theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2025 to Question 84028, what the 18-week referral-to-treatment performance is for each integrated care board (ICB); and which ICBs are off-trajectory for meeting the March 2026 target. \p Karin Smyth: 18-week referral-to-treatment (RTT) performance data for all integrated care boards (ICBs) is available at the following link:

https://data.england.nhs.uk/dashboard/rtt

This data is publicly available and can be used to make performance comparisons between ICBs.

NHS England’s Operational Planning Guidance for 2025/26 sets a target that 65% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks by March 2026, with every trust expected to deliver a minimum 5% improvement. This is against the November 2024 position, with all providers required to increase their RTT performance to a minimum of 60%.

To support this improvement across all trusts, there is a robust performance management process in place. The new NHS Oversight Framework 2025/26 ensures that there is public accountability for performance and NHS England works with systems and providers to support improvement.

There is a process in place to identify and support the providers whose performance on elective waiting lists is most challenged, led by NHS England national and regional teams.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of patients that have received clinical care in corridors or other non-designated clinical areas in NHS hospitals in the last year. \p Karin Smyth: The Government recognises that the practice of providing clinical care in corridors or other non-designated areas is unacceptable and is committed to eradicating it from our National Health Service.

Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June, sets out the steps we are taking to achieve this, including the commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care. NHS England has been working with trusts since 2024 to put in place new reporting arrangements related to the use of temporary escalation spaces, to drive improvement. The data quality is currently being reviewed, and we expect to publish the information shortly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for (a) tests, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment for endometriosis. \p Karin Smyth: Reducing waiting lists, including for gynaecology, is a key part of the Government’s Health Mission. We are committed to putting patients first by ensuring that they are seen on time and that they have the best possible experience of care.

At the end of September 2025, the gynaecology waiting list, which includes those waiting for endometriosis treatment, stood at 575,653, with 57.1% of patient pathways waiting less than 18 weeks. This is an improvement from September 2024 where the waiting list stood at 587,887, of which 54.6% of patient pathways were waiting less than 18 weeks.

Patients waiting for an endometriosis diagnosis may receive diagnostic tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, though the only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is by a laparoscopic procedure. The laparoscopy is also used to treat endometriosis.

We will transform diagnostic services and are taking steps to support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services, including for MRI and ultrasound. This includes expanding existing community diagnostic centres (CDCs), as well as building up to five new ones in 2025/26. The plan also commits to CDCs opening 12 hours per day, seven days a week, delivering more same-day tests and consultations.

We are taking action to ensure that individuals with endometriosis not only receive a timely diagnosis but also receive timely and effective treatment.

NHS surgical hubs, funded by the Targeted Investment Fund, are specifically designed to deliver high-volume, low-complexity elective surgeries, including gynaecological procedures. These explicitly include operative laparoscopies, endometrial ablation, hysteroscopies, and laparoscopic hysterectomies. As of November 2025, over half of the 123 operational elective surgical hubs in England provide gynaecology services, and laparoscopies are a key part of this offering.

The 2025 Spending Review also confirmed over £6 billion of additional capital investment over five years across new diagnostic, elective, and urgent care capacity. This will ensure that we are able to meet women’s health needs and address the challenges across the entirety of patient pathways.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help increase awareness of ME symptoms. \p Ashley Dalton: We published the final delivery plan (FDP) for myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), on 22 July, which focuses on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease.

To support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS, as set out in the FDP, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has worked with NHS England to develop an e-learning programme on ME/CFS for healthcare professionals, with the aim of supporting staff to be able to provide better care and improve patient outcomes. All three sessions, with sessions one and two having universal access, whilst the third session is only available to healthcare professionals, of the e-learning programme are now available at the following link:

https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/mecfselearning?nodeId=7288

The Medical Schools Council will promote the NHS England e-learning programme on ME/CFS to all United Kingdom medical schools and will encourage those medical schools to provide undergraduates with direct patient experience of ME/CFS. The General Medical Council (GMC) is the regulator of medical schools, and it is important that education is reenforced at different stages of medical training. Royal colleges play an important role in this. The GMC has included ME/CFS in the content map for the new national exam, so all medical schools will need to teach it as a subject.

