David Reed MP: written questions
98 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Defence Equipment: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18311More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the planners of the Strategic Defence Review were notified of the intention to retire (a) HMS Albion, (b) HMS Bulwark and (c) other assets.
Answer: The decision to formally decommission HM Ships ALBION and BULWARK reflects the decision of the last Government. This has been in full consultation with the Service Chiefs and the SDR reviewers and neither ship could realistically be put to sea again ahead...
Answered 13 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCybersecurity: InvestmentCabinet OfficeTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17733More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how will industry investment play a role in the development of autonomous offensive and defensive cyber tooling for the purpose of (a) national security and (b) defence.
Answer: Investing in cyber security is critical to all sectors of the UK economy, enabling long-term, secure and resilient growth. The UK is an attractive destination for cyber investors, owing to its collaborative environment, access to talent and skills, world-...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLaboratory for AI Security ResearchForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, how will the Laboratory for AI Sec
Answer: The Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) was designed to build on the knowledge and experience of addressing cyber security and other national security activities across government, academia and industry. LASR is designed to complement or enhance ex...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLaboratory for AI Security ResearchForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, where will the headquarters for th
Answer: HMG will lead the Laboratory for AI Security Research. Its research activities will be conducted across the UK and will include a range of UK universities, including the University of Oxford and Queen's University, Belfast.
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLaboratory for AI Security ResearchForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17730More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, what his planned timetable is for
Answer: The Laboratory for AI Security Research began its work in September, bringing together government, industry and academia to agree joint research priorities and commission cutting-edge research to address the impact of AI on national security.
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLaboratory for AI Security ResearchForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17729More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, whether the Ministry of Defence wi
Answer: As the Laboratory for AI Security Research is a cross-Government initiative, it will involve all relevant departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLaboratory for AI Security ResearchForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17728More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, whether the Laboratory for AI Secu
Answer: AI security has clear implications for our national security. The programme to deliver the Laboratory for AI Security Research has only just started its work and will bring together government, academia and industry to share information and work together ...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLaboratory for AI Security ResearchForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17727More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, which Department will have respons
Answer: The Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) concept was developed jointly across HMG and is funded initially by the cross-Government Integrated Security Fund (ISF). LASR is an FCDO-led ISF programme co-designed and governed to inform the strategies and...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLaboratory for AI Security ResearchForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17726More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled UK and its allies must stay one step ahead in new AI arms race, published on 25 November 2024, how will industry investment play
Answer: The Laboratory for AI Security Research (LASR) is at an early stage. We will be working closely with industry and academia to define research priorities. Examples could include the role of AI security on our critical national infrastructure and how we can...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence: CybersecurityMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17725More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support the development of cyber capabilities within the defence sector through partnerships with UK (a) micro, (b) small and (c) medium-sized technology companies.
Answer: The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to working collaboratively with innovators in the technology sector to improve cyber capabilities across Defence. We recognise the valuable skills, technology, and pace of development in cyber, much of which i...
Answered 6 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence: TechnologyMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17724More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve engagement with UK (a) micro, (b) small and (c) medium-sized technology companies through traditional prime contractors.
Answer: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) make a vital contribution to economic growth and are a valuable source of technical innovation in defence. This is recognised in the recently published Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, as well as the Dep...
Answered 6 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordIsrael and Ukraine: DefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17723More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how collaboration with (a) Ukrainian and (b) Israeli (i) hardware and (ii) software technology companies in the defence sector is informing the Strategic Defence Review.
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review is considering all aspects of Defence, involving, and receiving inputs from other Government Departments, industry and allies and partners. Throughout this process we have collaborated with a range of international counterpart...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordIsrael: DefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17722More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to collaborate with Israeli (a) hardware and (b) software technology companies in the defence sector; and what lessons he has learned from that collaboration..
