David Reed MP: written questions
272 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Gold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26444More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the United Kingdom’s official gold reserves in the context of changes in the level of gold reserves held by other central banks since 2022.
Answer: The Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) has held 9.98 million ounces of gold since March 2002. The Government has no plans to permanently change the stock of gold it holds. HM Treasury and the Bank of England agree the strategic asset allocation of EEA an...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26443More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his department has made of the counterparty-risk characteristics of monetary gold compared with foreign-currency securities held within the UK’s official reserves.
Answer: The Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) has held 9.98 million ounces of gold since March 2002. The Government has no plans to permanently change the stock of gold it holds. HM Treasury and the Bank of England agree the strategic asset allocation of EEA an...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26442More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential role of monetary gold in improving the resilience of the UK’s official reserves during periods of (a) financial market stress, (b) geopolitical conflict, (c)
Answer: The Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) has held 9.98 million ounces of gold since March 2002. The Government has no plans to permanently change the stock of gold it holds. HM Treasury and the Bank of England agree the strategic asset allocation of EEA an...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26441More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his department has assessed the implications for UK reserve management of foreign sovereign assets having been frozen or otherwise restricted as a consequence of international sanctions since 2022.
Answer: The Government does not comment on market movements. The UK’s official reserves are held in the Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) and managed to ensure that the policy objectives set out in the EEA Act 1979 can be met at all times.HM Treasury and the Ba...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26440More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what stress tests his department applies to the Exchange Equalisation Account in respect of movements in (a) the US dollar, (b) the euro, (c) the yen, (d) interest rates and (e) the gold price.
Answer: The Government does not comment on market movements. The UK’s official reserves are held in the Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) and managed to ensure that the policy objectives set out in the EEA Act 1979 can be met at all times.HM Treasury and the Ba...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26439More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of a sustained depreciation in the US dollar on the value and resilience of the UK’s official reserves.
Answer: The Government does not comment on market movements. The UK’s official reserves are held in the Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) and managed to ensure that the policy objectives set out in the EEA Act 1979 can be met at all times.HM Treasury and the Ba...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26438More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of fragmentation of the international financial system on the appropriate composition of the UK’s official reserves.
Answer: The Government does not comment on market movements. The UK’s official reserves are held in the Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) and managed to ensure that the policy objectives set out in the EEA Act 1979 can be met at all times.HM Treasury and the Ba...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26437More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether geopolitical risk is explicitly considered when determining the strategic asset allocation of the Exchange Equalisation Account.
Answer: The Government does not comment on market movements. The UK’s official reserves are held in the Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) and managed to ensure that the policy objectives set out in the EEA Act 1979 can be met at all times.HM Treasury and the Ba...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26436More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what criteria does the Department use in considering whether an increase in the quantity of monetary gold held in the Exchange Equalisation Account is appropriate.
Answer: The Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) has held 9.98 million ounces of gold since March 2002. The Government has no plans to permanently change the stock of gold it holds. HM Treasury and the Bank of England agree the strategic asset allocation of EEA an...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26435More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has considered reducing the proportion of the official reserves invested in foreign sovereign debt and increasing the proportion held in monetary gold.
Answer: The Government does not comment on market movements. The UK’s official reserves are held in the Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) and managed to ensure that the policy objectives set out in the EEA Act 1979 can be met at all times.HM Treasury and the Ba...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26434More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his department has made of the potential benefits and costs of holding an increased proportion of official reserves in assets that do not constitute liabilities of another sovereign state or financia
Answer: The Government does not comment on market movements. The UK’s official reserves are held in the Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) and managed to ensure that the policy objectives set out in the EEA Act 1979 can be met at all times.HM Treasury and the Ba...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26433More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Bank of England has provided advice to his department since 1 January 2022 on the appropriate level of gold held in the UK’s official reserves.
Answer: The Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) has held 9.98 million ounces of gold since March 2002. The Government has no plans to permanently change the stock of gold it holds. HM Treasury and the Bank of England agree the strategic asset allocation of EEA an...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26432More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his department has considered proposals since 1 January 2022 to increase the quantity or proportion of gold held in the UK’s official reserves.
