theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_51
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_51

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding his Department is providing for the development of unmanned ground vehicles. \p Luke Pollard: The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) 2025 recommended a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence within the UK’s conventional force.

It stated a common digital foundation of data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), synthetic environments, and networks should connect people and platforms across all domains, and with allies and partners. This gives the Integrated Force agility, speed of manoeuvre, and effective targeting to outmatch adversaries.

The merits of military use of AI assisted drones are widely acknowledged in several roles and environments, most notably in Ukraine. The availability of extensive suites of sensors designed to operate across the electromagnetic spectrum have removed many of the traditional barriers associated with operations at night or in restricted visibility. Furthermore, the utility for AI enabled drones to exploit these sensors, including during periods of rest for, or absence of, human surveillance teams, is a fundamental consideration for UK Defence’s capability development.

Consequently, the SDR stated that uncrewed and autonomous systems will be incorporated into the Integrated Force in high numbers over the next five years. They will be networked with crewed fifth- and sixth-generation assets as part of a ‘high-low’ mix of capabilities, while these systems’ design will be tailored to the conditions in which they will operate, day or night; whether undersea, at sea, on land, or in the air.

The development of UGV and drone capabilities remains a dynamic and evolving area. While specific projects are underway, detailed information cannot be provided whilst the projects are in their Concept Phase.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_52
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many jobs will be created in Scotland as a result of the Defence Industrial Strategy in each of the next five years. \p Luke Pollard: It is not possible to estimate the number of jobs being created in Scotland as a result of the Defence Industrial Strategy, as decisions on future investments in Scotland or assessments of its impact have not yet been made.

However, the defence sector is a significant employer in Scotland – MOD spending with industry supported 11,800 jobs in Scotland in 2023-24 – and we expect the Defence Industrial Strategy to contribute significantly to this over the next five years through initiatives such as the Scotland Defence Growth Deal.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_53

Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual salary of the UK Defence Innovation CEO will be. \p Luke Pollard: The role of UKDI CEO is currently being assessed to understand the full extent of its responsibilities and accountabilities. Once this evaluation is complete a salary scale will be agreed according to the market rates for a position of this scope.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_54
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 3.2.3.2 of the Defence Industrial Strategy, published on 8 September 2025, how many of the graduates recruited for Team Tempest were from Scottish universities since 2022. \p Luke Pollard: Defence programmes like the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) are already inspiring and supporting future STEM professionals, innovators and leaders. Graduates from Scottish universities have been recruited by Team Tempest industry partners, providing the opportunity to work on a range of combat air programmes and platforms, including FCAS. However, the number is not held centrally by the Department.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_55
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what will be the next steps following the launch of the Development Phase of the Global Combat Air Programme. \p Luke Pollard: As set out in the joint statement following the Secretary of State for Defences’ meeting with H.E. Mr Nakatani Gen, Minister of Defense of Japan on 28 August 2025 “Recognising the significance of the GCAP”, the Ministers reaffirmed their personal commitment to it and to accelerating work to conclude the first international contract between the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) and industry joint venture, Edgewing, by the end of 2025.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_56
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ares armoured vehicles were accepted in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025 to date. \p Luke Pollard: I can confirm that in 2024, 22 ARES vehicles were accepted and delivered to the British Army. As at 31 July 2025, six ARES vehicles have been accepted and delivered to the Army in 2025.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_57
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_57

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of fitting the Case Telescoped 40mm Cannon to the Ares platform in (a) manned turret or (b) remote weapon station form. \p Luke Pollard: An initial assessment has shown that it is not possible to integrate a crewed CT40 turret on ARES. No assessment has been made of the CT40 on a Remote Weapon Station.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_58
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_58

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of defence procurement spending in the (a) Tees Valley and (b) North East. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes annual statistics on expenditure with industry and commerce by UK region.

On the 11 September 2025 the Department will publish the next edition which will be found here: MOD regional expenditure with industry: index - GOV.UK and will cover MOD for expenditure with commerce and industry for Financial Year 2024-25.

This will include a breakdown of spending by region, including a breakdown for the North-East but we are unable to disaggregate that to the Tees Valley as this represents a sub region. The Department system currently captures data at regional level.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_60
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_60

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 135 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on decarbonising energy systems across defence. \p Luke Pollard: The Strategic Defence Review sets a path for the next decade and beyond to transform Defence and make the UK stronger both at home and abroad. The Government endorses the Review's vision and accepts all 62 recommendations.

The implementation of the Review's recommendations is underway. Implementation will be priority business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort.