As outlined in the FDP, we will improve awareness of ME/CFS by launching a public awareness initiative to promote wider awareness and understanding of the condition and support available to people with ME/CFS and their families.

DHSC will also engage stakeholders to discuss timely diagnosis and support for children who have ME/CFS and their families, as well as best practice in relation to safeguarding responsibilities. This will be taken forward in parallel with NHS England’s actions on ME/CFS services and neighbourhood multidisciplinary teams for children and young people.

Furthermore, as outlined in the FDP, the Department for Education is encouraging the sharing of ME/CFS-specific information with relevant organisations and promoting relevant training and resources to support children and young people.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with Integrated Care Boards on the source of funding for redundancy packages resulting from the abolition of NHS England. \p Karin Smyth: Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of the abolition of NHS England, we are clear about the need for a smaller centre, as well as scaling back integrated care board running costs and National Health Service provider corporate costs in order to reduce waste and bureaucracy in the NHS.

Funding arrangements have been agreed with His Majesty’s Treasury to enable redundancies to be funded within the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC’s) Spending Review settlement. £860 million of planned resource funding has been re-profiled from later to earlier years of DHSC’s Spending Review settlement. This will enable DHSC to continue making progress towards halving headcount across DHSC and NHS England. This will unlock savings of £1 billion a year by the end of the Parliament, equivalent to the cost of over 115,000 extra hip and knee operations.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the reasons for increases in levels of lead poisoning in children. \p Ashley Dalton: The UK Health Security Agency coordinates the Lead in Children Exposure Surveillance System, a passive surveillance system covering England, which aims to identify elevated blood lead concentrations, greater than 0.24µmol/L, the equivalent to ≥5μg/dL, in children under 15 years old.

Between 2016 to 2020, the annual number of cases ranged between 33 and 49. From 2021 there was a marked increase in the number of cases. The steep rise in reported cases from 2021 onwards is due to a change in the case definition in our surveillance system. Following a review of the evidence of the harm of lead exposure in children, the public health intervention concentration was lowered from 0.48μmol/L, the equivalent to ≥10μg/dL, to 0.24μmol/L, the equivalent to ≥5μg/dL.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the number of illegitimate businesses and rogue retailers selling tobacco and nicotine products. \p Ashley Dalton: Underage and illicit sales of tobacco and vapes undermine the Government’s work to protect people from harm and risk of addiction. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will strengthen enforcement, supporting legitimate businesses and cracking down on rogue retailers who breach tobacco and vape regulations. The bill introduces new £200 fixed penalty notices in England and Wales for certain offences, including underage sales, and enables the introduction of a retail licensing scheme in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland for the sale of tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products, and a new registration scheme for tobacco, vape, and nicotine products sold on the United Kingdom’s market.

Alongside the bill, we are investing £30 million of new funding for enforcement agencies in 2025/26, including Trading Standards, HM Revenue and Customs, and Border Force. This funding is being used to support the enforcement of illicit and underage tobacco and vape sales in England, including a boost to the Trading Standards workforce by recruiting 94 new apprentices.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to allocate funding for redundancy packages (a) following the abolition of NHS England and (b) for Integrated Care Boards. \p Karin Smyth: Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of the abolition of NHS England, we are clear on the need for a smaller centre, as well as scaling back integrated care board running costs and National Health Service provider corporate cost reductions in order to reduce waste and bureaucracy.

