theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Kate Osamor:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report by Independent Age entitled Too Little Too Late, published on 15 May 2025. \p Torsten Bell: The Government is absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. From the end of this Parliament, as a result of our commitment to protect the Triple Lock, spending on State Pensions is forecast to be around £34 billion more a year, compared with 2024/25. This will see pensioners’ yearly incomes rising by up to £2,100.

We have revived the Pensions Commission which will consider the broader questions of adequacy, fairness, and sustainability to guide the long-term future of our pensions system. Amongst other things, the Commission will look at how to improve retirement outcomes, especially for those on the lowest incomes and at the greatest risk of poverty or under-saving.

Maximising the take-up of Pension Credit remains a key priority. That is why we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign, promoting Pension Credit to eligible pensioners and their family and friends. And we are making better use of data to directly target potentially eligible households. Since February, all new Housing Benefit claimants who may be eligible have been invited to apply for Pension Credit. Looking ahead, aligning the administration of Pension Credit with pensioner Housing Benefit will help ensure that more pensioners receive the financial support they are entitled to.

The Department keeps policies and processes under regular review, including monitoring poverty through annual statistics and research into retirement planning, as well as considering the contributions of stakeholders such as the reports by Independent Age and others.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the value of benefit expenditure paid to non-UK nationals in the last financial year by benefit type. \p Andrew Western: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish an annual breakdown of benefit fraud and error by nationality and immigration status of the claimant. \p Andrew Western: The Monetary Value of Fraud and Error Statistics are not disaggregated by nationality and immigration status.
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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total number of calls (a) answered (b) abandoned was for each public helpline number provided by his Department and its executive agencies for each year from 2015 to date. \p Andrew Western: The information requested is not held centrally. To provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, updated on 20 November 2025, when his department plans to launch the consultation on refugees' access to benefits. \p Andrew Western: The Government has committed to a consultation on changes to taxpayer-funded benefits to prioritise access for those who are making an economic contribution to the UK. Further details about the consultation, including the timelines, will be announced in due course.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-UK nationals are in receipt of (a) Universal Credit, (b) legacy working-age benefits and (c) child-related benefits by nationality. \p Andrew Western: The Department publishes Universal Credit (UC) immigration status and nationality statistics as part of the Universal Credit statistics publication. These statistics can be found on https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-statistics-29-april-2013-to-9-october-2025. The number of people on Universal Credit who are non – Common Travel Area nationals, for each month from April 2022 to October 2025, is in Table 1 of the following data tables: Universal Credit immigration status and nationality statistics to October 2025.

The information requested for parts (b) and (c) are not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when will the Health & Safety Executive publish next steps and its formal response to the consultation it conducted on proposals for changing GB CLP and GB BPR; and whether it plans to publish draft legislative proposals to enact some of the proposals using powers under the Retained EU Law Act. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) response to the Chemicals Legislative Reform Proposals consultation, which took place from 23 June 2025 to 18 August 2025, is expected to be published in early 2026 subject to Ministerial approval.

The consultation set out HSE’s proposals to reform three pieces of chemicals legislation: Great Britain Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR); Great Britain Classification, Labelling and Packaging (GB CLP); and Great Britain Prior Informed Consent for the export and import of hazardous chemicals (GB PIC).

The approach to chemicals reforms and policy will be set out in full in the consultation response alongside how HSE plans to legislate to implement any changes. This will include consideration of using the powers in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a new frequency trial being is being implemented in Jobcentres under which claimants including young people aged (i) under 24, (ii) under 30 and (iii) those with neurodivergent conditions are receiving less frequent job search appointments and reduced employment support. \p Dame Diana Johnson: I refer the Rt. Hon. member to the answer I gave on 23 October to PQ 82987.
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Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) transparency and (b) openness on the the decision-making processes of the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We recognise the high levels of interest in the Timms Review and are committed to continued transparency and evaluation, listening, learning and adapting as this work continues.

The Review will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders, to ensure that expertise from a wide range of perspectives is drawn upon. This means the Government will share ownership and responsibility for the Review and what it recommends.

On 30 October, I announced that the Review will be co-chaired by myself alongside Sharon Brennan and Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE. We will oversee a steering group responsible for leading the co-production process, setting the Review’s strategic direction, priorities and workplan. The group will be made up of a majority of disabled people or representatives of disabled people’s organisations and will be recruited through an open and transparent Expression of Interest (EOI) process. The EOI is now live and will run until 30 November. The group will consider how best to engage with the widespread interest in its work.

