theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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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, when he plans to launch a new Apprenticeship and Graduate Clearing System. \p Luke Pollard: Dates have not been confirmed for the launch of the Apprenticeship and Graduate Clearing System. We will work closely with industry, including through the Defence Industrial Joint Council, to develop and pilot this system. Further information will be released in due course.
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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 discussions his Department has had with the Mayoral Strategic Authority of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough on this strategy. \p Luke Pollard: Prior to the publication of the Defence Industrial Strategy, significant regional engagement took place across the United Kingdom, including with the Mayoral Strategic Authority of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, which helped shape the development of this strategy.

Ministry of Defence representatives also attended a Senior Place Session with the Mayoral Strategic Authority of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough on 29 September, which discussed obstacles to growth in the region and how these could be overcome.
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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 is taking to increase funding in (a) priority sub-sectors, (b) places and (c) resolving skills challenges. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Industrial Strategy sets out how the Ministry of Defence will direct funding to support national security sub-sectors such as AI, cyber, energetics and shipbuilding. Five Defence Growth Deals are being established across the UK, backed by a £250 million investment and will support those priority sub-sectors. The Defence Industrial Strategy is supporting skills with an investment of £182 million to resolve skills challenges across the UK, working with devolved and local Government to do this. The Defence Investment Plan, which will be published this autumn, will work to ensure that defence is investing in these sub-sectors to deliver growth for the whole of the UK.
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Fred Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who is the responsible Minister for the Team Plymouth partership. \p Luke Pollard: The responsible Minister for the Team Plymouth partnership is the Minister of State in the House of Lords, my noble. Friend, The Lord Coaker.
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Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 80771 on Defence: Industry, whether he has had decisions with (a) the Northern Ireland Economy Minister and (b) Invest Northern Ireland on the Northern Ireland Defence Growth Deal. \p Luke Pollard: Ministry of Defence officials have engaged several stakeholders in Northern Ireland regarding the proposed Defence Growth Deal that was announced in the Defence Industrial Strategy. This has included officials in the Northern Ireland Executive as well as industry and academia. Engagement on the development of the growth deal will continue over the coming months.
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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 UK’s reformed commercial model is. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), makes a commitment to transform our acquisition system, taking a broad view of measures and approaches, including streamlining decision-making, a segmented approach to procurement, digitally enabled acquisition, and accelerated commercial pathways. Work is already underway to deliver against these ambitions, helping to ensure our acquisition system is fit for the future.
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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, when he plans to publish the new approach to applying social value to incentivise industry to support the objectives within the Defence Industrial Strategy. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) makes a commitment to establish a Social Value Model that works for defence. This includes adopting a new approach to applying social value in defence to incentivise industry to support DIS objectives of driving growth and a more thriving industrial sector and require delivery of social value in the UK to the greatest extent possible. While it is estimated this work will be completed by the end of 2025, and implemented in 2026-27, it will build on the existing Social Value opportunities that support DIS objectives.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 48 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what his Department's planned timetable is for broadening the range of employers it supports through the Jobs and Careers Service. \p Luke Pollard: The Department for Work and Pensions through the new Jobs and Careers Service is taking steps to broaden its support for employers by engaging over 8,000 strategic and local businesses, tailoring services to regional labour market needs, and collaborating with trade bodies and Government Departments to deliver inclusive recruitment campaigns, sector-specific training, and modernised job-matching tools. This is as a result of the Get Britain Working White Paper published in November 2024.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of his Department's suppliers are registered on the central procurement platform. \p Luke Pollard: The Department has a total of 20,690 active unique suppliers with live contracts

The Department has a total of 131,172 unique suppliers.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what innovation programmes managed by his Department are in progress. \p Luke Pollard: Defence is focussed on exploiting new and innovative ideas and technologies to secure a competitive edge for our Armed Forces. Within the scope of UK Defence Innovation (UKDI), there are currently 49 programmes funded through investment vehicles such as the Defence Innovation Fund (DIF) and the Exploitation Fund (ExF). The number of SMEs and non-traditional suppliers involved in these programmes is not currently defined.