£860 million of planned resource funding has been re-profiled from later to earlier years of the Department’s Spending Review settlement. This will enable the Department to continue making progress towards halving headcount across the Department and NHS England. This will unlock savings of £1 billion a year by the end of the Parliament, equivalent to the cost of over 115,000 extra hip and knee operations.
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Stuart Andrew:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what meetings or engagements Ministers or senior officials from his department have had with any of the following patient organisations to discuss newborn screening: (a) Genetic Alliance UK (b) UK LSD Collaborative (c) UK Newborn Screening Collaborative (d) ArchAngel MLD Trust (e) MPS Society (f) MLD Support Association UK (g) SMA UK (h) Immunodeficiency UK (i) Alex, The Leukodystrophy Charity (j) Metabolic Support UK, since July 2024. \p Ashley Dalton: The Government remains committed to improving the lives of people living with rare diseases through the UK Rare Diseases Framework, which includes faster diagnosis as one of its four priorities.

In all aspects of population and targeted screening, ministers are advised by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). When assessing the case for newborn screening for rare diseases, as with all other diseases and conditions, the UK NSC uses internationally recognised criteria and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process. It is only where the UK NSC is confident that the offer to screen provides more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended. When the UK NSC makes a screening recommendation, ministers are then asked to consider and make a decision on whether to accept the recommendation.

This year, the UK NSC secretariat carried out a review of the committee’s stakeholder engagement strategy and activities. The review included an online survey and three focused stakeholder discussion groups that were attended by a total of 17 external stakeholders, including seven representatives of patient organisations representing rare diseases affecting newborns. The UK NSC stakeholder strategy is being updated to incorporate their valuable feedback and is expected to be published in early 2026.

Although the Department screening team supporting the UK NSC has limited capacity to meet with individual stakeholders, they actively involve and engage with stakeholders and partners in other ways. For example:

The Department screening team meets regularly with the Department’s rare diseases team to discuss overlapping areas of work. The rare diseases team have working relationships with the wider rare diseases community and junior officials have met with Genetic Alliance UK.
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Dr Caroline Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the final report of the Cass Review, published in April 2024, what steps he is taking to help ensure the data linkage study is completed. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care 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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Edward Argar:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of (a) named day questions, and (b) ordinary written questions were responded to by his Department within the required timescale in (i) May 2025, (ii) June 2025, (iii) July 2025, (iv) August 2025, (v) September 2025 and (vi) October 2025. \p Karin Smyth: The Department of Health and Social Care 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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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of testing for other commonly linked conditions when running diagnosis tests for ME/CFS. \p Ashley Dalton: The Department recognises the significant challenges faced by individuals living with multiple complex conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). Our approach focuses on improving care coordination and access to appropriate services.

For ME/CFS, we have published a cross-Government final delivery plan, which sets out actions to boost research, improve professional education, and enhance support for daily living, including community-based services and better benefit assessments. While the plan is specific to ME/CFS, it acknowledges overlaps with other long-term conditions such as EDS and commits to exploring synergies during implementation.

Additionally, the 10-Year Health Plan aims to transform services and outcomes for people living with complex conditions such as EDS and ME/CFS by prioritising integrated, personalised care. The plan focuses on earlier diagnosis and promotes multidisciplinary teams and community-based services to deliver coordinated support closer to home, reducing reliance on hospital care. Digital innovations, including remote monitoring and personalised care planning, will help manage long-term conditions more effectively.

Guidance published by the National Institute for Care Excellence on the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS, reference code NG206, does not recommend routine testing for conditions such as EDS as part of the diagnostic process for ME/CFS. The guideline makes clear that there is no single test for ME/CFS and diagnosis should be based on the clinical assessment of symptoms persisting for at least three months. It advises clinicians to carry out investigations only to rule out other possible causes of symptoms or to identify comorbidities that require separate management. Testing for other conditions, like EDS, should be considered if clinical features suggest their presence, rather than as a standard part of ME/CFS assessment.
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Stuart Andrew:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the National Screening Committee and the newborn screening programme appropriately consider rare diseases. \p Ashley Dalton: When assessing the case for newborn screening for rare diseases, as with all other diseases and conditions, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) uses internationally recognised criteria, and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process. It is only where the UK NSC is confident that the offer to screen provides more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended.

