Written questions by Holden.

If he will publish a timeline for the introduction of (a) future frigate classes, (b) autonomous systems and drones, and (c) AUKUS-related submarine capabilities; and if he will set out which of these will be available before 2030.

Future capability plans for the Royal Navy are being considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan. However, the first of the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates are scheduled to be ready for operations by the end of the decade, with further uncrewed and autonomous systems scheduled to be introduced over the next five years. By 2030, AUKUS partners will establish a rotational SSN presence in Australia, embed advanced technologies through Pillar II, and build industrial and workforce capacity.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of recent changes to the UK’s amphibious capability, including a) the decommissioning or reduced availability of amphibious platforms, b) the effect on the UK’s ability to conduct independent or NATO amphibious operations, and c) any change in doctrine arising from these reductions on the UK's military capabilities.

The Royal Marines and UK Commando Forces (UKCF) are being transformed through the Littoral Strike/Commando Force programme which is tailored to UK and NATO requirements. The decommissioning of amphibious platforms reflects a planned transition towards a new generation of amphibious capabilities. Our focus is on delivering these new capabilities which are currently being considered through the Defence Investment Plan, and we do not anticipate any impact on the planned operational programme of UKCF during this time. The UK retains the ability to conduct independent operations and our commitment to NATO remains unchanged. Recent adjustments to amphibious capability have not altered the UK's doctrinal commitment to amphibious operations.

Whether his Department plans to rule out the future (a) leasing and (b) purchase of electric vehicles manufactured by Chinese companies.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes the security of defence assets very seriously, and is working with other government departments to understand and mitigate any potential threats to national security from vehicles. Our policies and procedures take account of the potential threats from all types of vehicles, not just electric vehicles or those manufactured in China, and we are working across MOD to ensure risks are appropriately managed in accordance with the needs of different communities. We do not give details of restrictions and controls as to do so could benefit potential adversaries.

How many electric vehicles (a) manufactured by Chinese companies and (b) containing Chinese-made critical components are in use across the defence estate.

This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

How much (a) their Department and (b) its arm’s length bodies have spent on (i) installing electric vehicle charging facilities and (ii) purchasing electric vehicles since 4 July 2024; and what estimate their Department has made of the difference in capital cost between (A) the electric vehicles purchased by their Department and (B) comparable (1) petrol and (2) diesel models.

Information on the amount spent on installing electric vehicle facilities on Ministry of Defence sites since 4 July 2024 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.Since 4 July 2024, the Department and its arm’s length bodies have spent £52,435 (VAT ex) on the purchase of electric vehicles.The Department has not made an estimate of the difference in capital cost between the electric vehicles purchased and comparable petrol or diesel models.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2025 to Question 31166 on Ministers: Aviation, how much air passenger duty has been paid for Prime Ministerial domestic travel on RAF-provided flights since 4 July 2024.

During the period 4 July 2024 to present there have been a total of seven domestic tasks for which the Prime Minister (PM) was identified as the principal passenger. The total of Air Passenger Duty (APD) paid for all passengers on those flights is £14,358. Information is not held regarding the identity of individual passengers, but on the assumption that the PM was present for all legs that involved passenger movements, the total APD for the PM in this period was £1,578.

What criteria are used for Ministers to fly on RAF Envoy for domestic flights.

Defence Ministers working within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are counted alongside entitled military personnel for Envoy use, thereafter the Secretary of State for Defence authorises Senior Ministers occasional use of the RAF CSAT aircraft, in fulfilment of their duties, when those aircraft are not committed to MOD tasks.User priority decisions are made in coordination with Air Command and the MOD Defence Single Tasking Authority as required.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56739 on Strategic Defence Review, whether the embargoed defence review document was classified as (a) market-sensitive and (b) in scope of the UK Market Abuse Regulation.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) contains only strategic recommendations to Government. It does not contain any specific new contract details for any company. As the Government has now confirmed a number of times, at no point did stakeholders receive any commercially sensitive information ahead of publication. The SDR was not classified as market sensitive or in scope of the UK Market Abuse Regulation.

With reference to Ministry of Defence: Ministers’ Hospitality - May 2025, published on 26 June 2025, for what reason the Rt Hon Member for Liverpool Garston received lunches offered by Babcock on (a) 26 May, (b) 27 May and (c) 30 May 2025.