We will develop a new Defence Investment Plan to take onboard the Review's vision and recommendations and turn them into a delivery plan. We will ensure that this Plan is affordable, considers infrastructure and people, alongside capabilities, enables flexibility to seize new technological opportunities, and maximises the benefits of defence spending to grow the UK economy. The decarbonisation of energy systems is incorporated into this approach.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_61
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_61

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of the next class of ship to be developed by the Royal Navy to have electric engines. \p Luke Pollard: The UK has committed to reducing its contribution to global warming by setting a target to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. All future shipbuilding programmes will therefore investigate alternative power and propulsion options and energy efficiencies within their designs as well as technologies for measuring and optimising power consumption. Importantly, as well as cutting carbon this improves the warfighting resilience of our platforms.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_62
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_62

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the defence sector’s contribution to net zero targets. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) remains fully committed to contributing to the UK achieving its legal commitment to be Net Zero by 2050. Between Financial Year 2019-20 and Financial Year 2023-24, the MOD as a Department has reduced its overall emissions from 3,650,000 tCO2e to 3,012,000 tCO2e. A more detailed breakdown of Defence energy use and associated carbon emissions can be found in Annex D of the MOD Annual Report and Accounts.

The wider Defence sector must comply with Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 006 Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts, requiring Carbon Reduction Plans, to be published online at supplier selection stage for procurements valued at £5 million (ex VAT) or more per year, where relevant and proportionate. MOD are encouraging the application of PPN 016: Carbon Reduction Contract Schedule which provides standard terms to support decarbonisation objectives, including Greenhouse gas emissions reporting, reduction targets, and monitoring through supplier Carbon Reduction Plans. Additionally, when procuring infrastructure, the MOD must adhere to Joint Services Policy 850 to ensure energy efficiency and carbon emissions reduction.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_63
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to p.6 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, if he will publish a breakdown of the associated costs for the sovereign warhead programme over this Parliament; and whether he expects that programme to be completed during this Parliament. \p Luke Pollard: The £15 billion to be invested in this Parliament covers a range of programmes across the nuclear warhead portfolio to support the sovereign warhead. That investment includes sustaining our current Mk4A warhead; developing Astraea, our sovereign replacement warhead programme; and modernising the associated infrastructure, which will be completed beyond the current Parliament. Updates to Parliament will be provided in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise annual report.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_64
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_64

Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Industrial Strategy, what additional support his Department will give to Scottish businesses in the light of the new approach to defence exports. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Industrial Strategy set out how the Ministry of Defence will launch new Defence Growth Deals. One of these will be in Scotland and will be developed in partnership with the Scottish Government.

Norway’s recent decision to equip itself with the Type 26 Frigates, proudly built in Scotland, will support over 2,000 jobs and 103 businesses there and demonstrates this Government is committed to ensuring the ‘defence dividend’ benefits communities across the United Kingdom, including Scotland.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_65
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_65

Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what comparative assessment he has made of the level of funding his Department makes in the defence industry in Scotland compared to the south of England. \p Luke Pollard: In 2024-25, the Ministry of Defence’s expenditure in Scotland per capita was £390. In comparison, the expenditure per capita was £1,120 in the South West, £810 in the South East, and £330 in London.

The Defence Industrial Strategy will support further investment into the defence industry in Scotland through initiatives such as the Defence Growth Deals, alongside other programmes such as the Type 26 Warship partnership with Norway, the biggest ever warship export deal by value, creating over 2000 jobs in Glasgow. We also signed the landmark Unity defence contract in January, creating at least 200 jobs in Scotland.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_66

Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion of the funding made available through the defence growth deals will be allocated to the defence industry in Scotland. \p Luke Pollard: A funding pot of £250 million has been allocated for the five Defence Growth Deals. The Ministry of Defence will work with the Scottish Government, local authorities, industry, academia and other key local stakeholders to assess Scotland’s defence sector requirements and develop initiatives for the Scotland Defence Growth Deal that addresses those. Funding will be allocated to the Scotland Defence Growth Deal that ensures the right financial support is provided and the impact for Scotland is maximised.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_67

Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much of the ringfenced UKDI budget will be allocated to Scotland. \p Luke Pollard: As we have set out in our Defence Industrial Strategy (UKDI), the Government is committed to ensuring that the benefits of defence investment are felt in every nation and region of the UK.