The UK NSC is an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on all aspects of population and targeted screening and supports implementation.
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Cat Smith:To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church is taking to rebuild trust with survivors of abuse within the Church of England. \p Marsha De Cordova: The Church of England recognises that trust among victims and survivors varies greatly, as each survivor is on a different journey. We engage with a high number of people with lived experience, and we are committed to learning with those with lived experience and rebuilding trust, relationships, and steps to healing and recovery.

Some survivors are rebuilding trust through support services such as the Interim Support Service, and diocesan support provision, while others actively shape safeguarding improvements by co-developing policies and practices. We recognise that for many survivors developing trust is hard to do, and we acknowledge that reality and seek a victim-led approach.

In recent years the Church has created multiple opportunities for survivors to speak out and influence change, through survivor participation opportunities, feedback forms, questionnaires, and involvement in interview panels, project boards, and audits, including the National Safeguarding Team audit last summer.

We regularly update the survivor participation webpage and send a monthly newsletter to maintain open communication and transparency.

Last year, we co-developed a National Survivor Participation Framework with victims and survivors, which now guides engagement across the Church, and we achieved a milestone of having the Redress Scheme – also co-designed with survivors at the heart of it- to be approved by the General Synod.

Looking ahead, we plan to activate a framework tailored to listening to children and young people, create a national system to capture the impact of survivor engagement, and embed the Framework across dioceses and cathedrals. Building trust is a long-term commitment, and we continue to work with victims and survivors, and external agencies, to build on the work we have started.
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Cat Smith:To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what discussions the Church of England has had with Church of England academies with admission processes that exclude potential pupils of another faith or none. \p Marsha De Cordova: In a voluntary aided (VA) school or former VA school that has converted to become an academy, school admissions are the responsibility of the governing body or trust directors. Church of England schools, as Church Schools, have to consult with the Diocesan Board of Education as they set their admissions policy and oversubscription criteria. In doing so they will be mindful of the need to be true to their foundation principles and respond to parental preference, whilst meeting their desire to serve the community for which the school was established.

The Church of England Vision for Education sets out our aspiration to be ‘deeply Christian, serving the common good’, and schools, in consultation with their dioceses, will consider how best to achieve this at a local level.

Schools cannot and do not exclude pupils on the basis of faith, but when a school is oversubscribed, they apply oversubscription criteria which have to be fair, clear and objective. It is right for such policies to be set locally (following regular consultation) because each local context varies enormously. For example, a school which is the only school serving a particular community is likely to take a different approach to admissions compared to a context where there are several schools available and where parental demand for the ethos and type of education offered by a Church of England school is more pronounced.

The National Church Institutions can only comment on best practice, I would suggest that if the Hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre has a specific school in mind, the local diocese education team would be best placed to discuss the matter with her. The details of Blackburn Diocese’s Education team can be found here: https://www.bdeducation.org.uk/schools/
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Jim McMahon:To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what estimate the Church has made of the value of community ownership transfer for church asset disposals in England. \p Marsha De Cordova: Such an estimate has not been made by the National Church Institutions. Consecrated Church of England church buildings that have been declared closed under the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 can only be disposed of under the provisions of that Measure. The provisions of the Localism Act do not apply (even where such buildings have been designated as an Asset of Community Value).

The Measure (and its predecessors) places upon the church authorities the responsibility to find the most suitable alternative use for such buildings, which enables us to dispose of them for less than market value, for uses that continue to serve the local community.

Diocese and parishes are separate legal entities and, in the large majority of cases, the management of their other assets falls outside the remit of the National Church Institutions (except to suggest best practice).
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan will be delivered in the form of a single document. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Investment Plan will be a single document that sets out how the Ministry of Defence will deliver the vision of the Strategic Defence Review over the next 10 years.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to improve the electronic warfare capabilities of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. \p Luke Pollard: The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) designates the Cyber and Electromagnetic (CyberEM) domain as a strategic priority. In response, UK Strategic Command has transitioned to become Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC), providing explicit four-star leadership for the CyberEM domain alongside pan-Defence responsibility for Electronic Warfare (EW) concepts, doctrine, and capability development.

