theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Richard Foord:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the planning system supports small-scale self-build developments. \p Matthew Pennycook: The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes measures designed to strengthen support for self and custom build housing by promoting mixed tenure development, including plots for self and custom build, and strengthening the wording around small site allocation for SME housebuilders.

We will continue to consider how we can best support the diversification of the housing market, including through the long-term housing strategy the government will publish later this year.
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Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure new developments include (a) swift boxes and (b) other provisions for environmental adaptations. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 28783 on 12 February 2025.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to implement the recommendations of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities's report entitled The impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission: executive summary, published on 16 June 2022. \p Matthew Pennycook: The park homes sector is an important part of the housing market.

The government recognises that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

We will set out plans in due course to seek further evidence from the sector on the rationale for the commission.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that planning decisions support the Government’s climate targets. \p Matthew Pennycook: Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today, and the planning system can play a powerful role in helping to mitigate and adapt to its effects.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 made some immediate changes to support climate change mitigation and adaptation through increased deployment of renewables and sustainable drainage systems, amendments to transport policy and changes to emphasise the importance of climate considerations in planning.

The Framework also makes clear that the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change should be considered in preparing and assessing planning applications.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the next round of the Affordable Housing Programme will include provision for the housing needs of older people given the pace of demographic change; and if she will implement the recommendation to expand provision of the Older People’s Shared Ownership scheme set out within the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report entitled Our Future Homes: Housing that promotes wellbeing and community for an ageing population, published on 26 November 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government will set out details of future investment in social and affordable housing at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for social rent.

The government is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the forthcoming housing strategy will consider (a) the housing needs of older people given the pace of demographic change and (b) the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report entitled Our Future Homes: Housing that promotes wellbeing and community for an ageing population, published on 26 November 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 28990 on 18 February 2025.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support Slough Borough Council to reduce homelessness. \p Rushanara Ali: Homelessness levels are far too high which can have a devastating impact on those affected.

The Government is looking at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to get us back on track to ending homelessness once and for all. This is why we have committed to a total spend of nearly £1billion in 25/26 for homelessness, a record level of funding.

In December, MHCLG announced that £633.2 million will be provided to councils in England through the Homelessness Prevention Grant 25/26, of which £2,538,151 has been allocated to Slough Borough Council. This funding represents an uplift of £1,184,119 for Slough compared with 24/25 allocations, an increase of 87.5%.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2025 to Question 25272 on Political Parties: Finance, whether the Labour Party has been consulted by (a) Ministers, (b) her Department and (c) special advisers as a stakeholder. \p Rushanara Ali: The work to give effect to this commitment is ongoing, and we are engaging with key stakeholders, such as the Electoral Commission. My department has not consulted political parties on these proposals yet.
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Wera Hobhouse:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take through the proposed long-term housing strategy to help (a) improve social housing and (b) build new homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government intends to publish a long-term housing strategy later this year.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the availability of housing stock. \p Matthew Pennycook: Delivering the government’s ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament will increase the availability of housing stock.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 28567 on Permitted Development Rights, what her planned timetable is for amending the existing permitted development rights on heat pumps. \p Matthew Pennycook: Further announcements in respect of permitted development rights for air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points will be made in the coming months.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 February 2025 to Question 30633 on Democracy and Elections, whether she plans to hold discussions with (a) the Conservative and Unionist Party, (b) other opposition parties represented in the House of Commons and (c) Sinn Fein on this matter. \p Rushanara Ali: The Government is consulting with various stakeholders ahead of setting out our approach to elections and electoral reform for this Parliament.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to review voter identification requirements ahead of the May 2024 local elections. \p Rushanara Ali: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 33335 answered on 27 February 2025.
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Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ensuring that the plan for growth does not reduce protections for (a) wildlife and (b) nature. \p Matthew Pennycook: When it comes to development and the environment, we know we can do better than the status quo, which too often sees both sustainable housebuilding and nature recovery stall. Instead of environmental protections being seen as a barrier to growth, we want to unlock a win-win for the economy and for nature.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside, and the wider benefits from natural capital and ecosystem services. Development is restricted in areas which are designated for their environmental value.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Solicitor General, whether her Department is using AI software in responding to written parliamentary questions. \p Lucy Rigby: No, the Attorney General's Office has not used AI software in responding to written parliamentary questions.
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Chi Onwurah:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Microsoft has recently raised its prices to Government for Office 365. \p Georgia Gould: Crown Commercial Service (CCS) established a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) known as the Strategic Partnership Arrangement 2024 (SPA24) with Microsoft, which commenced on 1 November 2024. This arrangement provides enhanced value and discounted pricing for public sector organisations.