Furthermore, the UKDI Defence and security accelerator (UKDI-DASA) has launched 12 themed competitions and ran five cycles of the Open Call for Innovation. UKDI-DASA has funded 123 projects, of which 73% were with SMEs.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which units will receive (a) ARES and (b) Athena;  and how many each will receive. \p Luke Pollard: I can confirm that 93 ARES and 112 ATHENA will be fielded to armoured units within the Deep Recce Strike and Armoured Brigades.

This information is not broken down further as this would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 69 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, where he plans to establish the Defence Energy and Capability Resilience Centre of Excellence. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Energy and Capability Resilience Centre of Excellence (DECX) is being established initially as a virtual entity, with Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) acting as the custodian.

The final decision regarding location will be confirmed once DECX reaches full operating capability.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department plans to spend in the Rapid Commercial Exploitation procurement segment in the 2025-26 financial year. \p Luke Pollard: The Rapid Commercial Exploitation Procurement Segment is still in the process of being defined to meet the establishment date of 1 April 2026 in-line with the Strategic Defence Review. There are therefore no current plans to spend on the subject Segment during this Financial Year.

We are looking to pilot some projects within this Financial Year. The details of the pilots will be finalised before the end of 2025, within which we will look for in-year opportunities wherever possible.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 65 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, when he plans to launch the competitions for novel uncrewed aerial systems. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is working with the Front-Line Commands (FLCs) and across the ecosystem to build on existing uncrewed systems (UxS) delivery. There is significant work ongoing across Defence on the development of UxS as we look to rapidly iterate novel capabilities, learn lessons from Ukraine, support the Government's growth agenda and grow the UK technology sector. A competition for novel uncrewed aerial systems will launch in early 2026.

There is a wide spectrum of UxS requirements from across Defence, some are complementary whilst others are bespoke to each Service. The scope and requirement of competitions for will primarily look at range, payload, size and survivability of UxS as required by the FLCs.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 41 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what recent progress he has made in helping support the creation of a defence tech start-up company that could be valued at over $1 billion. \p Luke Pollard: One of the goals set out in the Government's Defence Industrial Strategy is to encourage the growth of the next UK-based defence technology company valued at over US$1 billion, to be achieved through a range of measures that will make defence a more attractive investment for private capital.

Chief amongst these is the development of the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy (DFIS), which will identify barriers to investment in defence, and recommend how these may be overcome to make the defence sector a more attractive investment for private capital.

The Defence Investors Advisory Group has recently been established to help develop the DFIS. This body includes a number of individuals with extensive experience in the financial sector.

The DFIS is due to be published in Spring 2026.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 65 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, from where the UK Defence Innovation Rapid Innovation Unit will access below market rate loans. \p Luke Pollard: UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) will continue invest in structures to support business growth and to increase investment into SMEs, start-ups, and non-traditional defence and security suppliers to support a diverse and agile supply chain and ensure delivery of pioneering capability to national security and defence.

The UKDI - Defence and Security Accelerator (UKDI_DASA) is a Special Partner in the delivery of The Defence and Security (D&S) Seed Fund portfolio, which is funded by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and sits within UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S). UKI2S is a Pre seed and Seed fund for defence and Security SMEs with investment from MOD for SME innovation looking for private equity funding.

The UKDI - Defence and Security Accelerator (UKDI_DASA) supported by Innovate UK Loans Ltd (Innovate UK) delivers a Defence funding competition: the Defence Innovation Loan. This service provides an opportunity for single Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with solutions to defence themed problems to apply for a Defence Innovation Loan of between £100,000 and £1 million with a below market interest rate of 7.4% per annum
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 52 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, when he plans to publish the SME Action Plan. \p Luke Pollard: We are focused on ensuring that more SMEs can access opportunities throughout the defence supply-chain.

We are committed to publishing our SME Action Plan which will focus on delivering a step-change in SME engagement both directly and indirectly. The action plan will be published as soon as practicable after the conclusion of the Defence Investment Plan process.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of Project Atilla. \p Luke Pollard: Project Atilla will look to deliver an Uncrewed Ground Vehicle Minefield Breaching capability. The Project is currently in its concept phase.
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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 reform his Department's (a) procurement and (b) acquisition systems. \p Luke Pollard: Implementation of the procurement and acquisition reforms set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy is underway, under the new National Armaments Director who took up post on 14 October 2025.

