Written questions by Shastri-Hurst.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) implement the objectives of Pillar Two of the AUKUS partnership and (b) increase collaboration on (i) artificial intelligence, (ii) quantum technologies, (iii) cyber and (iv) other advanced capabilities.

The UK remains staunchly committed to AUKUS. Working with Australia and the US, we are committed to addressing the most important military challenges each nation faces, delivering cutting-edge capability advantage, and enhancing interoperability. We have set the International Joint Requirements Oversight Council (I-JROC) as the primary body to inform AUKUS Pillar Two’s focus on operational requirements most relevant to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. This allows us to prioritise joint efforts where our capability needs align. The UK works with US and Australian colleagues on a range of capability areas including artificial intelligence & autonomy, quantum, cyber, undersea warfare, electronic warfare, hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, and innovation.

What recent steps his Department has taken to improve the (a) resilience and (b) sustainability of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise; and what estimate he has made of the (i) current and (ii) future workforce requirements to support the nuclear deterrent.

The Government has an unwavering commitment to ensuring the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) is resilient and sustainable through significant investment in our infrastructure, people and places. This includes recapitalising critical elements of our infrastructure, modernising our naval bases and manufacturing processes, and working with industry partners to safeguard the DNE supply chain for the future. Our investment in Barrow-in-Furness, through the Plan for Barrow, recognises its crucial role in supporting and sustaining the DNE. The Nuclear Skills Plan is aiding the growth of the UK defence nuclear workforce to meet the skills demand across the sector, with the DNE workforce set to expand from around 47,600 to around 65,000 by 2030.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UK sanctions against (a) individuals and (b) entities connected to the Russian Federation; and what steps he is taking to ensure robust enforcement of those sanctions (i) domestically and (ii) in coordination with international partners.

Our sanctions have deprived Russia of at least $450 billion since February 2022. The Russian economy is battling high and rising inflation. High interest rates have made Russian government borrowing extremely costly. This Government is committed to ensuring robust sanctions enforcement. To this end, with the support of Ministerial colleagues, I launched the cross-government review of sanctions at the first Small Ministerial Group on enforcement in October. The review concluded in April and Parliament will shortly be updated on the review conclusions. The UK continues to work with our international partners to share best practice on sanctions enforcement and to ensure that a joined-up approach to enforcement is adopted internationally.

What steps the Government is taking to (a) assess and (b) help tackle the potential risk of threats posed by the People's Republic of China on the United Kingdom's (i) national security, (ii) cyber security, (iii) economic influence and (iv) military capabilities.

We have a broad suite of powers available to respond to state threats. This includes measures in the National Security Act 2023 which make the UK a harder target for those states which seek to conduct hostile acts, as well as the National Security and Investment Act 2021 which gives the government powers to scrutinise and intervene in business transactions, where necessary and proportionate, to protect national security.We are taking a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China. We will co-operate where we can; compete where we need to; and challenge where we must, including on issues of national security.

What steps the Government is taking to (a) invest in and (b) develop advanced defence technologies to enhance the United Kingdom's military capabilities; and how these technologies are being integrated into current and future defence strategies.

The Government launched the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) on 16 July 2024 to ensure we have the military capabilities needed to protect the United Kingdom now and in the future. The SDR has been considering all aspects of Defence, including the capabilities required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty-first century. As the Prime Minister reported in his Statement on Defence and Security on 25 February 2025 (columns 631-634) in the House of Commons, the Strategic Defence Review is being finalised and it will be brought to house as soon as it is ready. It will help set the path for Britain's defence for the next decade.

What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on developing a sovereign defence space capability in the United Kingdom; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of this initiative on (a) national security and (b) military operations in space.

The Ministry of Defence is working closely with other Departments to develop sovereign space capabilities, and with our Allies and partners.We use the 'own-access-collaborate' framework to identify where the UK must own sovereign capabilities, access services from the commercial sector, or collaborate with our Allies and partners to secure military capabilities. This is achieved through the SKYNET military satellite communications programme and, most recently, the development of UK sovereign earth observation capabilities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) support humanitarian efforts and (b) promote peace and stability in the Darfur region of Sudan; and what steps he is taking with international partners to help tackle (i) the ongoing conflict and (ii) human rights abuses in the area.