A reduction of approximately 6% in Microsoft 365 licence pricing took place in February 2025 as part of a wider price adjustment for Commercial Cloud Services.
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John Glen:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse is of the 2024-25 Civil Service pay award broken down by (a) gross pay and (b) employer pension contributions. \p Georgia Gould: The Pay Remit Guidance is a framework within which all organisations under its scope set pay. The 2024/2025 Pay Remit Guidance was published in July 2024 and departments are able to make average pay awards up to 5%.

Under pay delegation, individual departments set their own wage scales and are responsible for publishing their own figures on pay and employer pension contributions as part of either their annual accounts, and / or the monthly workforce management information transparency figures.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the devolved nations will receive their redress payments for the infected blood scandal. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) is a UK-wide body, established by the Victims and Prisoners Act to administer the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme to victims of the infected blood scandal across the UK. IBCA began making payments to people impacted by the infected blood scandal last year. As of 21 February, IBCA has invited 204 people to start their compensation claim, and 149 of those have started the claim process. 38 offers of compensation have been made, totalling over £48 million, and so far 22 people have accepted their offers with more than £25 million paid in compensation. IBCA are increasing the number of people invited to make their claim and help test the service, and they aim to reach around 250 claims by the end of March 2025.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to page 9 of his Department's publication entitled Security and Intelligence Agencies Financial Statement 2023-24 published on 2 December 2024, what specific weaknesses in risk management and internal control the Principal Accounting Officer identified; and what corrective action has since been taken. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: As has been the policy of successive governments, the government does not comment on matters relating to the intelligence agencies. The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament scrutinises the policies, expenditure, administration and operations of the intelligence agencies on behalf of Parliament.
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Rebecca Paul:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29868 on Euthanasia: Scotland, whether any staff employed in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel provided (a) advice and (b) other assistance on the drafting of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. \p Georgia Gould: The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is a Scottish Member's Bill. Therefore, there has been no involvement from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel who is responsible for drafting UK government Bills.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 21018 on UK Relations with EU, which articles of the (a) EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, (b) Northern Ireland protocol, (c) Windsor Framework and (d) EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement the EU alleges the UK is in breach of. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: I refer the Hon.Member for Clapham and Brixton Hill, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, to the answer provided to the Question on 20 January 2025 in the House of Lords. The response from The Baroness Twycross can be found here.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps she is taking to collaborate with the Welsh Government on cross-border healthcare. \p Jo Stevens: We are working in a spirit of genuine collaboration to do everything possible to cut waiting lists and build an NHS fit for the future. Our two Governments are already learning from best practice in areas such as the Welsh Government’s work on dentistry and GP practices, and in the UK Government’s plans to roll out extra elective capacity, including through new surgical hubs. We will continue to explore cross-border health arrangements where capacity allows.

In the Autumn Budget, we provided the Welsh Government with an additional £1.7 billion to invest in public services like the NHS. An extra £600 million in funding has now been announced by the Welsh Government for health and social care in their Budget for 2025/26.

I welcome the news that waiting times in Wales are heading in the right direction. We will continue to support the Welsh Government to deliver improved public services for the people of Wales as we did with record funding in the Autumn Budget.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on reducing waiting times for NHS treatment. \p Jo Stevens: I regularly meet with the First Minister to discuss a wide range of matters, including health and NHS waiting lists in Wales. Our two Governments are working in a spirit of genuine collaboration.

In the Autumn Budget, we provided the Welsh Government with an additional £1.7 billion to invest in public services like the NHS. An extra £600 million in funding has now been announced by the Welsh Government for health and social care in their Budget for 2025/26.