We are introducing service-agnostic capability portfolios, aligned with wider departmental reforms. The portfolio-driven approach will increase pace and adaptability, enabling us to maximise the output from our investment, reduce waste and be more market aligned.

Five commercial pathways have been launched for Spiral, Urgent, Design to Cost, Digital & Technology and Low Complexity Procurement. These pathways underpin the new segmented approach to procurement. A new Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) commercial pathway is being introduced to increase the number of opportunities for SMEs and make our contracting processes simpler, less onerous and faster.

The Defence Supply Chain Capability Programme will create greater resilience, speed and adaptability in the supply chain to underpin our warfighting edge and help to drive economic growth in the context of increasing global instability.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 52 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 support SMEs to access (a) financial and (b) growth capital. \p Luke Pollard: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on 4 September 2025 to Question 70206 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Ms Slade).

Defence: Manufacturing Industries (docx, 16.2KB)
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 52 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 better cohere UK Defence Sector Supplier Development. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises that SMEs seeking to work in defence face unique challenges. The department is committed to simplifying access to UK defence for SMEs removing unnecessary barriers and making it easier for small businesses to find the right support and guidance.

Work on delivering the new Defence Office for Small Business Growth is well underway, and MOD has consulted widely with small businesses and across UK industry to ensure that the new service meets defence SMEs needs.

The exact detail of how the Office for Small Business Growth will operate, including the scope of services is being developed in close consultation with industry but will include more coherent access to existing supplier development programmes and a range of direct services to SMEs enabling them to better navigate the UK defence environment.

Initial operating capability will be achieved in the spring of 2026
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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, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, when he plans to publish the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Finance and Investment Strategy will be published in early 2026.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 41 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what recent progress he has made in halving the gap with US venture capital funding into defence. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Finance and Investment Strategy announced in the Defence Industrial Strategy and at the Defence Investment Summit is under development and due to be published in early 2026. It will look at the entire spectrum of defence companies, from start-ups through to primes, and provide recommendations to the Defence Secretary on 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.

Development of the strategy is supported by a new Defence Investors’ Advisory Group who will bring their industry expertise to our central mission to boost high-growth, high-tech companies of the future and build the next unicorn defence company in the UK.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of the Land Mobility Programme. \p Luke Pollard: The Land Mobility Programme (LMP) is a 20-year pan-Defence programme that seeks to deliver a fleet of over 13,000 digitally enabled, adaptable utility and protected mobility vehicles to the Joint Force. The programme comprises of three sub-programmes: Heavy Protected Mobility, Light Protected Mobility and Light Mobility Vehicle.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 52 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what progress he has made on implementing a bespoke commercial pathway for SMEs. \p Luke Pollard: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hold a crucial place in UK defence. They are the backbone of the UK economy and are vital to delivering the innovation, expertise and agility that we need now and in the future. This is recognised in the Defence Industrial Strategy, as well as the Department’s Social Value policy.

We work with our largest suppliers through a network of their SME Champions, trade associations and SME representatives to ensure that smaller companies have access to opportunities in our supply chain and that our prime contractors are adopting policies, such as fair payment practices, that support small businesses working in defence. We are also introducing a new SME Commercial Pathway as part of our broader acquisition transformation. Through this pathway, Defence will increase the number of opportunities for SMEs, and make our contracting processes simpler, less onerous and faster.