Additionally, CSOC has now established the Defence Cyber and EM Force (DCEMF) at two-star level to support operational commanders in integrating Electronic Warfare across the range of military effects.

Current EW programmes and projects continue to be funded and supported in service. Future proposals for additional EW capabilities are being considered through the Defence Investment Plan.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with references to the Written Statement on the Armoured Cavalry Programme (HCWS1099), published on 26 November 2025, what steps he has taken to help tackle issues relating to noise and vibration prior to declaring Initial Operating Capability. \p Luke Pollard: Ajax has been through rigorous trials and an assured safety process, including with the Health and Safety Executive, with the evidence showing it is safe to operate.

We will always put the safety of our personnel first and the current pause shows that we will investigate any issues when they arise.

I am also putting in place a Ministerial led review into the Ajax programme, which will assess how effective the department has been at implementing the actions of previous reviews, and seeking anything further that is required regarding safety.

It will be conducted by experts who are not part of the AJAX programme, including Malcolm Chalmers, to provide a more independent view. It will be overseen by myself and report to the Defence Secretary.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with references to the Written Statement on the Armoured Cavalry Programme (HCWS1099), published on 26th November 2025, what assurances was the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry given prior to announcing Initial Operating Capability. \p Luke Pollard: Before declaring Initial Operating Capability, I received written assurances from the Chief of the General Staff and the acting NAD that the vehicle was safe to operate. Within the letter note AJAX the vehicle was described as ‘demonstrably safe to operate”.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the current operational status of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet, including which (a) frigates and (b) destroyers are (i) ready for deployment, (ii) at sea, (iii) in refit, (iv) in extended maintenance, and (v) expected to be unavailable for operational tasking for more than six months. \p Luke Pollard: For operational security reasons, the Ministry of Defence does not routinely disclose elements of the Fleet's long-term schedule and readiness profiles. The Ministry of Defence continues to ensure that it has sufficient assets available to deliver our highest priority operational outputs.

Currently the Royal Navy has 53 Surface Ships in service, at varying states of operational availability and readiness. The RFA has 10. It is important to see availability as a constant cycle as ships move through maintenance, training, and deployment and recovery phases, with around 50% of the fleet at high readiness or above at any one time.

The Royal Navy continues to modernise its Fleet through careful management of a surface fleet transition plan to ensure the highest priority outputs are maintained through this decade and the next. We are replacing our Type 23 Frigates with eight of the world’s most advanced anti-submarine warfare ships, the Type 26 Frigates. They will be bolstered by five general purpose Type 31 Frigates, providing opportunity to project power, support NATO operations and influence on the global stage.

More information on Readiness Days can be found here: Committees.parliament.uk/publications/49894/documents/267958/default/
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost is of contracting consultants to deliver Defence Reform. \p Luke Pollard: The contract awarded for Defence Reform has a value of £15.8 million (excluding VAT). Further details are available on the GOV.UK Contract Finder.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to streamline his Department’s procurement procedures. \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. Further Commercial Pathways are being developed including for S&T and Experimentation, National Security, and Infrastructure with a focus on harnessing commercial flexibilities to drive pace and adaptability.

These pathways underpin the new segmented approach to procurement which sets ambitious targets to drastically reduce the timescales to get new projects on contract by tailoring processes and timelines to the type of acquisition supplier and risk involved. This includes the Rapid Commercial Exploitation segment to allow us to pull the latest technology into operations and increase innovation.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a timeline for the introduction of (a) future frigate classes, (b) autonomous systems and drones, and (c) AUKUS-related submarine capabilities; and if he will set out which of these will be available before 2030. \p Luke Pollard: Future capability plans for the Royal Navy are being considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan. However, the first of the Type 26 and Type 31 frigates are scheduled to be ready for operations by the end of the decade, with further uncrewed and autonomous systems scheduled to be introduced over the next five years. By 2030, AUKUS partners will establish a rotational SSN presence in Australia, embed advanced technologies through Pillar II, and build industrial and workforce capacity.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many consultants have been contracted as part of Defence Reform. \p Luke Pollard: The Department has one prime supplier contracted to deliver Defence Reform. This supplier operates as a consortium, within which 42 consultants are currently deployed.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many submarines have been unable to deploy due to maintenance overruns in each of the last five years; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the potential impact of increased operational tempos on submarine availability. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with the Submarine Delivery Agency and industry partners to minimise maintenance overruns and ensure that submarine availability remains aligned with operations