I welcome the news that waiting times in Wales are heading in the right direction. We will continue to support the Welsh Government to deliver improved public services for the people of Wales as we did with record funding in the Autumn Budget.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 27226 on 10 Downing Street: Government Art Collection, if she will make it her policy to release information on changes to Government Art Collection works on display in line with Freedom of Information Act requests. \p Chris Bryant: The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time in response to new display steers and requests.
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Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to help increase the number of women and girls participating in motorsport. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is dedicated to supporting every aspect of women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, have access to high quality sport. Female role models are vital in encouraging more girls to get active and find a route into the sports they enjoy.

We welcome the continued growth of the Formula 1 Academy in providing opportunities for young female drivers to progress to higher levels of competition in motorsport, and are supportive of its focus on uncovering the next generation of young female drivers.

I also recognise the work organisations such as Motorsport UK and the British Women’s Racing Drivers Club are taking forward to increase female participation within the sport.

In the broader field of motorsport, I also recently met with Formula One to congratulate them on their amazing 75th anniversary last month. This milestone provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the sport’s long history in the UK, of which we are very proud, and we will continue to work closely with them to see how best we can further support the success story of Formula One in the UK.
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Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the selling of shares in cricket clubs competing in The Hundred on the level of Government support that will be provided to grassroots cricket teams. \p Stephanie Peacock: We want a thriving sector, with robust National Governing Bodies (NGBs) that can use their nationwide remit to deliver sport to people across the country. Sustainable investment is important for achieving this. The Hundred will see additional investment into grassroots cricket from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which is welcomed.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport, including cricket, at grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all.

Sport England provides long term investment to the England and Wales Cricket Board, the National Governing Body for cricket, which receives up to £11.6 million for five years to invest in community cricket initiatives. This is a separate consideration to the Hundred sale.
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Sir Iain Duncan Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the oral contribution by the Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth of 5 February 2025, Official Report, column 373WH, on account-based online play, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that online gambling operators are fully implementing protections for people experiencing harm. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Gambling Commission is in the process of introducing a number of regulatory reforms that build on current account level player protections, including financial vulnerability checks, improved tools for financial limit setting and improved choice in direct marketing.

Regulatory enforcement is the role of the Gambling Commission as set out in the Gambling Act 2005. Gambling operators are required to send the Commission a regulatory return for each type of activity for which they hold a licence. There are a variety of ways that the Commission can deal with non-compliance by licensees, ranging from enhanced compliance procedures and regulatory settlements to licence reviews and formal enforcement action.
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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department plans to take to support local football facility plans to developing grassroots football facilities in West Berkshire. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is committed to supporting grassroots football facilities across the UK, and is investing £123 million this year to achieve this. In England, this funding is delivered by the Football Foundation who use Local Football Facility Plans, developed in partnership with local clubs and councils, to plan their investment pipeline.

In West Berkshire specifically, Hungerford Recreation Ground Football Field has received funding from the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2024/25, which provided funding towards a changing pavilion upgrade.

The Football Foundation plan to work with local stakeholders to refresh Local Football Facility Plans, ensuring that the investment pipeline truly reflects locally-informed demand. Further plans for the refresh will be confirmed in due course.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is using AI software in responding to written parliamentary questions. \p Stephanie Peacock: No, DCMS has not used AI software to respond to written parliamentary questions.
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Saqib Bhatti:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much time officials in her Department spent on the production of the First Draft podcast. \p Stephanie Peacock: The podcast was created and delivered as part of the DCMS Communications Teams' day to day work at no extra cost.
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Ann Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate she has made of the number of households in Wales without a high-speed broadband connection; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of internet only TV distribution on those households. \p Stephanie Peacock: Thinkbroadband estimates that, as of 24 February 2025, 97.5% of premises in Wales can access a superfast (30 Mbps and faster) connection, which in many cases is likely to be sufficient for those wishing to watch online. In addition, they estimate that 79.6% of premises in Wales can access a gigabit connection. These higher speeds are likely to provide for the best viewing experiences.

