James Cartlidge MP: written questions
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Written questions
Defence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Defence Investment Plan will include details of the financial contributions from all Government Departments.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan sets out Defence’s planned investment in the capabilities, infrastructure and industrial capacity required to deliver the outcomes of the Strategic Defence Review. The Plan focuses on Defence expenditure. Defence works closely ...
Answered 23 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Departmental ResponsibilitiesMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the personal statement by the Rt Hon. Member for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough on 16 June 2026, Official Report, Col 731.
Answer: I was in the House for the statement and want to thank my Rt Hon. Friend for his service to our nation and the Government. This Government remains resolute in ensuring the UK is secure and prepared against adversaries. These priorities will continue to gu...
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: English ChannelMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10682More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to safeguard UK-registered civilian vessels against aggressive action showed by Russian military vessels in the English channel.
Answer: Defence maintains a constant presence in UK waters to uphold maritime security and deter threats, with a combination of surface and sub-surface vessels, maritime patrol aircraft, and autonomous assets ready to support.Royal Navy ships closely monitor Russ...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: English ChannelMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10681More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of protections in place for UK-registered civilian vessels in the English channel from Russian military vessels.
Answer: Defence maintains a constant presence in UK waters to uphold maritime security and deter threats, with a combination of surface and sub-surface vessels, maritime patrol aircraft, and autonomous assets ready to support.Royal Navy ships closely monitor Russ...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary ExercisesMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10680More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any named exercise has been cancelled before it began since 5 July 2024.
Answer: The information requested is not held centrally and will take time to collate. A response to a related earlier Question (92318), tabled on 18 November 2025, has been delayed. I will therefore write to the hon. Member once the relevant data has been compil...
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: SuffolkDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10679More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his department has to ensure that the installation of Battery Energy Storage Systems at the Bramford Substation does not increase the chance of i) fire or ii) environmental risk.
Answer: Details of individual Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects are for developers and local authorities, however their decisions are made within context of the Health and Safety Executive’s regulatory framework. This requires BESS dutyholders to ensu...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPylons: East of EnglandDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his department has plans to outline the potential impact that the proposed Norwich to Tilbury pylon line will have on i) the Bramford Substation, and ii) energy security for South Suf
Answer: Norwich to Tilbury is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) for which a Development Consent Order application is currently being examined by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State. Given his quasi-judicial role in d...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordElectricity: SuffolkDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential impact of the expansion of Bramford Substation on (a) the probability of a fire and (b) the local environment.
Answer: The expansion of Bramford Substation forms part of the Norwich to Tilbury project, a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) for which a Development Consent Order application is currently being examined by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf ...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordIncome Tax: RetirementDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact that changes to Income Tax rules for retirees will have on pensioners in receipt of the basic State Pension with an Additional State Pension (SERPS) o
Answer: The Government is committed to making sure older people can live with the dignity and respect they deserve in retirement. The State Pension is the foundation of the support available to them. Over the course of this Parliament, the yearly amount of the fu...
Answered 25 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordIncome Tax: RetirementDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10675More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his department has assessed the potential impact of income tax on retirees who rely solely on the State Pension as their main source of income.
Answer: The Government is committed to making sure older people can live with the dignity and respect they deserve in retirement. The State Pension is the foundation of the support available to them. Over the course of this Parliament, the yearly amount of the fu...
Answered 25 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Public ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much additional money will his Department receive beyond the annual budget set out in the 2025 spending review in each remaining financial year of the current Parliament.
Answer: As the hon. Gentleman knows this Government is increasing defence spending. This was set out in the 2025 Spending Review. The £15 billion uplift to defence spending was announced in the Defence Investment Plan. Any changes to defence spending will, of cou...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10673More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military drones in (a) logistics, (b) strike and (c) ISR roles were purchased by his Department for the British armed forces since 5 July 2024.
Answer: Since coming to office, we have invested in new drone capabilities both for Ukraine and for the UK. The information requested is not held centrally and will take time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member once this work is complete and place a copy ...
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Public ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10672More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what he expects his Department's budget to be as a cash figure in each remaining financial year of the current Parliament.
Answer: Defence spending levels are a matter for the Prime Minister and the Chancellor. The hon. Member will know that the Government has set out that we will increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, 3% in the next Parliament and 3.5% by 2035 on co...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordReserve ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10671More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reserve service days will be offered to reservists in each remaining financial year of this Parliament.
Answer: Defence will continue to reprioritise budgets on routine basis to respond to changing demands on Armed Forces capabilities. This includes Reserve Service Days. Reservists provide a crucial capability to Defence; the standard requirement for a part-time vo...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the Defence Investment Plan's impact on UK armed forces readiness.
Answer: Work to finalise the Defence Investment Plan continues with the new Defence Secretary, and the Prime Minister has been clear that we are determined to publish the DIP before the NATO summit in July. It is a credible plan that will fund major UK defence ca...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary ExercisesMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10213More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there will be a reduction in training exercises for the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy in the (i) current and (ii) next financial year.
Answer: The single Services remain committed to prioritising training exercises in line with both UK and partner operational requirements, as well as the priorities set out in the Strategic Defence Review. Across Defence, training activity is kept under continuou...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordReserve Forces: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10212More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there will be a reduction in reservist training in the (a) current and (b) next financial year.
Answer: Defence will continue to reprioritise budgets on routine basis to respond to changing demands on Armed Forces capabilities. This includes Reserve Service Days. Reservists provide a crucial capability to Defence; the standard requirement for a part-time vo...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordReserve ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10211More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will implement a cap on the number of reserve service days a reservist can complete in each of the remaining financial years of the current Parliament.
Answer: Defence will continue to reprioritise budgets on routine basis to respond to changing demands on Armed Forces capabilities. This includes Reserve Service Days. Reservists provide a crucial capability to Defence; the standard requirement for a part-time vo...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Cost EffectivenessMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10210More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has been instructed to authorise efficiency savings in each of the remaining financial years of this Parliament for (a) maintenance, (b) training, (c) reserves training.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 April 2026 to Question 128871.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-04-21/128871
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Cost EffectivenessMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10209More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has been instructed to authorise efficiency savings in each of the remaining financial years of this Parliament.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 April 2026 to Question 128871.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-04-21/128871
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10208More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will state what will be spent on Defence this Parliament as a percentage of GDP in each remaining year of the current Parliament.
Answer: Defence spending levels are a matter for the Prime Minister and the Chancellor. The hon. Member will know that the Government has set out that we will increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, 3% in the next Parliament and 3.5% by 2035 on co...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordChallenger Tanks: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10207More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when will the Challenger 3 programme reach (a) Initial Operating Capability and (b) Full Operating Capability.
Answer: The Challenger 3 manufacture phase timing will be confirmed after the demonstration phase trials prove the performance of the tanks. This complex programme has been impacted by some supply chain delays; the Initial Operating Capability and Full Operating ...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10206More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what will the spending envelope for the Defence Investment Plan be.
Answer: The spending envelope for the Defence Investment Plan is £298 billion over the next four years.
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Public ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10205More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will state what his Department's budget will be as a percentage of GDP in 2030.
Answer: We are increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, 3% in the next Parliament and 3.5% by 2035 on core defence.
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10204More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has discussed the spending envelope for the Defence Investment Plan with the Chief of the Defence Staff.
Answer: The Chief of Defence Staff has been and continues to be closely involved in the development of an affordable and deliverable Defence Investment Plan.
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament record
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