Decisions over future UKDI spending will be confirmed through the Defence Investment Plan.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_68

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of procuring (a) lower-value and (b) highly attritable autonomous collaborative platforms in order to saturate defensive systems. \p Luke Pollard: The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy, including Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs), within the UK's conventional forces over the next five years. High numbers of ACPs will be incorporated into the Integrated Force across the full breadth of operating environments as part of a '20-40-40' mix of capabilities alongside fifth and sixth generation platforms. This means combining advanced, crewed systems with cheaper, autonomous, and expendable assets to deliver greater mass, agility, and resilience.

We will prioritise investment in UK-based defence firms as part of this autonomy drive, aiming to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and enhance national security by fostering innovation and resilience within the sector. Investment opportunities with British Defence companies will be determined as part of the Defence Investment Plan.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_69

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 6 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, which team in his Department is responsible for developing a dedicated strategy for the financial services sector by March 2026. \p Luke Pollard: The Growth and Missions Directorate within the Department of State will lead the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy in collaboration with Military Strategic Head Quarters and the National Armaments Director Group. They will be supported by the Defence Investors' Advisory Group that will be made of eminent professionals within the banking and venture capital sector.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_70

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with local authorities on Ministry of Defence estate (a) disposal and (b) redevelopment. \p Luke Pollard: As part of ensuring defence’s role as an engine for growth, the Ministry of Defence holds frequent discussions with Local Authorities across the country when formulating plans for the disposal of sites for which there is no further Defence requirement, and plans for redevelopment on the operational estate.

These discussions cover a wide range of policy matters ranging from town planning, environmental and heritage matters, to transport and ecology.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_71
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_71

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list all live maritime service contracts his Department has with subsidiaries of Serco Limited. \p Luke Pollard: SD Victoria and SD Northern River currently operate under the Serco Continued Procurement of Marine Services contract which expires on 30 September 2025. From 1 October 2025, the two vessels will operate the under the Serco Defence Marine Service Offshore to Military Training Contract. This contract was awarded on the 14 May 2025 following a competitive procurement process. The Contract has a duration of 10 years and a cost of £94 million.

The Ministry of Defence has no live maritime service contracts with subsidiaries of Serco.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_72
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_72

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 3 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, what metric was used to measure (a) the lethality of the Armed Forces, (b) productivity (i) within Defence and (ii) of industry and (c) the national economic impact of Defence spending and procurement. \p Luke Pollard: This Government endorses the Strategic Defence Review’s (SDR) vision and accepts all 62 recommendations. The implementation of the Review’s recommendations will be priority business for the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort.

Work is underway across the Department to develop metrics to support the monitoring of delivery. In response to the specific elements of recommendation 3 referenced:

i) Within Defence:

How Defence is driving productivity will be codified in the Defence Reform and Efficiency Plan due to be published alongside the Defence Investment Plan later this year.

Productivity in Defence is measured through efficiency and effectiveness. This includes; cashable savings over the short or medium term and non-financial benefits such as time savings, the ability to redeploy military personnel and enhanced user experience. This aligns to the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) approach to measuring Public Sector productivity.

Ii) Of Industry  Work is currently underway to develop a Defence Supply Chain and Industry Productivity Key Performance Indicator (KPI), led by the National Armaments Director.

The definition and measurement of productivity is complex but also vitally important. The establishment of effective metrics will help drive the UK’s ability to convert resources—capital, labour, infrastructure, and innovation—into deployable capability at pace and scale. The MOD will actively work with stakeholders across government, industry, and academia to co-design this metric. The KPI is expected to evolve over time as data systems and policy maturity improve.

Defence (docx, 16.0KB)
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_73
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_73

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs the Tempest Global Combat Air Programme will create. \p Luke Pollard: There are over 4,500 people working on the Future Combat Air System programme across the UK. At the core of the programme is the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) partnership between the UK, Japan and Italy to deliver a next-generation combat aircraft. We expect GCAP to support thousands of jobs across all three nations.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_74
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_74

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the end date is of the current concept phase of Project Grayburn. \p Luke Pollard: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 May to Question 49814, which advised that Project GRAYBURN aims to enter its assessment phase in 2026, following completion of its concept phase.

Army: Rifles (docx, 16.0KB)
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_75
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_75

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Project Grayburn will include 300 Blackout as a calibre option within the scope of the Individual Weapons requirements. \p Luke Pollard: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on the 28 April 2025 to Question 45196, which explains that Project GRAYBURN is in its concept phase with the aim of identifying and understanding capability requirements, which includes consideration of other rifles, calibres, and ancillary items.