Parliament has already legislated to secure the continuity of digital terrestrial television until at least 2034. DCMS is currently undertaking a project to evaluate the future distribution of television as the sector continues to evolve over the next decade. Before any decision is made in relation to the availability of services beyond 2034, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television.
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Ann Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department's Future of TV Distribution Stakeholder Forum launched on 8 November 2024 will consider Welsh language broadcasting. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government’s project on the future of TV distribution is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. As part of this process, a wide range of views are being sought. Membership of the Stakeholder Forum includes a range of broadcasters active in Wales, including the Welsh-language broadcaster S4C, the BBC and ITV. The forum also benefits from the perspectives of a number of groups representing the interests of Welsh and UK-wide audiences, such as Voice of the Listener and Viewer, Digital Poverty Alliance and Silver Voices.
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Adrian Ramsay:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether funding for the Scouts will be extended beyond March 2025. \p Stephanie Peacock: DCMS is committed to continued funding for Uniformed Youth Organisations in 2025/26. Funding allocations for specific programmes will be communicated in due course.
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Danny Kruger:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of extending eligibility for heart screening to amateur athletes. \p Stephanie Peacock: The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport is absolutely paramount.

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm. NGBs are independent of Government, but the Government expects NGBs to make the health and safety of players their top priority.

Sport England, DCMS arm's-length body for grassroots sport, works closely with Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), an organisation which aims to prevent young sudden cardiac deaths through awareness, screening, research, and supporting affected families. Sport England is helping increase awareness of CRY in the community sports sector, including through Buddle, its online site for clubs and community organisations.

The Department for Health and Social Care has responsibility for preventative healthcare strategies. The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is an independent scientific advisory body which advises ministers and the NHS in the four nations of the UK on all aspects of screening. It is currently reviewing a submission received via its annual call process to consider Sudden Cardiac Death screening in young people aged 14-35 engaging in sport. More information on the annual call process can be found here: UK NSC annual call.
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Chris Bloore:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers. \p Stephanie Peacock: We do not have a policy which explicitly covers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers. Employees are able to take time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant or are able to request other leave, paid and unpaid, as well as annual and flexi leave as required to support them when they become a kinship carer. Employees are also able to request flexible working to support both short term and longer term arrangements.
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Jon Trickett:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff her Department has seconded from Palantir since July 2024. \p Stephanie Peacock: No staff in DCMS have been seconded from Palantir since July 2024.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total number of TV licence fee payers was in each of the last ten years. \p Stephanie Peacock: The BBC is responsible for collection of the TV licence via TV Licensing. TV Licensing publishes the number of licences in force in its Annual Review, which can be found here: https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/about/our-performance-AB6
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much and what proportion of loans provided to rugby union clubs under government support schemes have been repaid; and if she will provide a breakdown of repayments by club. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and our arm’s-length bodies, Sport England and UK Sport, do not provide direct funding to professional rugby union clubs.

Since 2020, DCMS has provided loans to rugby union clubs via the Sport Survival Package (SSP). This package of emergency funding was provided to support organisations who were negatively impacted by Covid-19 restrictions to fulfil their sporting commitments, including Premiership Rugby League and RFU Championship clubs.

SSP loans were distributed to 13 Premiership rugby clubs (total value of £123.81 million) and seven Championship clubs (total value of £4.84 million).

DCMS is not able to comment on repayments of individual borrowers or leagues given the commercial sensitivity.

As well as loans, DCMS provides the majority of support for grassroots rugby through Sport England. Sport England has awarded the Rugby Football Union, the governing body for rugby union in England, £13.86 million for the period 2022-27 as one of Sport England’s long-term system partners to support grassroots rugby union.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the planned changes to the Listed Places of Worship grant scheme on listed places of worship in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire. \p Chris Bryant: The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme was established to provide grants towards VAT paid on repairs and maintenance to the nation's listed places of worship. 94% of applications have been under £25,000, and most claims are for under £5,000.

A total of 8 claims have been paid out to Listed Places of Worship located in the Fylde parliamentary constituency, totalling £68,994.54, since August 2022.