The Review will report to the Secretary of State for final decisions in autumn 2026, with an interim update expected ahead of that.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate her Department has made of the potential contribution of independent museums to local economic growth. \p Ian Murray: Drawing on external analysis, the Department considers independent museums as key to local economic growth. Museums form an integral part of the Creative Industries, driving innovation across the economy. By animating high streets and communities through their public programmes, museums draw tourists and employers to regions across the country, with many ranking amongst the most visited attractions in the UK.

Independent museums make up over half the sector, and the Association of Independent Museums estimates that independent museums across the UK made an overall economic contribution of £838.7 million in 2023, supporting 17,900 jobs. The Annual Museum Survey 2025 produced by the Arts Council England funded Museum Development Network, estimates the combined economic impact of Independent, Local Authority, and University museums in England at over £1.1 billion annually.
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Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the eligibility of the Museum Renewal Fund to include independent museums. \p Ian Murray: The Museum Renewal Fund is an urgent intervention this financial year to provide time-limited support for museums with a local authority link. The Fund, delivered by Arts Council England, provided targeted support for museums and focused on supporting the financial resilience of museums caring predominantly for publicly-owned Collections, responding to a clear ask by the entire museums sector. It is now closed to applicants and the 75 recipients were announced in October 2025.

DCMS provides a range of support for ACE-Accredited museums of all types, through Capital funds including the Museum Estate and Development Fund and the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, and tax incentives like the Museums and Galleries Exhibitions Tax Relief, and Museum VAT Refund Scheme.
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Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will consider the potential merits of introducing a statutory definition of civic museums to include independent museums. \p Ian Murray: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has no statutory definition for ‘civic museums’ as this is a label originating within the museums sector, which museums may choose to self-identify under. DCMS is advised by Arts Council England on the categorisation of museums: its policies for the sector and eligibility for support schemes are carefully designed to take into account the breadth of operating and governance models across the sector, as well as respond to new and emerging needs, including those faced by independent museums. There are no current plans to introduce a statutory definition of the term.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much the Charity Commission has spent on translation and interpretation services in each of the last five years. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Charity Commission’s total spend on translation and interpretation services in each of the last five years is detailed in the below table:

Year

Spend (£)

2024/25

31,219.52

2023/24

35,879.83

2022/23

34,318.51

2021/22

15,016.08

2020/21

10,129.45
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential benefits for her policies on tourism of appointing a full-time Tourism Minister focused exclusively on tourism. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government has a Minister responsible for Tourism, within a portfolio that also includes Sport, Civil Society and Youth. As ambitions to promote growth and improve the productivity of the tourism sector are reliant on a cross-government approach, DCMS works collaboratively with other government departments. This collaboration facilitates wider discussions to find solutions that help support the Visitor Economy, which in turn can help support the objectives of other departments and cross-government interests on foundational matters such as spreading opportunity, creating jobs and growth across all parts of the UK.

DCMS is supported by the joint industry and government-led Visitor Economy Advisory Council. The Council aims to act as a candid sounding board and challenge function for Government policy decisions. It is also supporting the Government in delivering the Visitor Economy Growth Plan which will set out a long term plan to increase visitor flows across the UK, boost value, and deliver sustainable growth.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support is being provided to heritage sites affected by severe weather and coastal erosion. \p Ian Murray: Support is being provided to heritage sites affected by severe weather and coastal erosion through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Arms Length Bodies, Historic England (HE) and the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).

In recent years, HE has worked with local authorities and other partners to assess a range of heritage assets at risk from coastal erosion, including Sandsfoot Castle in Dorset, Sandwich Bay in Kent, and Seaford Head in Sussex. These investigations are intended to better understand the significance of and risk to heritage assets from coastal erosion to inform asset owners, local authority and managers when taking their decisions about conservation. They have recently begun projects, such as ‘A Matter of Time & Tide’ which will quantify the number of Scheduled Monuments that are currently or likely to become at risk from coastal erosion and on what timeframe.

