theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Antonia Bance:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of updating the 10-Year Drugs Plan to reflect (a) the increase in ketamine use and (b) other changes in the drugs landscape. \p Sarah Jones: Ketamine is a dangerous substance, which can cause irreversible bladder damage and in some cases death. Ministers are very concerned about the harms ketamine causes and on 16 October 2025 the Department for Health and Social Care launched a campaign to alert young people to the dangers of that drug (as well as counterfeit medicines containing synthetic opioids, and THC vapes).

Ketamine was moved from Class C to Class B within Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (MDA) in 2014, following a review of its harms by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). The ACMD noted that "although there is limited evidence of ketamine misuse causing social harm, evidence of physical harm (mainly chronic bladder toxicity but also an increase in acute toxicity) has increased".

We have not carried out an assessment of the effects of that reclassification. The drivers of the availability, market price and prevalence of drugs are complex. The control of drugs under the MDA is an important means of reducing their availability and gives law enforcement the powers to target criminals involved in supplying harmful substances. In 2024 there were 2,014 prosecutions and 1,507 convictions in England and Wales for offences relating to the possession and trafficking of ketamine.

In January 2025 the Government asked the ACMD to provide an updated harms assessment of ketamine. The ACMD carried out a public call for evidence in August and we expect to receive its report by the end of 2025. We will carefully consider its recommendations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

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Charlotte Nichols:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the reclassification of ketamine as a class B drug on its illicit availability. \p Sarah Jones: Ketamine is a dangerous substance, which can cause irreversible bladder damage and in some cases death. Ministers are very concerned about the harms ketamine causes and on 16 October 2025 the Department for Health and Social Care launched a campaign to alert young people to the dangers of that drug (as well as counterfeit medicines containing synthetic opioids, and THC vapes).

Ketamine was moved from Class C to Class B within Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (MDA) in 2014, following a review of its harms by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). The ACMD noted that “although there is limited evidence of ketamine misuse causing social harm, evidence of physical harm (mainly chronic bladder toxicity but also an increase in acute toxicity) has increased”.

We have not carried out an assessment of the effects of that reclassification. The drivers of the availability, market price and prevalence of drugs are complex. The control of drugs under the MDA is an important means of reducing their availability and gives law enforcement the powers to target criminals involved in supplying harmful substances. In 2024 there were 2,014 prosecutions and 1,507 convictions in England and Wales for offences relating to the possession and trafficking of ketamine.

In January 2025 the Government asked the ACMD to provide an updated harms assessment of ketamine. The ACMD carried out a public call for evidence in August and we expect to receive its report by the end of 2025. We will carefully consider its recommendations.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to protect consumers against fraudulent investment opportunities presented online through the use of deepfakes. \p Sarah Jones: Under the Online Safety Act, online platforms are required to take proactive measures to stop fraudulent content appearing on their platforms. This includes fraudulent investments using deepfakes.

The government’s ‘Stop! Think Fraud’ campaign provides practical information on how to spot fake online adverts, including deepfake celebrity investment endorsements, and advice on how to report these scams if individuals fall victim.

The Government will shortly publish a new Fraud Strategy, as set out in our manifesto, which will set out how we will work with law enforcement, industry and others to go further in protecting the public from all fraud, including AI enabled fraud.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Law Commission report entitled Firearms Law: Reforms to Address Pressing Problems, published on 16 December 2015, whether she plans to implement the recommendation on codifying the law on firearms. \p Sarah Jones: The Government has no plans at present to codify existing firearms legislation but we keep the law in this area under review to ensure we maintain strong controls on firearms.

The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February this year, included a commitment to having a consultation specifically on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns in the interests of public safety which we intend to publish shortly.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the average cost to the public purse of processing an application to renew a shotgun licence. \p Sarah Jones: On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.

A full impact assessment was published alongside the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2025, the Statutory Instrument that brought the new fees into effect.