We are investing in infrastructure, work capacity and improved maintenance processes to mitigate the impact of increased operational tempos on the Fleet.
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Luke Akehurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on the Land Precision Strike programme. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence is assessing potential opportunities for a Land Deep Fires munition capable of destroying targets out to extended ranges. A decision on Land Precision Strike progress is pending publication of the Defence Investment Plan.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will open the competition for Project Nightfall. \p Luke Pollard: The Department is currently reviewing feedback from industry on the NIGHTFALL Request for Information, which closed on 24 November 2025. We expect to launch the NIGHTFALL competition in December 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK “building the factories of the future” as government launches next phase of new munitions and energetics factories, published on 19 November 2025, how many orders he has placed for SG-1 Fathom underwater gliders. \p Luke Pollard: Under Atlantic Bastion, announced in the Strategic Defence Review, the Royal Navy (RN) will be exploiting new technologies through a portfolio of lean crewed, remotely operated and uncrewed/autonomous airborne, surface and sub-surface vehicles, sensors and nodes.

Helsing who makes the SG-1 Fathom have been selected to conduct a technology demonstration for the RN which is taking place in December 2025.

The RN is running a solicitation for Atlantic Net, the first phase of Atlantic Bastion, and in full adherence to commercial regulation, it will conduct a fair and transparent assessment against peer proposals, ahead of any contract award.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-02 conversation_117

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the planned in service date is for Project Nightfall. \p Luke Pollard: The Department has not determined the in-service date for Project NIGHTFALL as we have yet to launch the competition and receive formal industry bids. We expect to launch the NIGHTFALL competition in December 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-02 conversation_118

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the details and values of contracts his Department has placed with a) universities and b) private research organisations in respect of work for the Defence Nuclear Enterprise since 2015. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence (specifically the Defence Nuclear Organisation and Submarine Delivery Agency) has placed 25 contracts at a cumulative contract value of £4.456 million with universities and private research organisations for work relating to the Defence Nuclear Enterprise since 2015. Specific contract details may be exempt from publication due to National Security. Where applicable, contracts have been published and can be found on Contracts Finder. Further details are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-02 conversation_119

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Written Statement of 26 November 2025 on Ajax Programme Update, HCWS 1099, on what evidential basis his Department declared Initial Operating Capability for the Ajax programme in November 2025. \p Luke Pollard: I announced Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for the Armoured Cavalry Programme (commonly known as Ajax) on 5 November 2025.

As safety is the top priority for the Ministerial Team, prior to Ajax IOC being announced, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry I asked for and was given assurances in writing by senior Ministry of Defence personnel that the system was safe.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-02 conversation_120

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the university departments where his Department is currently funding PhD students under the Nuclear Skills Plan working on projects in support of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence is working jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to deliver the Nuclear Skills Plan, a collaboration between defence and civil sectors. Through this plan, an additional 26 PhD students have been funded across the Universities of Manchester, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Strathclyde, Bangor, Bristol, Cambridge, Imperial College London and The Open University, in support of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-02 conversation_121

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many compensation claims relating to noise and vibration symptoms incurred during use of Ajax-variants have been made since the start of the Armoured Cavalry Programme. \p Luke Pollard: It will take time to collate and review the information needed to answer the hon. Member’s question. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-02 conversation_122

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there are any Australian naval personnel sited at any U.K. Defence Nuclear Enterprise establishment as part of the AUKUS collaboration in nuclear-propelled submarines. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence is working closely with Australia and the United States under the AUKUS partnership to deliver conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines for Australia. As part of this collaboration, Australian naval personnel are embedded with the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) including the Royal Navy, Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), and UK Industry to gain the skills and experience required to operate and sustain nuclear-powered submarines. This activity is essential to building Australia's sovereign capability.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-02 conversation_123