The NLHF has funded over 25 projects concerning heritage impacted by severe weather and coastal erosion. This includes a 2023 grant of £226,372 to the project ‘Facing the Cliff: The Race to Uncover and Share the Folkestone Villa at East Wear Bay’, which is an archeological project to excavate this significant site before it is lost due to coastal erosion. They also provided a 2021 grant of £295,904 to ‘The Compass Point Project’, which involved dismantling, moving, and reconstructing a 1835 Grade II Storm Tower in danger of falling into the sea.
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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how community sports teams can become youth hubs; and how they can access funding for community sports facilities. \p Stephanie Peacock: Sports facilities provide important community hubs for people of all ages to be active and connect people to the places in which they live.

On 20 June 2025, the Culture Secretary announced that following the Spending Review, £400 million is going to be invested into new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities in communities right across the UK, supporting the Government's Plan for Change. We are now working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs, including for children and young people, and will then set out further plans.

DCMS funding for youth spaces is delivered through the Better Youth Spaces (BYS) fund. This is £30.5 million of capital funding for small scale capital equipment to help youth organisations to better support the young people they work with across England.

DCMS also has responsibility for Young Futures Hubs. The first eight of 50 hubs will be operational by the end of this financial year, with a remaining 42 to be established where they will have the most impact by March 2029.
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Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Charity Commission on regulatory compliance cases into (a) Dar Alhekma and (b) the Abrar Islamic Foundation. \p Stephanie Peacock: Ministers and officials regularly meet with the Charity Commission to discuss a range of issues relating to charity regulation. As the Charity Commission is independent from the Government in its regulatory decision making, it will be for the Charity Commission to assess these matters further.

The Charity Commission has live regulatory compliance cases into Dar Alhekma Trust and Abrar Islamic Foundation. These cases were temporarily paused at the request of the Metropolitan Police Service, to avoid prejudicing the police’s assessment of the concerns raised. The Charity Commission is now engaging with the trustees of both charities to assess the allegations.
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Dr Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her department has made of the potential merits of distributing grassroots sports funding through local authorities for leisure centres and swimming pools. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to sports facilities, including leisure centres and swimming pools, which are vital spaces for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy, and which play an important role within communities right across the country.

The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level, and the Government encourages local authorities to make investments which offer the right opportunities and facilities for the communities they serve.

In June, the Government announced that £400 million will be invested in new and upgraded grassroots sports facilities over the next four years. We want to ensure that our future funding plans take a place-based approach, and we are working in collaboration with local authorities and the sports sector to understand the demand for facilities in each area of the UK. Plans for future funding programmes will be confirmed in due course. This funding is on top of the £250 million that our arm’s length body, Sport England invests every year in grassroots sport in England.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with stakeholders on improving access to all weather football pitches in South Holland and the Deepings constituency. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government’s recent announcement of £400 million to be invested in grassroots sports facilities across the UK over the next four years will ensure we can continue to deliver high-quality grass, artificial grass pitches and other multi-sport facilities in the areas that require them, in order to increase participation and allow people to be active.

Following this announcement, we have been working in collaboration with the sports sector and local leaders to develop plans for delivering future funding.

We want to ensure these plans take a place-based approach to investment, using regional expertise across the country to deliver in line with demand in each area. Plans for future funding programmes will be confirmed in due course.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding her Department plans to provide to (a) tennis and (b) padel in each year until 2028. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. We are now working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other sports, to discuss this.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport in England through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit as many people as possible.
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Bob Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding will be provided to (a) tennis and (b) padel up to 2028. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. We are now working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other sports, to discuss this.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport in England through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit as many people as possible.
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Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the value for money of funding distributed by the Arts Council England. \p Ian Murray: The government ensures value for money from Arts Council England (ACE) funding by holding it accountable through performance reporting, financial controls, and grant-management standards set by DCMS. ACE also reports against key performance indicators and strategic outcomes in its annual report.

The government has also strengthened performance measurement by developing long-term impact indicators, including a participation survey, to measure the outcomes of funded arts activity. Alongside this, through the Culture Heritage Capital programme, DCMS and its arms length bodies are developing new methodology and guidance to measure the value for money of investment in culture. In December 2024 DCMS published Embedding a Culture and Heritage Capital Approach, which set out the ambitions for the programme.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress her Department has made on expanding access to youth cultural programmes in areas with historically low participation. \p Ian Murray: The Government has taken a number of steps to expand youth access to cultural programmes in under-served areas.