The impact assessment provides details of the costs associated with both initial grant and renewal of firearms licensing certificates. Any future changes to firearms licensing will be subject to further impact assessments in the normal way. The link to the impact assessment is available here Changes to firearms licensing fees - GOV.UK.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 169 of the Home Office Annual report and accounts 2024-25, HC 1133, published in July 2025, and page 170 of the Home Office Annual report and accounts 2023-24, HC 184, published in July 2024, what was the business case for the increase (a) in trade union facility time from £1,134,980 in 2023-24 to £1,424,127 in 2024-25, and (b) to FTE numbers of 387 facility time staff; and whether ministers authorised the increase. \p Sarah Jones: The number of Home Office employees elected/appointed to trade union representative positions is for individual trade unions to determine. Additionally, there is no requirement for ministers to authorise increases in the cost of facility time, but, in line with a facility time framework provided to Civil Service departments under the previous administration, if the cost of facility time were to exceed 0.1% of the paybill that would require Secretary of State approval. The cost of facility time in the Home Office in percentage terms was the same in 2024-25 as it was in 2023-24 (0.05%).
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has considered publishing annual performance metrics for local Immigration Compliance and Enforcement teams in the public domain. \p Alex Norris: Since this government came into office we have delivered results: we promised to deliver the highest rate of returns since 2018 and that has been achieved. We will continue to maximise the return of people, at the earliest opportunity, with no right to be in the UK. Those who undermine our border security and risk lives in an attempt to reach the UK should expect to face removal.

The performance metrics for individual ICE teams will not be published. To do so could provide insight into operational practices that could then be used to avoid enforcement action. Further, the publication of any metrics would fail to account for the fast moving nature of the work.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to help reduce the number of small boat crossings since her appointment. \p Alex Norris: The Border Security Command (BSC) continues to focus on tackling the organised immigration crime gangs that are facilitating small boat crossings, working with domestic partners such as the National Crime Agency and the OIC Domestic taskforce, and overseas counterparts in a range of countries, to dismantle the gangs and disrupt their supply chains. This work has already led to a number of widely publicised raids and arrests, as well as agreements with France, Germany, Italy, Iraq and other key partners which will increase enforcement activity and cooperation further over the coming months.

The UK-France pilot has also been put into action meaning that anyone entering the UK on a small boat can be detained on arrival and returned to France. So far 42 individuals have been returned to France under this pilot and further flights to France are scheduled to take place over the coming days and weeks. Through our joint working with France, more than 19,000 crossing attempts have been prevented this year.

The BSC is working closely with delivery partners across Whitehall who tackle organised immigration crime, collecting key data across the system such as organised immigration crime disruptions, with the ambition to track long-term impact and support the delivery of operational activity. This will support the BSC’s ability to drive cohesive delivery across the system and ensure a secure and effective border. Working collaboratively in this way will allow us to increase the number of organised immigration crime groups which we break up and subsequently reduce small boat crossings. These numbers will be monitored to ensure we make changes to our approach when needed.

And as most recently as last week, the Home Secretary hosted Interior Ministers in London as part of the Western Balkans Summit. She hosted her ministerial counterparts from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia – all of which are key transit countries for people being smuggled illegally to the UK.

Ensuring we have the right legislation in place to take robust, meaningful action to address these challenges is crucial. With this in mind, the UK’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, currently going through Parliament, creates new powers for law enforcement through new criminal offences, expanded data-sharing capabilities and an improved intelligence picture to identify, intercept, disrupt and prevent serious and organised crime.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many dinghies used to smuggle people across the English Channel have been destroyed by the (a) Border Force and (b) French authorities in each of the last five years. \p Alex Norris: a) Border Force do not hold the requested data in an accessible format pre-2022. Records held since 2022 confirm 3,724 boats in total have been destroyed.

Destruction activities are broken down across the following Calendar years:

2025 to date = 416

2024 = 679

2023 =1,173

2022 = 1,456

Total = 3,724

b) The number of dinghies/boats destroyed by French authorities is not held by the Home Office.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 71 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what the scope is of the test and evaluation transformation programme. \p Luke Pollard: To achieve the Strategic Defence Review’s vision of the UK as a leading tech-enabled defence power, with an Integrated Force that deters, fights, and wins through constant innovation at wartime pace, Defence must transform to become more integrated by design, innovation-led, and industry backed.

One of the ways we will achieve this transformation is by making it easier for everyone developing UK military equipment, to rapidly assess if their systems are safe, fit for purpose, and capable of contributing to the success of UK military operations. Operations which will increasingly rely on advanced technology, rapid and reliable integration of new systems into complex capabilities, and a faster feedback loop from the frontline to the factory floor.

