James Cartlidge MP: written questions 2025
2176 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Unmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66221More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many FPV drones his Department has ordered since 5 July 2024.
Answer: Due to operational security, we cannot provide details on the numbers or types of drones ordered by the Ministry of Defence.
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Unmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66220More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of the drones provided to Ukraine since February 2022 have been British made.
Answer: Where the UK's drone industry can meet Ukraine's drone requirements, the Ministry of Defence sources from UK industry, and this is true of the majority of the spend on drone procurements for Ukraine. This has been reaffirmed by the Defence Secretary's ann...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Unmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66219More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many drones his Department has provided to Ukraine by (a) reconnaissance, (b) logistics, (c) FPV and (d) long-range one-way attack since February 2022..
Answer: The UK has delivered over 70,000 uncrewed systems to Ukraine since Russia's illegal invasion began. This includes hundreds of long-range attack drones, first person view (FPV), loitering munitions, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drone...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceTreasuryTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66218More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Government press release entitled Government and business put forward "Team UK" approach to unleash defence sector's potential, published on 7 July 2025, how much in cash terms of the stated in
Answer: The Chancellor’s Spring Statement 2025, table 2.1, outlines the changes to defence and Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending that will see NATO qualifying core defence spending increase to 2.5% GDP by 2027. CP1298 – Spring Statement 2025 The Sing...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Government press release entitled Major £5 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first, published on 02 June 2025, what percentage of the £4 billion f
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy within the UK's conventional forces. Autonomous systems will be incorporated into the Integrated Force in high nu...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66216More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39917 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, how many drones in (a) logistics, (b) strike and (c) intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance roles were purcha
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 July 2025 to Question 64478.
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceTreasuryTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66215More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July to Question 62701 on Defence: Finance, when the Single Intelligence Budget was last included in the core defence budget.
Answer: The Single Intelligence Account is not included in the Ministry of Defence’s budget.Historically, the SIA’s budget has included elements of NATO-qualifying defence expenditure. In order to recognise the important contribution the intelligence agencies pla...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Armaments Director: Public AppointmentsCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66214More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 58776 on National Armaments Director: Public Appointments, when he expects the permanent National Armaments Director to be in place.
Answer: I refer to my answer given on 25 June to HC60825 and HC60826.
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Security AdviserCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66213More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January to Question 21331 on National Security Advisor: Pay, whether he plans to publish the Annual Report on Special Advisers before 22 July 2025.
Answer: The Annual Report on Special Advisers has been published on gov.uk.
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBody Armour: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65834More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many scalable tactical vests his Department has ordered since 5 July 2024.
Answer: To meet the ongoing demand for scalable tactical vests (STV) in August 2024, 1,980 STV textile covers in civilian blue (No Multi-Terrain Pattern) and without the Soft Armour Filler(SAF), were ordered. Defence Equipment and Support have ordered 15 Special ...
Answered 24 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65833More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Government 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 auton
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the UK's conventional forces. Uncrewed and autonomous systems will be inc...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65832More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Government press release entitled Major £5 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first, published on 2 June 2025, what percentage of the £4 billion to
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the UK's conventional forces. Uncrewed and autonomous systems will be inc...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65831More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Government 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 to be spe
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the UK's conventional forces. Uncrewed and autonomous systems will be inc...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65830More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled Major £5 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first, published on 2 June 2025, whether the £4 billion to be spent on autonomou
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the UK's conventional forces. Uncrewed and autonomous systems will be inc...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65829More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the 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 funding for autonomous systems
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the UK's conventional forces. Uncrewed and autonomous systems will be inc...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65828More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the 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 autonomous syste
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the UK's conventional forces. Uncrewed and autonomous systems will be inc...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65827More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Government press release entitled Major £5 billion technology investment accelerates UK defence innovation in a European first, published on 2 June 2025, how the £4 billion for autonomous sy
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the UK's conventional forces. Uncrewed and autonomous systems will be inc...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy: Electronic WarfareMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65826More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Electronic Counter Measure kits he plans to procure for the Army in this financial year.
Answer: For reasons of operational security, I am unable to provide further details relating to Electronic Counter Measures.
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65825More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many drones he plans to procure for the armed forces in this financial year by (a) reconnaissance, (b) logistics, (c) first-person view and (d) long-range one-way attack.
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the UK's conventional forces. Uncrewed and autonomous systems will be inc...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAir Force: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65824More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that British SMEs can participate in future procurement contracts relating to the security of UK RAF bases.
Answer: The Department will continue to utilise Defence commercial processes to deliver an appropriate and robust security solution. All Ministry of Defence (MOD) procurements must comply with specific legal obligations regarding the fair treatment of all supplie...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAir Force: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65823More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to issue an Urgent Capability Requirement to procure security enhancements for RAF bases.
Answer: The review of security across Defence is ongoing and includes looking at all options to deliver appropriate and robust security solutions. I will report updates to the House in due course.
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of DefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65822More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a list of the total number of civil service personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence in each financial year since 1995.
Answer: The following table shows the Ministry of Defence (MOD) civil servant strength by Full Time Equivalent (FTE) and Headcount for periods from 1 April 1995 to 1 April 2025. DateFTE (Total)Headcount (Total)01/04/1995121,654123,77601/04/1996116,093118,18301/04...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCadetsMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the numbers of cadets in the combined Cadet Force since the 5 July 2024.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes annual accredited official statistics on the strength of MOD-sponsored Cadet Forces. The latest statistics can be found at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-sponsored-cadet-forces-s...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Public AppointmentsMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65405More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to abolish the Secretary of State’s Office for Net Assessment and Challenge.
Answer: We have no plans to abolish the Secretary of State’s Office of Net Assessment and Challenge, known as SONAC. As the Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State and Head of Review and Challenge, Malcolm Chalmers will be responsible for providing expert str...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Public AppointmentsMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65404More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has appointed a Director of the Secretary of State’s Office for Net Assessment and Challenge.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence is pleased to welcome Malcom Chalmers as the new Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State (SofS) and Head of Review and Challenge. Malcolm Chalmers will not be a direct replacement for Director SONAC but will have many of the sa...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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