James Cartlidge MP: written questions 2025
2176 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Defence Equipment: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94244More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Oral Statement on 26 March 2025 entitled Spring Statement, Official Report, if he will state the size of the MOD equipment budget as a (i) percentage of GDP and
Answer: In financial year (FY) 2024-25, Ministry of Defence spend on equipment was £24.92 billion, which is around 0.85% of GDP. This is an increase of over £2 billion from the equipment budget for FY2023-24.While the current FY is ongoing and work on the Defence...
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEastern Europe: Peacekeeping OperationsMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94243More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of a potential Ukraine-Russia peace proposal on the UK's capability commitments to NATO's Eastern Flank.
Answer: The UK welcomes the diplomatic efforts led by President Trump and President Zelenskyy to make progress towards a sustainable peace, and we continue to work closely with our European partners, the United States and Ukraine in support of these discussions w...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Peacekeeping OperationsMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94242More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recent Ukraine-Russia peace proposals, whether he plans to accelerate any preparations to deploy a potential British peacekeeping force to Ukraine.
Answer: The UK is fully committed to a just and lasting peace and a permanent end to the horrendous suffering that this war has brought to Ukraine.Convened by the Prime Minister and President Macron on 25 November, Coalition of the Willing Leaders met to discuss ...
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94241More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to reduce the amount of (a) collective and (b) unit training for the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy and (iii) Royal Air Force in (A) 2025-26 and (B) 2026-27.
Answer: Training continues to be a priority for the Ministry of Defence. The Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force will continue to conduct collective and unit training, proportionate to their recruitment and continue to modernise and streamline training p...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94240More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November to Question 92321 on Armed Forces: Training, whether his Department has had formal discussions on reducing the amount of training conducted by the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy a
Answer: Training continues to be a priority for the Ministry of Defence. The Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force will continue to conduct collective and unit training, proportionate to their recruitment and continue to modernise and streamline training p...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGuided Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94239More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the workshare for Project Nightfall will be conducted in the United Kingdom.
Answer: The Project NIGHTFALL competition has not yet been launched. As a result, the proportion of workshare to be conducted in the UK is not yet known.In line with the Defence Industrial Strategy, the Department will seek to enhance Project NIGHTFALL's benefits...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGuided Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94238More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the range will be of the ground-launched tactical ballistic missiles under Project Nightfall.
Answer: At this stage, the Department expects the minimum acceptable range of the ground-launched tactical ballistic missiles under Project Nightfall to be 500km. We aim to develop solutions which offer significantly greater range.
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94237More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November to Question 91684 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, whether the MOD Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25 classifies the Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing upgrade as a cancellatio
Answer: Equipment to enable UK F-35Bs to undertake Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landings (SRVL) is fitted to HMS Prince Of Wales (PWLS) and underwent initial trials in 2023. The results of those trials continue to be analysed by a commercial partner, and when compl...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: TechnologyMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94236More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Oral Statement on 26 March 2025 entitled Spring Statement, Official Report, whether any pre-existing novel technologies in use by his Department will be include
Answer: It is vital we utilise defence as an engine for innovation and growth, investing in novel technologies where it is possible to do so. We are committed to spend 10% of our equipment budget on novel technologies, including autonomous, uncrewed and AI-assist...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: TechnologyMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94235More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Oral Statement on 26 March 2025 entitled Spring Statement, Official Report, whether his Department's commitment to spend 10% of the MOD equipment budget on nove
Answer: It is vital we utilise defence as an engine for innovation and growth, investing in novel technologies where it is possible to do so. We are committed to spend 10% of our equipment budget on novel technologies, including autonomous, uncrewed and AI-assist...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: TechnologyMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94234More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Oral Statement on 26 March 2025 entitled Spring Statement, Official Report, if he will provide a breakdown of the novel technologies that will be included in hi
Answer: It is vital we utilise defence as an engine for innovation and growth, investing in novel technologies where it is possible to do so. We are committed to spend 10% of our equipment budget on novel technologies, including autonomous, uncrewed and AI-assist...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November to Question 91684 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, what constitutes a Defence Choice.