This is the scope of the Test and Evaluation Transformation programme, to build the world’s most productive, relevant, and responsive, military test and evaluation enterprise here in the UK. The programme will focus on delivering the common technical, commercial, and architectural enablers required to make this a reality by the early 2030s, with several initiatives already underway and others announced recently in the Defence Industrial Strategy. Future levels of funding in the programme are subject to the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan, and its delivery will be guided by the ideas set out in ‘Future Advantage Through Evaluation’ (FATE), MOD’s concept for future test and evaluation:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-test-and-evaluation-future-advantage-through-evaluation-fate
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British service personnel are deployed to Israel to monitor the ceasefire in Gaza by rank. \p Al Carns: A small team of UK planning officers, led by a 2* deputy commander, have embedded in the US-led Civil Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) in Israel to ensure that the UK remains integrated into the US-led planning efforts for Gaza post-conflict stability. This team is not monitoring the ceasefire in Gaza. The UK continues to work with international partners to support the Gaza ceasefire to see where the UK can best contribute to the peace process.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Groundbreaking Ukraine tech sharing agreement to deliver drones and support jobs, published on 10 September 2025, how many drones have been manufactured as part of that partnership since 10 September 2025. \p Al Carns: We expect manufacture of the advanced new air defence interceptor drone, named Project Octopus, to begin within weeks. This Project will see the mass production of these drones with a target to produce thousands per month for Ukraine.

At the latest Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting on 15 October, it was announced that over 85,000 military drones have been delivered to Ukraine in the past six months with £600 million invested by the UK to accelerate drone delivery.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 42 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, last updated on 18 September 2025, CP 1388, what his planned timetable is for the establishment of the Defence Investors Advisory Group. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Investors Advisory Group has been established, and its co-chairs have been announced as Kerry Baldwin and Sharon White.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of Project Brakestop. \p Luke Pollard: In response to a Ukrainian demand for additional long-range effectors, the Ministyry of Defence initiated Project BRAKESTOP, which is the development of a new, low-cost, ground launched, 200kg+, cruise missile for Ukraine, with a 600km+ range.

The project was initiated in October 2024 with industry engagement followed by an invitation to tender. Full details of the specifications for BRAKESTOP are available via the publicly accessible Defence Sourcing Portal.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 78 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, who the UK’s regional partners are in the South China Sea. \p Al Carns: The UK's regional partners listed in the Strategic Defence Review include Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The UK also has a long-standing partnership with Brunei, where we have recently renewed our agreement to maintain the Garison, which is home to a battalion from the Royal Gurkha Regiment. Alongside New Zealand and Australia, Singapore and Malaysia, the UK is a member of the Five Power Defence Arrangements, which promotes cooperation and interoperability in the region. The UK also regularly collaborate with our remaining Five Eyes partners Canada and the United States.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Groundbreaking Ukraine tech sharing agreement to deliver drones and support jobs, published on 10 September 2025, what proportion of the manufacture of drones will take place in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Ukraine. \p Al Carns: The advanced new air defence interceptor drone, named Project Octopus, will be mass produced in the UK with a target to produced thousands per month to provide to Ukraine to support its ongoing fight for freedom against Russia’s illegal full scale invasion. No decision has yet been made on the proportion of manufacturing to be conducted in the UK and in Ukraine.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 44144 on Armed Forces: Training, what recent steps his Department has taken to help improve HMNB Clyde’s OFSTED rating to Outstanding. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring the highest standards of training and welfare across all its establishments, including HMNB Clyde which was rated GOOD following Ofsted’s most recent inspection.

The Royal Navy has reflected on the recommendations made by Ofsted following their inspection of HMNB Clyde and continues to implement improvements as recommended by the Ofsted report. This continues to make HMNB Clyde a safe place for living, studying and working.

This has included: implementing new governance structures for learning, as well as care and welfare, and the continued renovation and refurbishment of trainee accommodation and facilities, complementing the wider works to improve HMNB Clyde.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 44144 on Armed Forces: Training, what recent steps his Department has taken to help improve the Britannia Royal Naval College’s OFSTED rating to Outstanding. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring the highest standards of training and welfare across all its establishments, including the Britannia Royal Naval College, which was rated GOOD following Ofsted’s most recent inspection.

The Royal Navy has reflected on the recommendations made by Ofsted following their inspection of Britannia Royal Naval College, and continues to invest in all areas recommended by the Ofsted report. This continues to make Britannia Royal Naval College a safe place for living, studying and working.

This has included: enhancing staff training and support; the renovation and refurbishment of trainee accommodation and facilities; and establishing processes to better identify learning needs and introduce the tailored support needed so that all trainees have an equal opportunity to learn.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 37 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in developing an autonomous air dominance system capable of integrating with (a) directed energy weapons and (b) connectivity with integrated air and missile defence system assets. \p Luke Pollard: Integrated Air and Missile Defence investments will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force. Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on homeland Integrated Air and Missile Defence, will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan to be published this year.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support armed forces personnel who have experienced intimate partner violence and abuse. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: Defence will not tolerate domestic abuse in any form and will respond to any formal allegations and take necessary action against perpetrators. Addressing domestic abuse is a ministerial priority and a shared responsibility for defence leaders, and providing support and care to victims and survivors is a priority for me and those in Defence tasked with tackling this issue.