This Government has already announced an ambitious but achievable target to spend £7.5 billion with SMEs by 2028 which will see direct spend increase by approximately £700 million during the next three years, and we will launch a new Office For Small Business Growth to provide SMEs with better access to the defence supply chain, ensuring that thousands of small businesses in the UK, continue to lead the way in developing the world-beating technologies and services that we will need.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of the Light Protected Mobility project. \p Luke Pollard: The Light Protected Mobility sub programme, as part of the Land Mobility Programme, will deliver high mobility protected vehicles that fill the requirements currently met by Foxhound, Jackal, Husky and Panther. This will likely be achieved by modernising existing platforms to deliver greater utility and ability to operate as the host platform for new mission systems.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of the Heavy Protected Mobility project. \p Luke Pollard: The Heavy Protected Mobility sub-programme, as part of the Land Mobility Programme, will deliver a new Heavy Protected vehicle to Army front line forces replacing existing Protected Mobility platforms.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the out-of-service date is of the L121A1 rifle. \p Luke Pollard: On current plans, the Out of Service Dates (OSD) for the L115A3 and L121 rifles are 2030. An OSD enables future planning, however, it is ultimately a guideline which can be subject to change.

The UK Armed Forces continually assesses its current capabilities to ensure that it is appropriately equipped to face any adversary. If it remains an effective and required capability at the time of the planned OSD, it is possible that the OSD will be extended.
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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, how the members of the Defence Industrial Joint Council are selected. \p Luke Pollard: Membership of the Ministerially chaired council comprises a diverse group of defence sector partners, including SMEs, primes, tech, investors, trade associations, academia and Trade Unions. This signals a significant step in establishing the MOD’s new approach to partnerships; one focused on collaboration across the breadth of the UK’s defence ecosystem.

All members of the DIJC have been appointed, via HMG’s Public Appointments Process, based on the expertise and insight they bring. Spaces allocated to different sector groups have, through necessity, been limited to ensure a Council with a diverse membership from across the defence landscape and of a suitable size to drive pace and support delivery of the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS). All appointments to the DIJC top Council are made for an initial period of 12 months after which they will be reviewed, ensuring a principle of rotation is built into the membership and to provide opportunities for new organisations to participate.
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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, which trade unions will be designated as being part of the defence industrial base. \p Luke Pollard: Through the Defence Industrial Strategy we are taking a ‘whole of society’ approach, where both traditional defence and dual use manufacturers are included in a broader UK defence industry.

Therefore, individual Trade Unions are not being classified as either inside or outside this new definition.

This approach encompasses all elements of the UK defence enterprise including major defence contractors, SMEs, academia and defence workforce.

At the Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC) the interests of the workforce are represented by a number of Trade Unions. In line with other members of the DIJC, the Trade Unions representatives are appointed through HMG’s Public Appointments Process, based on the expertise and insight they bring.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 110 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what funding he has provided for (a) attack drones, (b) surveillance drones and (c) counter-drone-systems. \p Al Carns: Drones and counter drone systems are integral to the modern way of warfighting, exemplified in the lessons gleaned from the war in Ukraine. The Strategic Defence Review announced an increase in autonomy investment of £2 billion in this Parliament, taking total Defence investment in autonomy to circa £4 billion. The funding provided for attack drones, surveillance drones and counter-drone systems will be announced as part of the Defence Investment Plan in Autumn 2025.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 43 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published in June 2025, CP 1338, which projects are in scope of the £4 billion funding for autonomous systems. \p Al Carns: A wide breadth of autonomous systems are under consideration for autonomous funding as described in the National Security Strategy and will be subject to prioritisation to ensure optimum operational benefit. The projects to be included within the £4 billion funding for autonomous systems will form part of the Defence Investment Plan in Autumn 2025.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 70 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, when he expects the Defence Tech Scaler pilot be fully operational. \p Luke Pollard: Defence Tech Scaler is at Minimum Viable Product phase as of September 2025 while the marketplace and processes are under development.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to expanding and improving Defence Tech Scaler with a view to make it fully operational in 2026.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 69 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what recent progress the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has made with the Advanced Research and Invention Agency to help support generation-after-next innovation. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a longstanding relationship and regular conversation with for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Staff engagement is regular and pre-dates the Strategic Defence Review.

Building on this, officials from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) have begun initial conversations with their counterparts in the Advanced Research and Innovation Agency in relation to specific areas of technology with potential defence interest.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 69 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what national security issues the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory plans to prioritise. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory plans to prioritise national security issues aligned with the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group organisational design as part of Defence Reform, which remains in progress.