Army: Rifles (docx, 16.3KB)
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_76
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64478 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, and with reference to the 50,000 drones to Ukraine announced in his oral statement of 17 July 2025 on Ukraine, col 476, in which circumstances it is his Department's policy to provide information on military drone procurement. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) considers each parliamentary question (PQ) and oral statement on their own merits and responds accordingly.

An important factor in our consideration of PQ responses is the impact of the response on operational security, including the effect of the aggregation of several such answers over a period of time.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_77
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_77

Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 67413 on France: Military Alliances, with reference to the Answer of 22 April 2025 to Question HL6719 on Nuclear Weapons, how his Department defines tactical nuclear weapons. \p Luke Pollard: The UK does not categorise nuclear weapon capabilities as either strategic or sub-strategic/tactical. The UK and NATO have said that any employment of nuclear weapons against NATO would fundamentally alter the nature of a conflict.

The UK’s nuclear weapons are a tool aiming to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, and that of our NATO Allies, rather than a warfighting capability intended to achieve a tactical or battlefield military advantage in a conflict.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_78
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_78

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 59 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what plans he has to present the Defence Infrastructure Recapitalisation Plan to Parliament. \p Luke Pollard: There are currently no plans to present the Defence Infrastructure Recapitalisation Plan to Parliament.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_79
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_79

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 49 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad, published on 2 June 2025, how much will his Department invest into the resilience of UK military space systems in each financial year of the current Parliament. \p Luke Pollard: Work to deliver Strategic Defence Review recommendation 49 will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan due for release in the Autumn. This work is critical to ensuring Defence-wide capability prioritisation is conducted to understand where the greatest requirements rest.

Government investment will build on the current UK Space ecosystem to prioritise, cohere and unlock the nation's space potential. Government Departments are working collaboratively to identify space synergies and common priorities to ensure a coherent approach.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_80
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_80

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to procure additional Ares vehicles beyond the 93 ordered. \p Luke Pollard: There are no current plans to procure additional ARES vehicles beyond the 93 ordered.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_81
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_81

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to confirm the (a) delivery and (b) in-service date for the new F35A jets. \p Luke Pollard: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave to Question 63225 on 7 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Poole.

F-35 Aircraft (docx, 15.8KB)
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_82
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of improving the UK’s capability to facilitate in air refuelling. \p Luke Pollard: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave to Question 63066 on 4 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon.

F-35 Aircraft: In-flight Refuelling (docx, 15.9KB)
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_83
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_83

Mike Martin:To ask the Solicitor General, what assessment the Crown Prosecution Service has made of the adequacy of National Investigation Service investigations. \p Ellie Reeves: The Department for Business and Trade has responsibility for the National Investigation Service, given it is overseen by the Insolvency Service. As a result, the Crown Prosecution has made no assessment of the adequacy of the National Investigation Service.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_84
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_84

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Solicitor General, what assessment her Department has made of the number of (a) rape and (b) sexual violence cases that are withdrawn post-charge; and what support is available to victims to help them continue with their cases. \p Ellie Reeves: Reducing victim attrition remains a serious concern for this Government. We are committed to improving the experiences of victims of rape and sexual violence and ensuring they receive the support they need to continue with their cases.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recognises that it has a key role to play in ensuring that victims receive better communication and support at both the pre- and post-charge stages, underpinned by timely and high-quality decision making.

Through its Victim Transformation Programme, the CPS is taking action to improve the service offered to all victims of crime. As part of this work, all adult victims of rape now receive an Enhanced Service – which includes access to a dedicated Victim Liaison Officer, as well as the offer of a pre-trial meeting with the prosecution team. Victims are also able to speak with Independent Sexual Violence Advisors, who can answer questions and signpost them towards relevant support services.

More broadly, in May 2025, the CPS published its Victim Service Standards, which publicly set out the expectations CPS staff should meet when writing to or speaking with victims. The Standards make clear that victims can expect consistency, empathy and clarity from the CPS.

The two tables below show the overall volumes of prosecutions conducted by the CPS since 2021 for (1) rape flagged cases, and (2) cases where the principal offence category was ‘sexual offences’ (excluding rape flagged cases to avoid double counting).

For each category, the tables also provide the volume of victim attrition (the number of prosecutions that were stopped because the victim no longer supported, or was unable to support, the prosecution) and the rate of victim attrition (the proportion of total prosecutions that were discontinued for this reason).