The human cost of the conflict in Sudan is appalling with the warring parties showing a total disregard for human life. The conflict has caused the largest and most severe crisis globally with 64 per cent of the population in urgent need of assistance. The UK is using all levers at its disposal to act. At last month's London Sudan conference, the Foreign Secretary announced a further £120 million in UK funding which will target over 650,000 people with life-saving aid. The UK continues to use its position as the Sudan penholder at the UN Security Council to address civilian suffering and abuses. Last summer, the UK-led resolution 2736 demanded a halt to the Rapid Support Forces' siege of El Fasher and called on warring parties to implement an immediate cessation of hostilities and ensure safe, unimpeded humanitarian access. In November 2024, the Minister for Africa chaired an open Council meeting focused on protection of civilians in Sudan, laying the groundwork for the UK and Sierra Leone's co-led resolution. This resolution was shamefully vetoed by Russia.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to (a) evaluate and (b) mitigate the impact of global health crises on the United Kingdom's (i) national security, (ii) public health, (iii) economic stability, and (iv) military readiness.

The Government recognises the threat global health crises pose for UK national security and prosperity, noting that the threat of another global pandemic is specifically highlighted in the UK National Risk Register. The Government has a multifaceted approach to mitigating this threat which includes multilateral initiatives such as strengthening the World Health Organisation and bilateral initiatives aimed at supporting partner countries and regional institutions to prevent, detect and respond to health threats by building stronger, more resilient health systems.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of alleged war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine; and what steps his Department is taking to support international efforts to (a) investigate and (b) prosecute those responsible.

The UK has been at the forefront of international efforts to ensure Russia is held to account for its actions resulting from the illegal invasion of Ukraine. We led international efforts by 39 International Criminal Court (ICC) State Parties in February 2022 to refer the situation to the ICC, which expedited the opening of the court's investigation into the situation in Ukraine. We have also provided over £11.3 million in funding to support Ukraine's domestic accountability efforts, including the work of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine to ensure allegations of war crimes are fully and fairly investigated, by independent, effective, and robust legal mechanisms. We are also supporting work towards establishing a Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and have played an active role in discussions with Ukraine and close partners to progress this commitment.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of global health crises on fragile states; and what steps he is taking to support these countries in (a) strengthening their healthcare systems and (b) mitigating the risks to stability and security.

The Government recognises that global health crises pose a major threat to the heath, stability, and economic prosperity of fragile states. Working in fragile states is complex and each setting has its own unique challenges, and where possible the UK works with national health systems. The UK is not prescriptive in terms of our approach to health system strengthening in fragile states, but we focus our funding and technical assistance to ensure our investments are coordinated, context-specific, integrated, adaptive and flexible as changes occur over time. A strong health system supports better mental and physical health for everyone, protects people from financial hardship due to the costs of care, and enhances resilience to threats including infectious disease outbreaks that can occur frequently in fragile states.

What steps his Department is taking to support the (a) development and (b) approval of (i) second- and third-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors and (ii) other targeted therapy options for patients with ROS1-positive cancer; and whether his Department has had recent discussions with (A) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and (B) pharmaceutical companies on encouraging clinical trial funding in this area.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that develops recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS based on an assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness. The NICE evaluates all new licensed cancer medicines and aims wherever possible to issue recommendations close to the time of licensing. The NHS in England is legally required to fund treatments recommended by the NICE. The NICE published guidance that recommends the tyrosine kinase inhibitors crizotinib and entrectinib for use in the treatment of people with ROS1 positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer who have not previously been treated with ROS1 inhibitors. These treatments are now routinely funded by the NHS for eligible patients.The Department has had no discussions with the NICE or pharmaceutical companies on encouraging clinical trial funding in this area. The Department is working closely with the NHS, industry, academia, research regulators, and charities to make clinical research in the United Kingdom more efficient, more competitive, and more accessible. We expect these efforts to attract more commercial investment in clinical research and yield a broad and diverse portfolio of clinical trials in the UK, including clinical trials for cancer. The Department funded National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funds research and research infrastructure, which supports patients and the public to participate in high-quality research, including clinical research on cancer. NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority. These investments are pivotal towards efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and outcomes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the ODA budget on the level of support provided by the Government for the (a) investigation and (b) prosecution of (i) war crimes and (ii) other serious international crimes in Ukraine.