Our efforts to combat domestic abuse include a robust, consistent and persistent response, informed staff, and the fostering of an open and understanding culture, where support is offered and seeking support is encouraged. We aim to create a culture where every person feels empowered to report instances that are perpetrated against or by Defence personnel, regardless of seniority or position.

The Ministry of Defence Domestic Abuse Action Plan 2024-2029 was formally published in March 2024 and details key actions Defence is taking to tackle domestic abuse. These include how we will prevent, intervene, and partner to support those affected and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.

For victims and survivors, we not only offer practical and emotional support from our own welfare organisations and the Victim Witness Care Unit, but we also partner with external specialists such as Aurora New Dawn and Mankind. Both of these organisations receive funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and provide support to Armed Forces personnel and their families.

Our efforts also include Raising Our Standards (ROS), which exists improve culture and tackle all unacceptable behaviours, which includes initiatives that are preventative in nature.

Defence is committed to playing our part in this government’s commitment to halve Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in a decade, and we are taking a public health approach to addressing VAWG. This means taking a preventative approach to tackle the drivers of offending, whilst expanding victim support and ensuring swift and certain enforcement after an incident takes place. Other work underway through ROS also includes a King’s Counsel Review of Defence Zero Tolerance policies, a tri-Service complaints unit removing complaints from the single Service chain of command for the first time and funding for a new military appraisal system.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 71 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, when he plans to begin the targeted sprint on autonomous systems. \p Luke Pollard: The targeted sprint on autonomous systems has already begun, with the initial sprint stage due to conclude in November 2025.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 71 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what his planned timetable is for reducing the burden of Defence Standards and Conditions by at least 50%. \p Luke Pollard: As this work is still in its early stages, a definitive timeline cannot be confirmed at this time.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 64 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, how his Department plans to identify growth opportunities for the defence innovation portfolio operated by UK Defence Innovation. \p Luke Pollard: UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) represents a fundamental transformation of how the Ministry of Defence approaches innovation. We recognise that innovative companies, start-ups and non-traditional defence suppliers have long faced significant barriers when engaging with defence innovation programmes.

UKDI will invest in frameworks and initiatives to foster business growth and attract increased investment into SMEs, start-ups, and non-traditional defence suppliers. This approach aims to cultivate a diverse and agile supply chain, ensuring the delivery of cutting-edge capabilities to support national security and defence. Simultaneously, these efforts will align with the UKDI's strategic objectives of advancing the technology sector and driving economic growth.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 54 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what his planned timetable is for identifying a pipeline of projects for the next five to ten years that may be eligible. \p Luke Pollard: It is too early at this time to identify a pipeline of projects over the next five to ten years that may utilise the new planning routes.

Ministry of Defence (MOD) Officials are currently drafting updated procedures to enable the use of these new routes. The intent is this guidance will be incorporated into MOD procedure by April 2026.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 51 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, which experts he plans to consult as part of the review and test of options for a new offsets regime. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Industrial Strategy set out measures to generate greater value from the Ministry of Defence’s procurement spend to boost UK investment, growth and employment making defence an engine for growth. An offset policy is being explored as a means to achieve this which will include consultations with expert stakeholders from across the UK defence industrial base including suppliers of all sizes, the Trade Associations, the Trade Unions, Think Tanks and academic institutions. Consultations will also include international suppliers and our key allies and partners.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 50 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, when he plans to establish an offsets model to help attract inward investment. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Industrial Strategy set out measures to generate greater value from the Ministry of Defence’s procurement spend to boost UK investment, growth and employment making defence an engine for growth. We have launched an offsets consultation on 23 October. It runs for 12 weeks.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Groundbreaking Ukraine tech sharing agreement to deliver drones and support jobs, published on 10 September 2025, how many drones will be manufactured as part of that partnership. \p Al Carns: As part of the groundbreaking new technology sharing agreement with Ukraine, an advanced air defence interceptor drone, named Project Octopus, will be mass-produced in the UK. The programme targets the production of thousands of drones each month to support Ukraine in its ongoing fight for freedom against President Putin’s illegal full-scale invasion, while also strengthening the UK defence industry.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 46 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what progress has he made on establishing a Defence Universities Alliance. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Universities Alliance (DUA) will form a more strategic relationship between defence and the Higher Education sector to support national security and UK growth, building on existing collaborative relationships between the sectors.