Answer: Equipment to enable UK F-35Bs to undertake Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landings (SRVL) is fitted to HMS Prince Of Wales (PWLS) and underwent initial trials in 2023. The results of those trials continue to be analysed by a commercial partner, and when compl...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAircraft Carriers: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November to Question 91684 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, when the Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing upgrade will take place.
Answer: Equipment to enable UK F-35Bs to undertake Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landings (SRVL) is fitted to HMS Prince Of Wales (PWLS) and underwent initial trials in 2023. The results of those trials continue to be analysed by a commercial partner, and when compl...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: ContractsMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the transcript of his speech entitled Defence Secretary speech on threats to the UK, published on 19 November 2025, what is the total monetary value of the over 1,000 major contracts signed.
Answer: The total value of the 953 Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracts over £1 million is £23,411,117,978.37 (excluding VAT).
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAutonomous Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Major £5 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first, published on 2 June 2025, as a monetary figure, how much of
Answer: Uncrewed and Autonomous systems are integral to the modern way of warfighting, exemplified in the lessons gleaned from the war in Ukraine. The Ministry of Defence has spent over £450 million on Uncrewed Systems, including over £300 million on their resear...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAutonomous Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Major £5 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first, published on 2 June 2025, how much of the £4 billion for aut
Answer: Uncrewed and Autonomous systems are integral to the modern way of warfighting, exemplified in the lessons gleaned from the war in Ukraine. The Ministry of Defence has spent over £450 million on Uncrewed Systems, including over £300 million on their resear...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the transcript of his speech entitled Defence Secretary speech on threats to the UK, published on 19 November 2025, if he will provide a list of the firms that constitute the 14% of non-British
Answer: A list of non-British companies with which contracts have been signed. These suppliers can be found in the attached document. The Department is withholding some of the information as full disclosure of all the contract details may prejudice commercial int...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan will be delivered in the form of a single document.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan will be a single document that sets out how the Ministry of Defence will deliver the vision of the Strategic Defence Review over the next 10 years.
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: STARKMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94226More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled 100 new jobs created as drone factory opens in Swindon, published on 20 November 2025, if he will list all contracts placed by his Department with STARK s
Answer: The Department has not awarded any contracts to STARK to date.
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: HelsingMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 94225More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK “building the factories of the future” as government launches next phase of new munitions and energetics factories, published on 19 November 2025, if h
Answer: The Department is withholding the information as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGuided Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93978More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the planned in service date is for Project Nightfall.
Answer: The Department has not determined the in-service date for Project NIGHTFALL as we have yet to launch the competition and receive formal industry bids. We expect to launch the NIGHTFALL competition in December 2025.
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGuided Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93977More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will open the competition for Project Nightfall.
Answer: The Department is currently reviewing feedback from industry on the NIGHTFALL Request for Information, which closed on 24 November 2025. We expect to launch the NIGHTFALL competition in December 2025.
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGuided Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93970More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made a formal decision on the procurement of a Precision Strike Missile.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence is assessing potential opportunities for a Land Deep Fires munition capable of destroying targets out to extended ranges. A decision on Land Precision Strike progress is pending publication of the Defence Investment Plan.
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGuided Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93969More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to procure an alternative missile to PrSM.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence is assessing potential opportunities for a Land Deep Fires munition capable of destroying targets out to extended ranges. A decision on Land Precision Strike progress is pending publication of the Defence Investment Plan.
Answered 2 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAutonomous Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Major £5 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first, published on 2 June 2025, as a monetary figure, how much of
Answer: Uncrewed and Autonomous systems are integral to the modern way of warfighting, exemplified in the lessons gleaned from the war in Ukraine. The Ministry of Defence has spent over £450 million on Uncrewed Systems, including over £300 million on their resear...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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