As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, this list will include chemical and biological defence, novel and unconventional weapons systems, counter-terrorism technology and manufacturing, including specialist munitions, and other areas where the Ministry of Defence requires to be an intelligent customer for Science and Technology.
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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, when he plans to commission the Competition and Markets Authority to support his Department in monitoring (a) competition and (b) supply chain structures in the defence industrial base. \p Luke Pollard: In accordance with the Defence Industrial Strategy the Department is already engaged with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Public Policy Team to provide subject matter expertise on the review of the single source contracting regulations. The CMA are also working with the Department in reviewing the state of defence competition.
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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 a bank as part of the defence industrial base. \p Luke Pollard: Work on this matter is ongoing and as a result it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_210

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 24 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, what steps he has taken to ensure that cryptography capability is UK-based. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises that Crypt-Key is fundamental to the defence and security of the UK. The ability to develop Crypt-Key technologies and capabilities is a strategic imperative for the United Kingdom’s (UK) national security.

The National Crypt-Key Strategy and the Crypt-Key Industrial Strategy were approved by the National Security Council (NSC) in May 2022. The MOD has implemented the core strategy outcomes such as the Cabinet Office Spent Control measures for Crypt-Key and continues to support their full implementation.

The Defence Industrial Strategy (2025) continues to recognise Crypt-Key as a critical sub-sector where strategic imperative requires full, or majority, industrial capability to be UK-based.

The MOD has taken the appropriate steps to ensure alignment to the Crypt-Key strategies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_211

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of Project Loca. \p Al Carns: For reasons of operational security, I am unable to provide details relating to Project Loca.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_212

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of Project drone academy. \p Al Carns: Project DRONE ACADEMY was an innovation project delivered by Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (formerly UK Strategic Command) innovation team, the jHub. The project sought to explore novel learning pathways to rapidly deliver uncrewed systems (UxS) training, namely on First Person View (FPV) drones, to personnel across Defence.

The outputs from Project DRONE ACADEMY have been used to inform longer term Defence training requirements, while concurrently providing Defence with a base level of FPV operators to build upon.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_213

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 47 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what his planned timeline is for delivering the Defence Skills Framework. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: Defence is progressing the implementation of the Pan Defence Skills Framework (PDSF), which is the Defence Skills Framework referenced in the 2025 Defence Industrial Strategy. The PDSF represents a transformative shift in how Defence understands, develops and deploys skills across both military and civilian workforces, supporting Defence’s ambition to become a more agile, skills-based organisation.

Programme governance is in place and Tranche 1 of activity is underway. The onboarding of the single Services and the Civil Service (those under the pre-Defence Reform structure of MOD Main) is scheduled to begin from December 2025, in a phased rollout.

Initial implementation has already seen:

Mass onboarding is expected to follow:

Looking ahead, Tranche 2 will expand PDSF to cover additional skills, onboarding of Arms-Length Bodies, and refine the underpinning technology. This will ensure Defence has the agility to align skills with future workforce demands, evolving technology, and the challenges of a rapidly changing security environment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_214

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference page 46 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what progress he has made on exploring a partnership with UCAS to promote defence careers. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: We continue to work with UCAS to promote defence careers and explore the scope of support they can offer in raising awareness of defence career pathways among students and educators. This includes working with UCAS to create an industry guide and to support an increased number of defence employers represented on their existing portal. Further details will be published in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_215

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 Defence School of Policing and Guarding’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 Defence School of Police and Security (DSPS), formerly the Defence School of Police and Guarding, and its efforts to achieve an Outstanding Ofsted rating.

The DSPS was inspected by Ofsted in March 2024, which resulted in a GOOD rating, with four key recommendations for improvement. The Combined Individual Training Assurance Team (CITAT) has since worked with the DSPS to address these areas, and significant progress has been made.