Answer: The Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) has held 9.98 million ounces of gold since March 2002. The Government has no plans to permanently change the stock of gold it holds. HM Treasury and the Bank of England agree the strategic asset allocation of EEA an...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26431More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his department has modelled the a) financial and b) strategic implications of increasing UK official gold holdings to (i) 500 tonnes, (ii) 750 tonnes, (iii) 1,000 tonnes and (iiii) 1,500 tonnes.
Answer: The Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) has held 9.98 million ounces of gold since March 2002. The Government has no plans to permanently change the stock of gold it holds. HM Treasury and the Bank of England agree the strategic asset allocation of EEA an...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGold and Foreign Exchange ReservesTreasuryTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26430More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his department last conducted a review of the appropriate proportion of the UK’s official international reserves to be held in gold; and whether he will publish the conclusions of that review.
Answer: The Exchange Equalisation Account (EEA) has held 9.98 million ounces of gold since March 2002. The Government has no plans to permanently change the stock of gold it holds. HM Treasury and the Bank of England agree the strategic asset allocation of EEA an...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26429More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 45 of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, how much funding has been allocated to procuring the 12 F35As, and how much does he estimate the total cost of the nuclear-capa
Answer: Funding for the future F-35 aircraft purchases will be reported through the Defence Major Projects mechanism.
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordWarships: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26428More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 36 of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, how much he expects the Common Combat Vessels to cost per unit, and how many units does his department intend to procure.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan allocated at least £1.3 billion to support delivery of the Royal Navy's Hybrid Navy, including uncrewed missile, sensing and underwater platforms, together with the future Common Combat Vessel programme. Detailed programme cost...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordWarships: ConstructionMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26427More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 36 of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, when he expects construction to start for the first large autonomous vessels of the Hybrid Navy.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 July 2026 to Question 18239 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty).https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-07-13/18239
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 34 of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, how much funding for AI is allocated within each of the (a) Digital Targeting Web, (b) Integrated Air and Missile Defence, (c)
Answer: As set out in the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), AI will feature within transformative programmes and investments such as the Digital Targeting Web, IAMD, Project ASGARD, the Maritime Fighting Web, the Hybrid Navy and CCAs. In recognition of the growing a...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Data CentresMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Sept 2026AnsweredUIN 26425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, what funding has been allocated to the (a) physical and (b) cyber protection of the data centres supporting defence artificial intelligenc
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan sets out significant investment in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and cyber capabilities across Defence, including funding to increase computing capacity and support the delivery of AI-enabled capabilities. How...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGuided Weapons and Unmanned Air Systems: SecurityMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Aug 2026Awaiting answerUIN 25234More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with operators of UK drone and missile production facilities regarding (a) protective security and (b) business continuity planning in the context of the Kremlin's statemen
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordNational Security: InfrastructureMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 25233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen the resilience of UK critical national infrastructure against attack in the context of the Kremlin's statement of 25 August 2026.
Answer: Defence is continuing to work closely with the Cabinet Office and other Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) Lead Government Departments to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations for a new deal for the protection of CNI.We are working acro...
Answered 10 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPower Stations: CybercrimeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 25232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many households' energy needs are met, on average, by the power generation facility reportedly shut down for four days in July 2026 as a result of a cyber attack.
Answer: I cannot comment on specific incidents whilst investigations are ongoing for reasons of national security. I can, however, confirm that the incident referred to impacted micro-scale generation, and at no point was there a risk to the wider energy system.
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPower Stations: CybercrimeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 25231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support (a) her Department, (b) the National Cyber Security Centre and (c) other government bodies provided to the operator of the power generation facility reportedly shut down for four
Answer: I cannot comment on specific incidents whilst investigations are ongoing for reasons of national security. I can, however, confirm that the incident referred to impacted micro-scale generation, and at no point was there a risk to the wider energy system.
Answered 7 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordPower Stations: CybercrimeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 25230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department will name the power generation facility reportedly shut down for four days in July 2026 as a result of a cyber attack, and whether her Department's assessment attribute
Answer: I cannot comment on specific incidents whilst investigations are ongoing for reasons of national security. I can, however, confirm that the security and resilience of our energy system is the Department’s top priority. Alongside the National Cyber Securit...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament record
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