Arts Council England (ACE) is targeting 54 areas in England where cultural engagement and investment have been historically low through its Priority Places programme. All 54 areas include Music Hub provision which provide engagement aimed at young people; and some of the national portfolio organisations operating in Priority Places are entirely focused on children and young people, such as the BookTrust, the UK's largest reading charity which reaches millions of children each year. In 2024/25 ACE invested almost £27 million through National Lottery Project Grants to Priority Places.

The Arts Everywhere Fund, announced earlier this year, has also committed £3.2 million in funding for four cultural education programmes for the 2025/26 financial year to preserve increased access to arts for children and young people through the Museums and Schools Programme, Heritage Schools Programme, Art & Design National Saturday Clubs and BFI Film Academy.

In November, we published the Government’s response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review, which will ensure that a high-quality arts education is an essential part of the broad and rich education every child deserves. We will revitalise arts education through a reformed curriculum and support for teachers. In September 2026 we will launch the new National Centre for Arts and Music Education, which will improve access and opportunity for children and young people, strengthening collaboration between schools and industry.

In addition, £132.5 million of dormant assets funding will be allocated to support the provision of services, facilities or opportunities to meet the needs of young people. £117.5m of this has been allocated to increase disadvantaged young people’s access to enrichment opportunities in the arts, culture, sports and wider youth services, aimed at improving wellbeing and employability.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support regional theatres with operational costs. \p Ian Murray: The Government recognises the vital role that the arts, including regional theatre, play for people and communities in all parts of this country, and delivers funding to theatres primarily through Arts Council England (ACE).

ACE’s National Portfolio Organisations, including theatres, can use some of their annual funding to cover operational costs like staffing as long as those costs are justified in the budget and align with ACE’s funding agreement. In addition, ACE’s National Lottery Project Grants (NLPG) also allows some contribution to overheads, but has to be tied to the particular project that the funding has been awarded for. Nearly £14.5 million was awarded to theatres outside the capital through the NLPG programme in 2024/25.
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Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessments her Department has made of the potential impact that access to youth services and after-school clubs has on levels of vandalism and antisocial behaviour among under-18s in North East Hampshire. \p Stephanie Peacock: Tackling anti-social behaviour and the harm it causes is a top priority for this Government.

DCMS-funded statistical analysis shows that a year after a drop in local authority expenditure on youth services, areas see increased incidences of some types of antisocial behaviour.

We are co-producing a National Youth Strategy which will set out a new long-term vision for young people, and an action plan for delivering this. We aim to publish the Strategy later this year.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the transcript of his speech entitled Defence Secretary speech on threats to the UK, published on 19 November 2025, how many of the 1,000 signed contracts are valued at (a) below £1 million, (b) between £1 million to £10 million, (c) between £10 million to £100 million, (d) between £100 million to £500 million and (e) above £500 million. \p Luke Pollard: The information requested is outlined in the table below.

Contracts by value:

Under £1million (M)

Nil – original data was for contracts £1M or over

£1M - £10M

744

£10 - £100M

177

£100M - £500M

26

Above £500M

6
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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to make a decision on the future of the Submarine Dismantling Programme. \p Luke Pollard: The demonstrator submarine, Swiftsure, continues to be dismantled as part of the Submarine Dismantling Project. Working with Babcock, we remain committed to dismantling the platform by the end of 2026. Following Swiftsure, there are six further legacy submarines in Rosyth awaiting to enter the dismantling process.

Realisation of an enduring disposal capability to ensure the safe and secure disposal of the UK’s future decommissioned submarines will be delivered through the Department’s Submarine Disposal Capability Project. The project is currently in its concept phase and the Department is assessing options for the capability and its location with various sites under consideration within the UK. A decision will be communicated to Parliament at the appropriate time.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has held recent discussions with the Cabinet Office on the Home Defence Programme. \p Al Carns: The Secretary of State for Defence has regular discussions with the Cabinet Office colleagues on a range of issues, including national security and resilience.

As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, Defence has an integral role in the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme. The Ministry of Defence is therefore working closely with the Cabinet Office across all appropriate levelsto ensure alignment between civil and military planning for some of the most serious risks we face.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out recent amendments he has made to the Royal Navy's rules of engagement. \p Al Carns: The Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence continuously assess our Rules of Engagement to ensure our Armed Forces can act appropriately against malign activities and future threats. For reasons of national security, I am not able to disclose specific detail on Rules of Engagement.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with his US counterpart on a peace deal in Ukraine. \p Al Carns: We welcome the significant efforts from both President Trump and President Zelenskyy to make progress on a peace deal and the constructive engagement in Geneva over the weekend towards securing a just and lasting peace.