Actions have included improving infrastructure and trainee facilities, enhancing IT access, reducing staff workload through reorganisation and additional personnel, and revising the trainee leave policy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_216

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 11 Royal School of Signals Regiment’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 11 Royal School of Signals Regiment and its efforts to achieve an Outstanding Ofsted rating

In June 2025, 22 Group of the RAF conducted a Second Party Training Quality Audit (SPTQA) at 11 Royal School of Signals Regiment. The audit reviewed training compliance with JSP 822 and included a Welfare and Duty of Care survey in preparation for any potential Ofsted Third Party Assurance (3PA) inspection.

The report found the Regiment to be performing well, identifying only four minor non-conformities and one observation, which are being addressed to ensure full compliance.

A follow-up review is scheduled for December 2025 at the six-month point to assess progress against the identified areas for improvement. This review will be conducted by 22 Group to ensure continued progress and readiness for any future Ofsted inspections.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_217

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 44144 on Armed Forces: Training, what steps his Department has taken to improve the British Army Apprenticeship programme’s Ofsted rating. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring the British Army Apprenticeship Programme (AAP) achieves the highest standards of training and continues its progress towards an Outstanding Ofsted rating. The Army, as the UK’s largest Employer Provider with 12,500 soldier apprentices across 41 programmes, continues to achieve results well above the national average.

The AAP operates a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP), informed by Ofsted inspections and an internal Self-Assessment Process, which is being updated to align with the new Ofsted Further Education and Skills Inspection Toolkit (FES IT) coming into effect in November 2025.

Key improvements being implemented include digitalising the programme by 2027, creating 92 additional management posts to oversee End Point Assessment delivery, enhancing functional skills delivery and governance, improving curriculum standards, reducing the number of Post Planned End Date learners, and strengthening safeguarding measures.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_218

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 44144 on Armed Forces: Training, what steps his Department has taken to improve the Royal Air Force Apprenticeship programme’s Ofsted rating. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The RAF is committed to continuous improvement and has identified several measures to build on the Good Ofsted rating awarded to the Royal Air Force Apprenticeship programme last year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_219

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of Project Rosetta. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: Project ROSETTA was a cross-Government (x-HMG) innovation project. It conducted a cost-effective, UK-based immersive language and culture isolation programme aimed at enhancing the language proficiency and cultural understanding of x-HMG language students. The trial specifically focused on Chinese Mandarin.

Feedback from the trial was positive. We are now using the findings to explore options for establishing long-term immersive language training facilities for a range of languages.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_220

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans have gained full-time employment via the Veteran Industry Engagement Programme since its inception. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Veterans Industry Engagement Programme (VIEP) is a free, Government-backed advocacy service designed to collaborate with industry and trade bodies. It helps organisations adopt veteran-friendly practices and behaviours, ensuring the skills and talents veterans bring to the workforce are recognised and valued. By fostering this engagement, critical sectors can better leverage a vital national strategic asset - the Armed Forces community.

This initiative is delivered by the charity Mission Community who have developed a framework of sector specific initiatives to create sustainable employment opportunities for service leavers, veterans, reservists and military families.

VIEP forms part of a suite of wider initiatives supporting Veterans into employment including Op ASCEND, which has successfully engaged over 420 employers and supported over 4,600 veterans and family members.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_221

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 University Officer Training Corps’ 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 University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) Group and its efforts to achieve an Outstanding Ofsted rating

The UOTC was inspected by OFSTED in February 2024, resulting in a GOOD rating, with five key recommendations for improvement. The Combined Individual Training Assurance Team (CITAT) has worked with the UOTC Group to address these areas, and significant progress has been made across all areas.

Actions have included enhancing staff training, improving facilities maintenance, streamlining medical clearance processes, mitigating the impact of budget constraints, and centralising quality improvement processes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_222

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he last met representatives of the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign. \p Torsten Bell: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_223

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of Universal Credit payments made to people with refugee status in each of the last ten financial years. \p Andrew Western: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-27 conversation_224

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to introduce English language learning as a condition of benefit receipt for foreign nationals. \p Andrew Western: The Department can require that claimants attend English language courses as a work preparation activity if this will make them more likely to find work, or to increase the hours they work. A sanction - which is a reduction in the amount of Universal Credit paid - is applicable where a claimant fails to meet a work preparation requirement without good reason.