Further information is available in the quarterly data published on the CPS website: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/cps-quarterly-data-summaries

Table 1: Victim attrition in rape flagged prosecutions

2021

2022

2023

2024

Jan-Mar 2025

Prosecutions

2,409

2,526

3,533

4,317

1,120

Victim Attrition (volume)

108

154

241

306

98

Victim Attrition (rate of all prosecutions)

4.5%

6.1%

6.8%

7.1%

8.8%

Table 2: Victim attrition in prosecutions for Sexual Offences (excluding rape flagged prosecutions)

2021

2022

2023

2024

Jan-Mar 2025

Prosecutions

9,016

9,701

11,064

12,832

3,712

Victim Attrition (volume)

185

230

261

322

93

Victim Attrition (rate of all prosecutions)

2.1%

2.4%

2.4%

2.5%

2.5%
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_85
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_85

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Solicitor General, what assessment her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of prosecutions arising from protest activity by Palestine Action. \p Ellie Reeves: Prosecutions relating to Palestine Action arrests are currently ongoing and at different stages of progression.

As such, no Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) costs assessments have been made at this stage, but the CPS continues to keep resourcing under review.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_86
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letter of 10 July 2025 from the hon. Member for Henley and Thame on maternity services. \p Karin Smyth: The letter has been passed to Baroness Amos as chair of the independent investigation into National Health Service maternity and neonatal care, and she will respond directly in due course.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_87
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_87

Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to ensure that NHS pay awards are implemented on 1 April each year. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to improving the timing of the pay round as set out in the Chancellor’s speech on 29 July 2024. We recognise the importance of giving certainty on pay settlements as early as possible and are working to be able to announce pay uplifts sooner this round.

Having accepted the 2025/26 headline pay recommendations in full, the Government issued remit letters to pay review boards in July 2025 formally beginning the 2026/27 pay round. This is over two months earlier than last year and puts us on track to meet the stated ambition of my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to announce and implement pay uplifts as close to 1 April 2026 as possible.
wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_88
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_88

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July to Question 66814 on Health Services: Oxfordshire, what steps he is taking to ensure that Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is able to recruit and retain midwives in the context of efficiency savings. \p Karin Smyth: The Government is committed to ensuring the National Health Service can both recruit and retain staff. We recently announced the Graduate Guarantee for nurses and midwives, which will ensure that there are enough positions available for every newly qualified midwife in England, and includes £8 million to support the temporary conversion of vacant maternity support worker posts to band 5 registered midwifery roles.

Additionally, NHS England is undertaking targeted retention programme for midwives, led by the Chief Nursing Officer. This includes: a midwifery and nursing retention self-assessment tool; mentoring schemes; strengthened advice and support on pensions and flexible retirement options; and the publication of menopause policies and guidance. NHS England has also invested in unit-based leads in every trust who focus on retention and provide pastoral support to midwives. This initiative, alongside investment in workforce capacity, has seen a reduction in vacancy, leaver and turnover rates.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_89

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing specialist menopause training for at least one GP in every surgery. \p Stephen Kinnock: General practitioners (GPs) are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge, including on menopause, remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to ensure that they can continue to provide high quality care to all patients.

All United Kingdom registered doctors are expected to meet the professional standards set out in the General Medical Council’s (GMC’s) Good Medical Practice. The training curriculum for postgraduate trainee doctors is set by the Royal College of General Practitioners, and must meet the standards set by the GMC.

The GMC has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment to encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the UK. The content map for this assessment includes several topics relating to women’s health including menstrual problems, endometriosis, menopause and urinary incontinence. This will encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_90

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the underspend in the additional roles reimbursement scheme has been reallocated. \p Stephen Kinnock: The table attached provides a funding and spending summary for the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, from 2019/20 to 2024/25.

Table - PQ68833, PQ68834 (docx, 20.7KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_91

Imran Hussain:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department plans to provide to children’s hospices after the 2025-26 financial year. \p Stephen Kinnock: We want a society where every child receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life.

We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care.  We are also providing £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. This is a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the children and young people’s hospice grant.

In 2024/25 and 2025/26, this funding was administered via ICBs in line with National Health Service devolution. We cannot yet confirm what the funding for 2026/27 will be, or how it will be administered.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_92

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has considered introducing multi-year NHS funding for the health elements of children's palliative care. \p Stephen Kinnock: Palliative care services, including for children, are included in the list of services that integrated care boards (ICBs) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. ICBs are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.