A total of 388 claims have been paid out to Listed Places of Worship located in the county of Lancashire, totalling £1,492,163.66, since August 2022.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 1248 on Military Aircraft: Helicopter, whether there will be a public procurement exercise for the new helicopter service. \p Maria Eagle: There is no procurement of a new helicopter service. The Ministry of Defence has accessed an existing cross-Government helicopter air transport contract to allow cost-effective, operationally important helicopter transport when needed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_325

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2025 to Question 28652 on Ministers: Aviation, what the amount of air passenger duty that is paid on an individual domestic RAF flight each way was in (a) March 2025 and (b) April 2025, excluding Northern Ireland and the Scottish Highlands and Islands travel; and whether the higher rate of APD is paid. \p Maria Eagle: The Government introduced the domestic rate of Air Passenger Duty (APD) with effect from 1 April 2023 and this is paid on flights from qualifying airports within the UK. Flights on the RAF Envoy incur the higher rate of APD as this relates to an aircraft of 20 tonnes or more equipped to carry fewer than 19 passengers. This rate was set at £78 per person. From 1 April 2025 the rate will increase to £84 per person.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_326

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of (a) 21 February 2025 to Question 30825, on Ministers: Helicopters, and (b) 18 February 2025, to Question 30467 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, what the expected cost to the Department is of an individual flight under the new contract, including any variation by distance travelled; and on what date the new provision went live. \p Maria Eagle: The new method of Ministry of Defence senior leader helicopter travel commenced on 1 January 2025. Costs vary on the basis of a range of factors, including number of passengers, distance, length of time of usage and availability. The Ministerial Air Transport administered contract is available via HM Government Contract Finder here: Provision of Corporate Travel contract - Contracts Finder
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_327

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which standard ear defenders are issued to the armed forces. \p Maria Eagle: There is not a 'standard' ear defender that is issued throughout the British Armed Forces.

Due to the varying nature of environments and tasks that require a form of ear protection, Service personnel will be issued with ear defenders that have been assessed as the most appropriate for the situation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_328

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will seek a judicial review of the Clonoe Coroner’s verdict as delivered in the Coroner’s Court in Northern Ireland on 6 February 2025. \p Al Carns: We owe a great deal of debt to our Armed Forces – the vast majority of those who served in Operation Banner during the Troubles, did so with distinction.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the legacy of the past is addressed sensitively, efficiently, and lawfully. It is important, as we seek to find an agreed way forward, that we recognise the many bereaved families of ex-service personal who continue to seek answers about the circumstances of their loved ones’ death.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_329

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Defence Serious Crime Unit. \p Al Carns: Assurance for the effective and efficient operation of the Service Justice System is provided by the Service Justice Board, chaired by the Minister for Veterans and People and includes representatives from outside the Service Justice System, such as the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales and also non-executive directors. It provides challenge and scrutiny in respect of strategic performance data, including that related to the independent Defence Serious Crime Command and Unit.

Elements of the Service Justice System are also subject to inspection by independent inspectorates. For example, in November 2024 an HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate report on the Service Prosecuting Authority commented positively on the support provided to victims in the Service Justice System and the handling of sexual offences. Later this year, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) will conduct an inspection of the Defence Serious Crime Command and Unit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel have been discharged as a result of the Zero Tolerance to Sexual Offences and Sexual Relationships Between Instructors and Trainees policy across Defence. \p Al Carns: 47 Service personnel were discharged under the Zero Tolerance to Unacceptable Sexual Behaviour policy, between its implementation in November 2022 and the end of the most recent reporting period in September 2024. The policy carries with it a presumption of discharge.

56 Service personnel were discharged under the Zero Tolerance to Sexual Offences (Instructor/Trainee Sexual Relationships) policy, between its implementation in July 2022 and the end of the most recent reporting period in September 2024. Discharge is mandatory under this policy.

Defence is committed to preventing unacceptable behaviours from occurring and we have zero tolerance for such behaviour. We are also committed to making the step changes required to create a safe and inclusive environment for all our Service personnel, enabling us to deliver our Defence outputs and enhance our operational effectiveness.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has taken steps to procure a killflash system for the Elcan Specter OS4 Lightweight Day Sight. \p Maria Eagle: Whilst there are currently no plans to procure a kill flash system for the Elcan Specter OS4 Lightweight Day Sight (LDS), the British Army continues to analyse the reflective and retroreflective properties of the optics it employs across a range of operational environments. This ongoing assessment ensures that any potential vulnerabilities are understood, and where necessary, mitigations are considered as part of future procurement and capability development.