The UK alongside our European allies have supported those discussions and continue to work closely with the US and Ukraine.

While diplomatic efforts continue, we will stand steadfast with Ukraine to keep it in the fight and ensure the Ukrainian people can defend themselves from the ongoing barbaric Russian attacks.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to protect British waters from infiltration by the Russian spy vessel Yantar. \p Al Carns: The Royal Navy constantly monitors threats to UK waters, and we are ready and willing to respond if required. The YANTAR’s most recent incursion into British waters was met with a robust response, using capabilities from across the full spectrum of Defence.

The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force deployed HMS SOMERSET and RAF P-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft to monitor the YANTAR’s every move within the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In addition, the Defence Secretary took steps to alter and enhance the Royal Navy’s posture to ensure we can better track and respond to threats from YANTAR or any other spy ship.

As the Strategic Defence Review underlined, the protection of Critical Underwater Infrastructure is a priority for Defence. We have invested in new capabilities to ensure our Critical Underwater Infrastructure remains resilient, such as the Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance (MROS) programme, which includes RFA PROTEUS. We also will continue to invest in our international partnerships and alliances, including NATO, to coordinate surveillance of the threat, expose those who seek to threaten us and hold them accountable.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_164

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the transcript of his speech entitled Defence Secretary speech on threats to the UK, published on 19 November 2025, if he will provide a list of the British firms that were awarded contracts out of the 1,000 major contracts. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Department is withholding the information as full disclosure of all the contract details may prejudice commercial interests and national security.

The Department has provided a list of British companies that were awarded contracts out of the 1,000 major contracts. These suppliers can be found in the attachment provided.

93963 - List of contracts (pdf, 112.8KB)
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_165
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_165

Mims Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an application under Section 293B Town and County Planning Act 1990 in relation to the Crowborough Training Camp. \p Luke Pollard: Asylum is a Home Office lead. As such, The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not made an application under Section 293B Town and County Planning Act 1990 in relation to Crowborough Training Camp and the MOD has not received any planning objections from Wealden District Council on the use of Crowborough Training Camp as asylum accommodation.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_166
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_166

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the scope was of Project B Star. \p Luke Pollard: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed Forces.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_167
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_167

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of cancelling the Iron Duke conversion programme. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence keeps all capability programmes under regular review to ensure they remain affordable, deliver value for money, and align with operational priorities.

The decision to cancel the Iron Duke conversion programme was based on a comprehensive assessment. Given the platform's remaining Service life, the time required to complete the conversion, and competing operational priorities, the benefits of proceeding did not justify the additional cost or extended period out of service. Resources were therefore re-prioritised to deliver greater operational effect.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_168
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_168

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 34 of the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, by when the two USAF F-35 squadrons at RAF Lakenheath will reach full operating capacity. \p Al Carns: The two US Air Force F-35 squadrons stationed at RAF Lakenheath have reached full operating capacity, which was achieved in Autumn 2025.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_169
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_169

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the outcome was of Royal Navy integration into US Carrier Strike Group certification training in October and November 2024. \p Al Carns: In October 2024 the UK Carrier Strike Group and US Carrier Strike Group 8 completed a period of combined integration training during Exercise STRIKE WARRIOR. Exercise STRIKE WARRIOR included the successful re-certification of the UK Carrier Strike Group staff as part of the preparations for the Op HIGHMAST deployment in 2025.

Exercise STRIKE WARRIOR involved warships and support vessels from the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary along with elements of the British Army, Royal Air Force and NATO warships from six nations – Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Portugal and the UK.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_170
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_170

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress she has made on implementing the Home Defence Programme. \p Al Carns: The Secretary of State for Defence has regular discussions with the Cabinet Office colleagues on a range of issues, including national security and resilience.

As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, Defence has an integral role in the Cabinet Office-led Home Defence Programme. The Ministry of Defence is therefore working closely with the Cabinet Office across all appropriate levels to ensure alignment between civil and military planning for some of the most serious risks we face.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_171
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_171

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on future plans for a deployment of foreign service personnel to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force. \p Al Carns: We welcome the significant efforts from both President Trump and President Zelenskyy to make progress on a peace deal and the constructive engagement in Geneva over the weekend towards securing a just and lasting peace.