The Ministry of Defence is currently engaging with Universities UK and the UK’s Higher Education Sector to develop the DUA. There have been a number of workshops with Vice Chancellors of various Universities in the week commencing 21 October which have developed our understanding of the DUA. Further details will be published in due course.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Groundbreaking Ukraine tech sharing agreement to deliver drones and support jobs, published on 10 September 2025, whether Project Octopus will solely produce interceptor drones. \p Al Carns: As part of the groundbreaking new technology sharing agreement with Ukraine, the first project, Octopus, will focus solely on the joint development of an advanced new air defence interceptor drone.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Groundbreaking Ukraine tech sharing agreement to deliver drones and support jobs, published on 10 September 2025, what his planned timeframe is for delivering Project Octopus. \p Al Carns: The new industrial partnership between UK and Ukraine has already made significant progress.

We have agreed project arrangements and we expect to start UK manufacturing of OCTOPUS drones within weeks.. Through project Octopus, our Ukrainian friends will share the technology and intellectual property with the UK – in turn we’ll develop this further and mass produce it to supply thousands of interceptor drones back to Ukraine monthly.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 42 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, last updated on 18 September 2025, what are the existing financing options available for the defence sector. \p Luke Pollard: The UK defence sector has several existing options aimed at supporting innovation, resilience and growth across supply chains. Government options include the National Wealth Fund, the British Business Bank and National Security Strategic Investment Fund.

As part of the Defence Investors Advisory Group and the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy Ministry of Defence will work with these entities and as well as wider investment and finance community to find further opportunities for the Defence sector and how barriers to investment in defence can be removed while making the sector more attractive for private investment, including venture capital, private equity and pension funds.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_160

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Groundbreaking Ukraine tech sharing agreement to deliver drones and support jobs, published on 10 September 2025, how many UK jobs will be created as a result of that partnership. \p Al Carns: UK support to Ukraine has already generated hundreds of new British jobs. The partnership will enable the UK to manufacture and jointly develop cutting-edge military equipment in collaboration with Ukrainian industry. This will continue to support hundreds of British jobs and strengthen the national security of both the UK and Ukraine.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_161

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 30 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, when he plans to launch the consultation on the UK offsets regime. \p Luke Pollard: The offsets consultation was launched on 23 October 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_162

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 28 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, when he plans to establish a defence competition index. \p Luke Pollard: This Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) (published on 8 September 2025) sets how we will deliver a more competitive, innovative, resilient and integrated defence sector to make defence an engine for growth. To assess progress against the priority outcomes of the strategy we will consider a range of indicators, including a competition index. This is being considered as part of our DIS implementation plan.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_163

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 21 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what steps he has taken to help reduce barriers to innovation within the defence industry. \p Luke Pollard: As of July 1, 2025 UK Defence Innovation has reached initial operating capability.

UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) represents a fundamental transformation of how the Ministry of Defence (MOD) approaches innovation. We recognised that for too long, innovative companies and start-ups faced significant barriers when trying to engage with defence innovation programmes. The previous landscape was fragmented, slow, and difficult to navigate, which prevented promising companies from scaling their solutions and securing the investment they needed to grow.

The Establishment of UKDI consolidates and simplifies structures, creating a clearer pathway for innovation that aligns with the Government's agile state agenda and ensures we can harness the best of British innovation for our defence capabilities.

Sat at the heart of the National Armaments Director Group, UKDI will accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge commercial technology in support of Defence’s most pressing strategic challenges. We are drawing upon the success of the US Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) model relevant to the UK Ministry of Defence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_164

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 23 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, what the scope is of the Defence Supply Chain Capability Programme. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Supply Chain Capability Programme (DSCCP) is a multi-year transformation programme aimed at building resilient, agile, and collaborative supply chains underpinning both national security and economic growth.

It is a central delivery vehicle for the Defence Industrial Strategy and the Strategic Defence Review, aligning priorities to safeguard operational and UK sovereignty, industry and warfighting readiness; embedding resilience, and a more transparent, innovative partnership with industry.