The impact of Official Development Assistance cuts on specific programmes is being worked through following the decision but the Prime Minister has reassured that Ukraine will remain a priority. The UK is committed to ensuring Russia is held to account for its actions.

How many people served in the Armed Forces (a) in total and (b) by service between 2003 to 2023.

The requested information is shown in the attached spreadsheet. UK service personnel statistics on strengths, requirements, intake, applications and outflow is published quarterly on GOV.UK here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-index

With reference to his Department's press release entitled New services for patients under record pharmacy funding deal, published on 31 March 2025, what types of mental health support will community pharmacies offer to patients.

The New Medicine Service (NMS) is an advanced service offered by community pharmacies, providing patients with advice to address any possible side effects, issues, or questions that patients who are prescribed a new medicine may have. The service focuses on treatments for long-term conditions, including asthma and hypertension.Early interventions of this type can improve medication adherence, patient outcomes, and can reduce pressure on the wider National Health Service. From October 2025, the NMS will expand to introduce depression as a further therapeutic area for which patients can receive support.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 40738 on Cancer: Health Services, if he will publish the National Cancer Plan before the Spending Review.

The National Cancer Plan for England will be published in the second half of this year, following the publication of the 10-Year Health Plan and the 2025 Spending Review. We will review cancer funding as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40741 on Health Services: Public Consultation, what was the cost to the public purse of (a) travel and (b) accommodation for the 11 working groups supporting the development of the 10-Year Health Plan.

The Department has met the costs of travel and accommodation for a small number of working group members. The total cost to date is £912.25, which is made up of £750.35 of travel expenses, and £162.00 for accommodation.

From what date patients who are prescribed antidepressants will be able to access mental health support from community pharmacies.

The New Medicine Service (NMS) is an advanced service offered by community pharmacies, providing patients with advice to address any possible side effects, issues, or questions that patients who are prescribed a new medicine may have. The service focuses on treatments for long-term conditions, including asthma and hypertension.Early interventions of this type can improve medication adherence, patient outcomes, and can reduce pressure on the wider National Health Service. From October 2025, the NMS will expand to introduce depression as a further therapeutic area for which patients can receive support.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40741 on Health Services: Public Consultation, how much his Department has spent on the Change NHS portal to support the development of the 10-Year Health Plan.

Following an invitation to tender competition process, we appointed Thinks Insight, Kaleidoscope Health and Care, and IPPR to support us in running the engagement exercise for the 10-Year Health Plan. The awarded value of the contract is up to £2,961,595.50, with an option to vary to £3,500,000 in the event that the scope of the contract evolves. This includes running in-person deliberative engagement events with members of the public and health and care staff, further online and in-person engagement activities, the Change NHS online portal, and the analysis of the insight received.The details of this award and redacted contracts can be found on the 10 Year Health Plan Engagement Exercise Contracts Finder on the GOV.UK website. Information regarding the breakdown of the overall costs can be found from page 118 of the contract. However, this information is exempt under section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which exempts from the general duty to release information which would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any entity, including the public authority holding the information.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40741 on Health Services: Public Consultation, how much his Department has spent on in-person engagement activities to inform the development of the 10-Year Health Plan.

Following an invitation to tender competition process, we appointed Thinks Insight, Kaleidoscope Health and Care, and IPPR to support us in running the engagement exercise for the 10-Year Health Plan. The awarded value of the contract is up to £2,961,595.50, with an option to vary to £3,500,000 in the event that the scope of the contract evolves. This includes running in-person deliberative engagement events with members of the public and health and care staff, further online and in-person engagement activities, the Change NHS online portal, and the analysis of the insight received.The details of this award and redacted contracts can be found on the 10 Year Health Plan Engagement Exercise Contracts Finder on the GOV.UK website. Information regarding the breakdown of the overall costs can be found from page 118 of the contract. However, this information is exempt under section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which exempts from the general duty to release information which would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any entity, including the public authority holding the information.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40741 on Health Services: Public Consultation, how many people his Department has recruited to support (a) consultation and (b) engagement on the 10-Year Health Plan.

The Department has not recruited new staff, but has redeployed 14 people from within the organisation, to support both the 10-Year Health Plan consultation and engagement.