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been the cost to date of the Astraea nuclear warhead design and production programme. \p Luke Pollard: The UK’s replacement warhead, Astraea, remains in the concept phase. I am withholding details on cost for purpose of safeguarding national security.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-02 conversation_124

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the (a) frigate and (b) destroyer refit programmes that have been (i) cancelled and (ii) deferred on grounds of cost since July 2024. \p Luke Pollard: The Royal Navy constantly reviews maintenance and refit requirements across the fleet to achieve maximum availability of its platforms for operational tasking.

No Type 45 refit programmes have been cancelled or deferred on the grounds of cost since July 2024.

In November 2024, the Secretary of State for Defence announced that the Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland was to be retired due to the structural damage discovered during refit which rendered the vessel uneconomical to repair.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-02 conversation_125

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the outcomes were of his meeting with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission on foreign and security policy. \p Al Carns: On 22 October 2025, the Defence Secretary met in London with the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the first foreign and security policy dialogue between the United Kingdom and the EU established under the recently agreed UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership. The Foreign Secretary also held a separate engagement with the High Representative during the visit. Together, these discussions underscored the shared commitment to strengthening defence and security cooperation at this critical moment for Euro-Atlantic Security, particularly in support of Ukraine.

The Defence Secretary and the High Representative’s discussion emphasised the importance of effectively implementing the UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership, including as a means of bolstering NATO. Their talks also covered European defence industrial mechanisms, including the SAFE initiative, EU Defence Readiness 2030, and the use of frozen Russian assets to help ensure Ukraine receives the support it needs in its defence against Russia. They looked ahead to future dialogues as an opportunity to further shared objectives.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-02 conversation_126

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether restrictions have been placed on offensive operations in space involving Space Warfighters. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence continuously assess its response options to ensure our Armed Forces can act appropriately against malign activities and future threats.

For reasons of national security, we are not able to disclose specific details of military operations or response options. To do so would be beneficial to our adversaries.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-02 conversation_127

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with international counterparts on levels of civilian harm caused by military practice in international conflicts. \p Al Carns: Protection of civilians is directed through Joint Service Publication (JSP) 985, Human Security in Defence. It is at the heart of Defence’s human-centric approach to operations and is reflected in all relevant policies and operating procedures. The department engages regularly with international colleagues regarding this topic, including at ministerial level.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-02 conversation_128

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of a potential Ukraine-Russia peace proposal on the UK's capability commitments to NATO's Eastern Flank. \p Al Carns: The UK welcomes the diplomatic efforts led by President Trump and President Zelenskyy to make progress towards a sustainable peace, and we continue to work closely with our European partners, the United States and Ukraine in support of these discussions which remain ongoing.

The UK’s commitment to NATO and Allied collective security is unwavering, as demonstrated by our commitments on the Eastern Flank. This includes the UK’s role as Framework Nation for the Forward Land Forces Battlegroup in Estonia, our regular deployments of Typhoon aircraft to support NATO Air Policing missions, and our contributions to maritime and surveillance operations in the Baltic region

These commitments remain enduring elements of NATO’s deterrence and defence posture.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-02 conversation_129

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recent Ukraine-Russia peace proposals, whether he plans to accelerate any preparations to deploy a potential British peacekeeping force to Ukraine. \p Al Carns: The UK is fully committed to a just and lasting peace and a permanent end to the horrendous suffering that this war has brought to Ukraine.

Convened by the Prime Minister and President Macron on 25 November, Coalition of the Willing Leaders met to discuss how to advance the current peace process and what more can be done to keep Ukraine in the fight now.

Leaders also discussed planning for the Multinational Force Ukraine. We continue to refine these plans on an enduring basis to ensure that a force can deploy in the days following the cessation of hostilities.