We always encourage our partners to do whatever they can to support Ukraine. Any decisions on what support a state may wish to consider providing in support of Ukraine, including deploying personnel, rests with individual governments.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_172
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_172

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding his Department is providing for strategic national space capabilities in each of the next three years. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence is committed to developing the Defence Space Portfolio and wider space requirements to harness space for national and military advantage. The recent publication of the Strategic Defence Review served to reinforce the importance of the space domain and the need to invest appropriately. The level of investment will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force and set out in the Defence Investment Plan to be published this year.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_173
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_173

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to seek participation in future EU space projects. \p Al Carns: The Strategic Defence Review identifies space as a critical domain for national security and Defence, emphasising the importance of international collaboration to achieve the United Kingdom's (UK) defence space aspirations. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to exploring opportunities for cooperation in space that align with Defence and security commitments, working closely with cross-government partners to ensure coherence with broader UK interests and priorities.

The MOD assesses participation in specific space projects on a case-by-case basis. Any decision to participate in EU space projects will be made considering strategic benefits, value for money, and alignment with national security objectives.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_174
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_174

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of adopting a 6.8 x 51mm calibre rifle for frontline combat roles. \p Luke Pollard: A review of performance requirements and technical solutions is ongoing as part of the concept phase for Project GRAYBURN. On current plans, Project GRAYBURN is due to enter its assessment phase in 2026.

The project aims to replace the SA80 family of rifles through the 2030s. The ongoing analysis includes efforts to understand the benefits and compromises of changing calibre. While no decision has yet been made, intermediate calibres including the 6.8 x 51mm are part of this work.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_175
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_175

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a command paper for the Defence Reform programme. \p Luke Pollard: At this present time, there are no plans to publish a Command Paper for the Defence Reform programme. The programme is being delivered through established internal governance and Ministerial oversight, which ensures transparency and accountability without the need for a formal Command Paper.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_176
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_176

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 135 of his Department's document entitled Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made in making Ministry of Defence sites available for (a) start-ups and (b) scale-ups to help nurture innovation. \p Luke Pollard: In line with the Strategic Defence Review 2025, the Ministry of Defence has been reviewing its estate to identify land that it can release from current operational use. The purposes to which this land can be put is now being assessed. Some sites may become available for start-ups and scale-ups, supporting innovation in defence and technology sectors.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_177
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_177

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 135 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress has he made in establishing comprehensive oversight of a) assets, b) liabilities, c) rates of obsolescence and d) lifecycle costs across his Department's estate. \p Luke Pollard: In line with the Strategic Defence Review 2025, the Ministry of Defence has established the following to support oversight of a) assets, b) liabilities, c) rates of obsolescence and d) lifecycle costs across his Department’s estate:

(a) a centralised asset register,

(b) a liability baseline,

(c) introduced an obsolescence model for critical infrastructure,

(d) and embedded lifecycle costing within the Defence Investment Plan to ensure transparency and alignment with the Strategic Defence Review 2025 objectives.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_178
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_178

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the scope was of Project Matcha. \p Luke Pollard: The scope of Project MATCHA was to replace the Gazelle AH Mk1, employed in Northern Ireland in the Rotary Wing Manned Airborne Surveillance role, with an Airbus H135. The project scope also included the integration of new Mission Role Equipment.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_179
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_179

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the scope was of Project Magenta. \p Luke Pollard: Project Magenta was initiated to provide infrastructure to support the Dreadnought Programme and the Continuous At Sea Deterrent. Due to the classification of Project Magenta, it is not possible to provide any further detail on the project's scope.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_180
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_180

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the scope was of Project Rarden. \p Luke Pollard: Project RARDEN is a legacy project that designed and introduced the Rarden cannon into service in the 1970s.
wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_181
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-27 conversation_181

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September to Question 70650 on Defence, which legislation the Defence Readiness Bill will provide the groundwork for. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence is working to develop defence readiness legislation as set out in the Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy. We are engaging with other Government Departments as they consider what legislation they may wish to bring forward in the context of the Government’s Home Defence Programme led by the Cabinet Office. No decisions have yet been taken on the detailed composition of the Government’s future legislative programme for future sessions.