James Cartlidge MP: written questions
1844 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Defence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117807More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken to publish the Defence Investment Plan on the UK defence industry.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Defence and other Defence Ministers engage regularly with a wide range of industry stakeholders which make us aware of industry's requirements. These are through established forums, bilateral meetings, and routine commercial eng...
Answered 7 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117806More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has met with representatives from the defence industry on the potential impact of the time taken to publish the Defence Investment Plan on closures of UK defence firms.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Defence and other Defence Ministers engage regularly with a wide range of industry stakeholders which make us aware of industry's requirements. These are through established forums, bilateral meetings, and routine commercial eng...
Answered 7 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117805More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February to Question 110439 on Defence: Expenditure, if he will itemise what the UK will spend on defence in 2027-28 that will not be defined as MOD budget expenditure.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to him on 4 March 2026 in response to his Question 116532.
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117804More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February to Question 110439 on Defence: Expenditure, what the remaining 0.47% of GDP to be spent on defence in 2027-28 that will not be spent on the MOD budget will be spent on.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to him on 4 March 2026 in response to his Question 116532.
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117803More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February to Question 110439 on Defence: Expenditure, what elements of the 2.6% of GDP spent on Defence in 2027 will not be spent on the MOD budget.
Answer: Defence Expenditure is defined by NATO.
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117802More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Enemy weapons detector in the hands of soldiers five years early, published on 14 February 2026, what is the in service date for SONUS.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to questions 117361 and 117362 on 9 March 2026 which remain extant.
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCyprus: HMS DragonMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117801More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the planned length is of HMS Dragon's deployment to Cyprus.
Answer: As the Chief of Defence Staff has said, following Iran’s reckless retaliation, recommended last Tuesday that HMS Dragon should be deployed. Ministers then signed this off immediately. HMS Dragon will be armed with the necessary available capabilities to m...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCyprus: Armed ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he held discussions with Ministers regarding the deployment of capabilities to Cyprus between 19 February and 2 March 2026.
Answer: The Defence Secretary strongly recognises the strategic importance Cyprus provides to the UK and its allies, with discussions regarding capability deployments in the region being seen as a priority for our operational interests and broader security cooper...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCyprus: HMS DragonMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117799More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether DragonFire will be installed on HMS Dragon for its deployment to Cyprus.
Answer: As the Chief of Defence Staff has said, following Iran’s reckless retaliation, recommended last Tuesday that HMS Dragon should be deployed. Ministers then signed this off immediately. HMS Dragon will be armed with the necessary available capabilities to m...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCyprus: HMS DragonMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117798More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has begun preparations for the deployment of HMS Dragon to Cyprus.
Answer: As the Chief of Defence Staff has said, following Iran’s reckless retaliation, recommended last Tuesday that HMS Dragon should be deployed. Ministers then signed this off immediately. HMS Dragon will be armed with the necessary available capabilities to m...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCyprus: Type 45 DestroyersMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117797More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he had plans to deploy a Type 45 Destroyer to Cyprus prior to 2 March 2026.
Answer: As the Chief of Defence Staff has said, following Iran’s reckless retaliation, recommended last Tuesday that HMS Dragon should be deployed. Ministers then signed this off immediately. HMS Dragon will be armed with the necessary available capabilities to m...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117362More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Enemy weapons detector in the hands of soldiers five years early, published on 14 February 2026, how many SONUS systems will be delivered to the British a
Answer: The SONUS system is an Acoustic Weapon Locating capability part of a wider programme which is delivering the next generation of Weapon Locating Sensors to enhance the capabilities of the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery. In January 2026, Leonardo UK was award...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Enemy weapons detector in the hands of soldiers five years early, published on 14 February 2026, how many SONUS systems have been procured as of 24 Februa
Answer: The SONUS system is an Acoustic Weapon Locating capability part of a wider programme which is delivering the next generation of Weapon Locating Sensors to enhance the capabilities of the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery. In January 2026, Leonardo UK was award...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: Autonomous WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117360More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, whether he has a target number for th
Answer: The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is now entering the international industrial selection phase. UK workshare and company involvement will be dependent on the chosen solutions.
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: Autonomous WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117359More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, how many UK companies will be involve
Answer: The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is now entering the international industrial selection phase. UK workshare and company involvement will be dependent on the chosen solutions.
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: Autonomous WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, how many UK companies will be involve
Answer: The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is now entering the international industrial selection phase. UK workshare and company involvement will be dependent on the chosen solutions.
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: Autonomous WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, whether the new surface-to-air missil
Answer: The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is now entering the international industrial selection phase. The new weapon system will be introduced through the spiral acquisition model, delivering a Min...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: Autonomous WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117356More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, what percentage of the workshare for
Answer: The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is now entering the international industrial selection phase. UK workshare will be dependent on the chosen solution.
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: Autonomous WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117355More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, what is the estimated total cost to t
Answer: The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is entering the concept demonstration phase. The total cost to the UK of delivering the new surface-to-air weapon system will be dependent on the chosen solu...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: Autonomous WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117354More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, what will the new surface-to-air weap
Answer: The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is entering the concept demonstration phase. No project name has yet been allocated and the name of the weapon system will depend on which proposal is taken ...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: Autonomous WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117353More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, what is the name of the first project
Answer: The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is entering the concept demonstration phase. No project name has yet been allocated and the name of the weapon system will depend on which proposal is taken ...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: Autonomous WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117352More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, what is the name of the first project
Answer: The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is entering the concept demonstration phase. No project name has yet been allocated and the name of the weapon system will depend on which proposal is taken ...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: Autonomous WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117351More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and European allies to develop low-cost air defence weapons to protect NATO skies, published on 20 February 2026, if he will list all possible capabili
Answer: The LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is likely to consist of a range of projects in the future, the first of these is a low-cost air defence effector. No other projects under the LEAP initiative have currently been agreed.
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: IncentivesMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate has he made of the total cost of issuing operational tour bonuses in each remaining financial year of the current Parliament.
Answer: Operational Allowance (OA) is a location‑driven allowance that recognises increased and enduring danger in Specified Operational Locations (SOLs). The number of Service Personnel in receipt of OA reflects the number of Service Personnel deployed to SOLs. ...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: IncentivesMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been the total cost of issuing operational tour bonuses in each of the ten previous financial years.
Answer: The total cost of Operational Allowance paid to Service Personnel in each Financial Year since 2015-16, and the numbers in receipt, are set out below: Financial YearNumbers in receipt of Op Allowance Total Op Allowance2015-164,290£10,709,745.542016-...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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