevant partners and further details will be announced in due course.

With reference to the Written Statement of 6 May 2025 on Veterans Support, HCWS619, what impact will VALOUR have on Veterans’ Advisory and Pensions Committees.

VALOUR is a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. A new VALOUR HQ within the Ministry of Defence, a network of field officers, regional VALOUR-recognised support centres, and development funding to support local delivery will be established, overseen by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. VALOUR will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities, better connect local and national services and ensure veterans’ support is data driven. With new funding for veterans from the Ministry of Defence budget, the detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR will be designed in collaboration with relevant partners and further details will be announced in due course.

With reference to the Written Statement of 6 May 2025, HCWS619, on Veterans Support, what the administrative cost is for implementing VALOUR.

VALOUR is a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. A new VALOUR HQ within the Ministry of Defence, a network of field officers, regional VALOUR-recognised support centres, and development funding to support local delivery will be established, overseen by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. VALOUR will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities, better connect local and national services and ensure veterans’ support is data driven. With new funding for veterans from the Ministry of Defence budget, the detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR will be designed in collaboration with relevant partners and further details will be announced in due course.

When he plans to publish his Department's next Equipment Plan.

The Government is committed to sharing more detail of the Ministry of Defence's future investment choices following the Strategic Defence Review. The format this takes is being assessed in light of both Defence Reform and the upcoming Strategic Defence Review publication. As the Permanent Secretary set out in his letter of 12 March 2025to the Chairs of the Public Accounts Committee and Defence Select Committee, one of the options under consideration is reporting on defence investment more widely, rather than continue with the Equipment Plan in its previous format.

What steps her Department plans to take to help increase conviction rates for violence against women in rural areas.

We have set out an unprecedented mission to halve the level of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade. That means working across Government to tackle threats to women's safety in all areas of their lives and across the country, including in rural areas. We will set out concrete measures to halving VAWG in a new cross-Government VAWG strategy, which we are aiming to publish before summer recess. We are working closely with the Ministry of Justice and other partners as part of improving the criminal justice response to VAWG.Our new National Policing Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, in which we are investing £13.1 million, will seek to drive national coordination and improvement in forces response to VAWG crimes. This includes delivering our manifesto commitment for strengthened specialist training for officers across all areas of the country to ensure that they offer consistent protection for victims and relentlessly pursue perpetrators.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 April to Question 47759 on Ukraine: Puma Helicopters, whether his Department has received any requests for rotary capability from the Ukrainian Government.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 April 2025 to Question 47759. We continue to liaise closely with Ukraine to deliver the capabilities they require to resist Russian aggression. This includes all relevant capabilities on Land, Sea and in the Air.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding Project ASGARD.

The potential merits of expanding Project ASGARD are continually assessed by the Department. Over time, ASGARD will deliver a suite of benefits across the Field Army. At this stage in the project, the capabilities are being operated by a single Brigade. At the midpoint of the current Project ASGARD delivery phase, an independent review was commissioned to assess progress. The recommendations from that review were adopted in full and are being implemented. Upon completion of the current delivery phase, a formal lesson identification and capture process will be conducted, in line with best practice guidance from the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.

Whether he plans to procure the MQ-28 Ghost Bat for use by the Royal Navy.

The Royal Navy is exploring how Fixed Wing Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (FW ACPs) could augment F35B Lightning embarked in Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) carriers to provide additional strike capability. There are a number of emerging solutions for this capability and the Royal Navy will work collaboratively with the Royal Air Force to evaluate these solutions.

Whether his Department has decided whether to procure additional F-35 fighter jets.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty) on 28 April 2025 to Question 45186.

What the out of service date is for the Viking Personnel Armoured Vehicle.

The current projected Out of Service Dates (OSD) for the requested British Army vehicles can be found in the table below. VehicleOSDBulldog Armoured Personnel Carrier2030Warrior IFV2027Viking Personnel Armoured Vehicle2029Jackal 2 Reconnaissance Vehicle2030

What recent progress he has made on procuring a ground-based ballistic missile defence radar.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) is looking at the threats we face and the capabilities we need to meet the challenges, threats and opportunity of the 21st century. The SDR will ensure the UK is secure at home and strong abroad.