The Elcan Specter OS4 Lightweight Day Sight, which is in service, includes a removable hood for the front objective as standard. This hood serves to reduce glare, mitigate sun reflection and provides limited protection against environmental conditions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

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Kanishka Narayan:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department plans to take to increase defence procurement from UK startups in the the (a) cybersecurity, (b) AI, (c) quantum computing and (d) other emerging technology sectors. \p Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Defence is bringing forward a new Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) that will ensure that the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned.

Through the DIS we are considering how to better support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), reduce barriers and set the conditions that unlock the full potential of SMEs to innovate at pace and seize future opportunities. The Government recently announced plans to launch a new hub to provide SMEs better access to the defence supply chain, and committed to set direct SME spending targets for the Ministry of Defence by June this year.

Technology will be at the heart of the new DIS. As part of a defence innovation drive, the Government will promote investment in defence start-ups and scale-up technology and capability, including through the National Security Strategic Investment Fund.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_333

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, if he will make an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of the increase in defence spending for financial year (a) 2024-25, (b) 2025-26 and (c) 2026-27. \p Luke Pollard: The announced pathway to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027 has not changed the Ministry of Defence's budgets for 2024-25 and 2025-26 as set out in the Autumn Budget.

His Majesty's Treasury is currently undertaking the second phase of the Spending Review, which will be announced on 11 June 2025. This will set Departmental budgets for three years from 2026-27 for RDEL and four years for CDEL.

The 2.5% commitment will be funded by reductions in ODA to 0.3% of GNI from 2026-27 onwards and does not require the Government to change the spending envelope.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, whether there will be an increase in defence spending for financial year 2024-25. \p Luke Pollard: The announced pathway to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027 has not changed the Ministry of Defence's budgets for 2024-25 and 2025-26 as set out in the Autumn Budget.

His Majesty's Treasury is currently undertaking the second phase of the Spending Review, which will be announced on 11 June 2025. This will set Departmental budgets for three years from 2026-27 for RDEL and four years for CDEL.

The 2.5% commitment will be funded by reductions in ODA to 0.3% of GNI from 2026-27 onwards and does not require the Government to change the spending envelope.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_335

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, if he will provide a cost breakdown of the funding announced for defence spending from 2027. \p Luke Pollard: The announced pathway to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027 has not changed the Ministry of Defence's budgets for 2024-25 and 2025-26 as set out in the Autumn Budget.

His Majesty's Treasury is currently undertaking the second phase of the Spending Review, which will be announced on 11 June 2025. This will set Departmental budgets for three years from 2026-27 for RDEL and four years for CDEL.

The 2.5% commitment will be funded by reductions in ODA to 0.3% of GNI from 2026-27 onwards and does not require the Government to change the spending envelope.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the latest estimated IOC date is for what is now HMS Achilles . \p Maria Eagle: Achilles, the final vessel, is at an advanced stage of build at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.

The planned in-service dates for Royal Navy submarines are withheld as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed Forces.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-05 conversation_337

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is using AI software in responding to written parliamentary questions. \p Luke Pollard: I can reassure the hon. Member that all parliamentary questions are personally signed off by a Minister. I signed this one off at my desk in the Ministry of Defence at 3.07pm on 4 March 2025 for instance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-05)

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Brian Mathew:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will supply Ukraine with additional Challenger 2 tanks. \p Luke Pollard: At present there are no plans to supply additional Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine.

The UK's decision to send a squadron of 14 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks to Ukraine in 2023 delivered a coherent and combat effective capability and spearheaded the provision of dozens of additional Western Main Battle Tanks from international partners.

We recently announced we will be providing Ukraine with more than 50 armoured and protected vehicles, including modernised T-72 tanks, by the end of spring, building on over 1,000 armoured, protected and logistics vehicles the UK has previously delivered to Ukraine.

We continue to work closely with the Ukrainian Government to ensure the capabilities we provide meet the priorities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.