To maximise the value of my time on overseas visits, I will sometimes join working lunches with industry to discuss their live export campaigns and priorities. The dates referenced cover a period where I was in New Zealand and Australia to further Defence priorities in the region. I attended a working lunch with Babcock at their office in Auckland on 26 May to discuss a live export campaign to New Zealand. I did not attend a lunch with Babcock on 27 May. This was a reporting error in my transparency returns. I attended a working lunch with Babcock at their office in Perth, Australia on 30 May, to discuss their partnership with the Australian Submarine Delivery Agency.

What the annual operating costs are of the (a) RAF Envoy IV with registrations (i) G-ZAHS and (ii) G-ZABH, (b) VIP Voyager with registration ZZ336 and (c) Airbus A321-Neo with registration G-GBNI.

The Envoy aircraft operating costs are currently £4.4 million per year, contracted through Centreline Av Ltd. The operating costs of Voyager ZZ336 in its secondary role of VIP use are not separately recorded within the wider 27-Year AirTanker contract for the Voyager fleet's primary role of Air-to-Air Refuelling and military Air Transport. The Airbus A321-Neo aircraft, registration G-GBNI is leased by the Cabinet Office not the Ministry of Defence.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39690 on Military Aircraft: Ministers, how many tasks have there been relating to Ministers travelling on all RAF planes since 4 July 2024.

Since the 4 July 2024, there have been a total of 43 tasks completed in support of Ministers travel, across the RAF Command Support Air Transport fleets.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39690 on Military Aircraft: Ministers, what is the definition of a task; and whether this involves a one-way or return journey.

A task can include multiple legs between the point of departure and the final destination.

Whether his Department has issued guidance to senior members of the armed forces on speaking at (a) conferences and (b) panels where (i) Ministers and (ii) media are present since July 2024.

The Ministry of Defence's guidance on contact with the media and public communication was last updated on 6 February 2025.

How much air passenger duty was paid for ministerial domestic travel on RAF-provided flights between 4 July 2024 and 31 March 2025.

The total amount of Air Passenger Duty paid for Ministers who travelled on the RAF Envoy, on domestic flights, between 4 July 2024 and 31 March 2025 is £1,950.

Whether his Department is taking steps to further develop the Trinity House Agreement.

Since the signing of the landmark Trinity House Agreement, the Ministry of Defence has worked with our German counterparts to take the first steps towards turning the words of the text into real, practical co-operation. The Secretary of State met with Minister Pistorius on 15 May 2025 to hold the first Defence Ministerial Council under the agreement; detail on progress was set out in a Joint Statement, available on GOV.UK entitled ‘Joint statement on UK-Germany Trinity House Agreement progress - 15 May 2025’. My Right Hon Friend the Foreign Secretary is also driving forward a new bilateral Treaty with Germany, building on the success of the Trinity House Agreement. Due to be signed later this year, this new Treaty will underline the full breadth of the partnership between our countries.

If he will publish the (a) media grid and (b) media plan for the Government response to the Strategic Defence Review 2025.

Communications plans and products were drafted and issued in line with standard procedures. On Monday 2 June 2025, Ministers conducted 21 interviews with 16 outlets.

Which aircraft from the RAF Command Support Aircraft Fleet are available for ministerial visits from across government; and what the call-signs are of each aircraft.

The Ministry of Defence provides two Envoy aircraft, for Ministerial visits from across Government. I am not prepared to release the details of the call-signs for security reasons.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45917 on Armed Forces: Equality, if he will publish the training manuals and documentation prepared for each of those courses provided by the Defence Academy.

No. The course material is subject to Crown copyright. There are many companies that deliver ED&I training who could financially benefit from copying our course material.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13435 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, whether there are non-routine circumstances in which (a) Ministers, (b) senior officials and (c) senior members of the armed forces remain eligible to use military helicopters for official travel.

Ministry of Defence policy allows for senior leader use of military helicopters in emergency circumstances, linked to matters of immediate national security only.

How many RAF Envoy IV flights have been provided to (a) the Prime Minister and (b) other Ministers for domestic travel since 4 July 2025.

It has been the practice of successive administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of Ministers and those accompanying them within the United Kingdom. Information about official overseas travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website.