Answer: The UK collaborates with a range of international partners, including Israel, to develop cutting-edge capabilities to assure the British Armed Forces' continued strategic advantage. Ministry of Defence officials engage regularly with their international c...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordUkraine: DefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17721More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to collaborate with Ukrainian (a) hardware and (b) software technology companies in the defence sector; and what lessons he has learned from that collaboration.
Answer: Since Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has collaborated with both Ukrainian hardware and software technology companies in the defence sector.UK MOD is constantly assessing what lessons can be learned from all partnerships...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNational Security: CybersecurityMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17491More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on the (i) development and (ii) procurement of digital capabilities for national secur
Answer: The Ministry of Defence routinely works with colleagues in the National Security community, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Cabinet Office on the development and procurement of digital capabilities for National Security. All of w...
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17490More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether frontier technologies such as (a) machine learning and (b) artificial intelligence are being used within (i) the Armed Forces and (ii) his Department to help improve workforce efficiencies.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is actively leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness across both the Armed Forces and the Department. In the business space, MOD is exploring use of info...
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordElectronic Warfare: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17489More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help train military personnel cyber warfare skills.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has invested significantly in developing its specialist cyber workforce by training cyber operators and planners at the Defence Cyber Academy augmented by single-Service environmentally specific training, to undertake cyber o...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen ElizabethMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17488More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the costs of maintaining (a) HMS Queen Elizabeth and (b) HMS Prince of Wales over the next five years.
Answer: The costs of maintaining both Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers are factored into Departmental spend. These vary year on year according to generation cycle of each ship, changing equipment enhancement and capability insertions.
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen ElizabethMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17487More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his oral evidence of 21 November 2024 to the Defence Select Committee, HC 345, what steps he is taking to ensure the planned deployments of (a) HMS Queen Elizabeth and (b) HMS Prince of Wales ta
Answer: The Ministry of Defence remains committed to deploying HMS Prince of Wales as part of the Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific in 2025. It would be inappropriate to discuss other planned deployments as to do so could compromise operational ...
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordType 45 DestroyersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17486More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the status is of each of the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers.
Answer: As of 2 December, two Type 45 destroyers are immediately available. The remaining four are in various stages of refit and are therefore not available for operations. The normal operating cycle of every ship involves them entering different readiness level...
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNATO: NavyMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17485More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with NATO allies on the potential impact of the retirement of naval assets on the UK's ability to contribute to NATO operations.
Answer: NATO remains the cornerstone of UK Defence. As such, the Royal Navy continues to make and fulfil a leading contribution to NATO. The retirement of naval assets announced by the Secretary of State on 20 November has no impact on current commitments. The St...
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordFrigatesMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17484More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many new Type (a) 45, (b) 26, (c) 31 and (d) 32 will enter service by 2030.
Answer: The Type 45 is already in service with no new vessels to be built.The Type 26 is forecast to achieve Initial Operating Capability in 2028 with ships expected to enter service between 2028 and 2035.HMS Venturer will be the first in Class of the Type 31 and...
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordType 32 FrigatesMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17483More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expected timeline is for the Type 32 frigate programme to move from the concept phase to design and procurement.
Answer: The Type 32 frigate programme remains in the concept phrase and has not yet reached the level of maturity to allow publication of a specific timetable for design and procurement. This is consistent with a programme of this size and complexity at this earl...
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordType 26 FrigatesMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17482More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the progress of (a) the Type 26 frigate programme and (b) its delivery schedule.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with BAE Systems (BAES) to ensure the Type 26 programme remains on track to meet all user requirements and deliver world-class Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates to replace the Type 23. Following the re...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMulti-role Support ShipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17481More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the timeline for the introduction of the Multi-Role Support Ships remains on track to meet operational requirements.
Answer: The Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS) programme will recapitalise the Royal Navy (RN)’s amphibious fleet, which consists of the three Bay class landing ships (RFA Lyme Bay, Mounts Bay and Cardigan Bay) and RFA Argus, which provides medical and aviation suppor...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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