The Department and NHS England are looking at how to improve the access, quality and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10 Year Health Plan. The Government and the National Health Service will closely monitor the shift towards strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to ensure that the future state of services reduce variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_93

Steff Aquarone:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has conducted any regional modelling of dental workforce planning in (a) Norfolk and (b) the East of England. \p Stephen Kinnock: NHS England data shows that as of December 2024, 2,810 general dentists were working in the East of England, including 1,108 National Health Service full time equivalent (FTE) general dentists. The vacancy rate for NHS dentists was 17%. On the same date, 365 general dentists were working in Norfolk and Waveney, including 149 NHS FTE general dentists. The vacancy rate for NHS dentists was 18%.

We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan to create a workforce ready to deliver a transformed service. Staff will be more empowered, more flexible and more fulfilled. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care for patients, when patients need it.

Integrated care boards are also recruiting posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_94

Sir Andrew Mitchell:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to respite care for unpaid carers in Sutton Coldfield constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers and is committed to ensuring they have the support they need.

The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, which can include respite support for carers.

To help local authorities fulfil their duties, including to unpaid carers, the 2025 Spending Review allows for an increase of over £4 billion of funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_95

Mr Luke Charters:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, what steps his Department is taking to support dispensing general practices. \p Stephen Kinnock: We recognise that the services of dispensing practices play an important role in meeting the needs of rural communities, by ensuring patients receive their medicines promptly and conveniently.

Every year, the Department and NHS England consult with the British Medical Association (BMA) regarding the services general practices will provide, and the funding they will receive in return for these services. This includes the services, and relevant remuneration, of dispensing practices.

We have committed to substantive General Practice (GP) contract reform within this Parliament following acceptance of the 2025/26 contract by the England General Practitioners Committee of the BMA. As part of this, we expect to consider a breadth of topics, including dispensing practices.

On 3 July 2025, we published the 10-Year Health Plan, which announced the plan to introduce two new contracts, for neighbourhood providers and multi-neighbourhood providers, which will encourage GPs to work over larger geographies. We will begin to make these new contracts available in 2026, and more details will be provided in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_96

Sir Ashley Fox:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of staff in his Department have flexible working arrangements; and how many of those work compressed hours. \p Karin Smyth: The information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The Department is committed to delivering its business effectively and sustainably, by creating workplaces that enable smart, flexible and hybrid working. Flexible working is a broad category which refers to any type of working arrangement that gives some degree of flexibility around how long, where or when an individual works.

Individuals can request informal arrangements which, if implemented, would have no impact on an employee's pay or other terms and conditions, or as a formal request. Compressed hours, for example, may be an ad hoc arrangement that doesn’t involve a contractual change to the employee's daily working hours, or a formal arrangement. Both formal and informal arrangements are agreed between the employee and line manager, and therefore there is not a central record of all the arrangements that exist. There would be disproportionate cost involved in reviewing all employee files and collating information on all informal and formal flexible working arrangements, including compressed hours.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_97

Sir Ashley Fox:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of staff in his Department did not meet the minimum office attendance target in the latest period for which data is available; and what sanctions his Department issues to staff who do not meet this target. \p Karin Smyth: On 24 October 2024, the Cabinet Office announced that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Senior managers will continue to be expected to be in the office more than 60% of the time.

If people do not meet that reasonable expectation, as with any management instruction, it will be dealt with via existing performance management processes and ultimately with disciplinary action should there be sustained failure to comply.

Data on office attendance is published on the Government website and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-15 conversation_98

Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) doctors completing GP training and (b) available GP posts. \p Stephen Kinnock: NHS England produces regular forecasts of the numbers of doctors due to complete General Practitioner (GP) training. Latest data show that for 2025/26, 1,964 doctors completed GP training between 1 April and 21 August 2025 with a further 2,733 doctors forecast to complete GP training by 31 March 2026. Estimated completion dates are produced by GP educators based on doctors’ individual progress so are subject to change.

As practices do not have fixed establishment positions against which they report vacancies, we do not collect and publish data on vacancies in general practice.

The Government committed to recruiting over 1,000 recently qualified GPs in primary care networks (PCNs) through an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) over 2024/25, as part of an initiative to secure the future pipeline of GPs, with over 1,000 doctors otherwise likely to have graduated into unemployment in 2024/25. This funding has been continued into 2025/26.

Data on the number of recently qualified GPs for which PCNs are claiming reimbursement via the ARRS show that, since 1 October 2024, over 2,000 GPs were recruited through the scheme. Several changes have been made to increase the flexibility of ARRS in 2025/26. This includes GPs and practice nurses included in the main ARRS funding pot, an uplift of the maximum reimbursable rate for GPs in the scheme, and no caps on the number of GPs that can be employed through the scheme.