The programme is shifting from reactive to proactive supply chain risk management, underpinned by digital innovation. Capabilities including scenario modelling and supply architecture will help anticipate disruptions and assess operational impact. Early industry involvement in capability development—through the Defence Joint Industrial Council—will strengthen collaboration, by providing industry with much more visibility of Ministry of Defence future plans.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_165

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the level of venture capital investment is within UK defence companies within the Defence Industrial Strategy. \p Luke Pollard: This Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) (published on 8 September 2025) sets how we will deliver a more competitive, innovative, resilient and integrated defence sector to make defence an engine for growth. To assess progress against the priority outcomes of the strategy we will consider a range of indicators, including levels of venture capital investment in UK defence companies. This is being considered as part of our DIS implementation plan, ensuring that we improve the data we hold on venture capital investment in defence.
wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_166
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_166

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK defence scale-ups are being tracked by his Department. \p Luke Pollard: UK Defence Innovation track relevant UK defence scale-ups. The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) Business Growth and Finance team tracks approximately 300 high-growth SMEs in real time using the Beauhurst platform. Around 70% of these companies are demonstrating scale-up potential, evidenced through annualised growth rates, revenue, equity investment and other signals.

The Business Growth and Finance team focuses on supporting SMEs with scale-up potential.
wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_167
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_167

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 23 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what criteria would need to be met to define an academic institution as part of the defence industrial base. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Industrial Strategy adopts a whole of society approach to the defence sector and redefines the UK defence industrial base to include academic institutions based on the contribution they make to defence Research and Development and the provision of skills and education needed in the workforce that defence relies upon.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_168

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of Project Replicator 2. \p Luke Pollard: REPLICATOR 2 is a US Department of War initiative delivered through the US Defense Innovation Unit (US DIU) to Counter threats from Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS). Under this initiative UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) has entered into a joint project with the US DIU to rapidly develop Low Collateral Defeat (LCD) solutions to counter small-Unmanned Aerial Systems (CsUAS) within the US or UK homeland.

The project is being run by the US DIU utilising their Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process. Phase 1 took place in May 2025, and saw over 200 US and UK companies apply to the Area of Interest issued by the USDIU. Following a period of evaluation, which included UK participation, 18 potential solutions were down-selected to present their solutions to a joint US-UK evaluation board. Upon completion of this board in September 2025, eight companies, including two UK options, were selected for Phase 2 – Prototyping. Following this, any successful protypes, will be considered for procurement by UK and US transition partners.
wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_169
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_169

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 21 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what steps his Department is taking to help support British tech companies to scale up. \p Luke Pollard: One of the top priority outcomes in the Defence Industrial Strategy, published on 8 September 2025, is to put the UK at the leading edge of defence innovation. To support tech companies to scale up we have launched the new UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), supported by a ringfenced annual budget of at least £400 million. UKDI will support and grow the UK technology sector, including improving companies’ access to innovation funding and advice, and drive pace and agility of defence innovation (Section 5.2). In addition, we are also streamlining the regulatory environment to make it fit for the current era of threat, removing barriers limiting faster delivery, scale up and innovation at wartime pace (Section 5.2.4).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_170

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 21 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what recent steps he has taken to increase the competitiveness of the defence sector. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Industrial Strategy, published on 8 September 2025, sets out our vision to make the UK defence sector more competitive, integrated, innovative and resilient. To do this, we are backing UK based businesses (Section 4), fixing defence procurement (Section 7) and putting the UK at the leading edge of defence innovation (Section 5), to make defence an engine for growth. Recent steps include the launch of UK Defence Innovation, the launch of an offset regime consultation, and progress towards the establishment of the Defence Office for Small Business Growth in Spring 2026. The Defence Investment Plan will include economic growth considerations and offer long-term procurement signals to encourage investment.
wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_171
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_171

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 21 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what the nature is of the support he plans to provide to businesses. \p Luke Pollard: This Defence Industrial Strategy (published on 8 September 2025) emphasises the importance of supporting UK-based businesses, to build a thriving, resilient and competitive UK industrial base. The nature of the support we are providing UK-based businesses is set out in Section 4 and includes a comprehensive review of defence contracting, establishing a new Defence Office for Small Business Growth and dedicated SME Commercial pathway, and transforming the way we export through the new Office for Defence Exports and new Government-to-Government exports offer. There are further measures throughout the strategy to create the business environment needed to the UK defence industry to thrive and grow in priority areas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_172

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 46 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what progress has he made on investing in cutting-edge teaching and university facilities to increase places in defence-related courses. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is investing £80 million in our world leading universities so they can invest in cutting edge facilities and expand places in defence related courses, including in engineering and computer science disciplines. The MOD is working closely with the Department for Education on plans for the delivery of this funding, and further details will be published in due course.