James Cartlidge MP: written questions 2024
512 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Chagos Islands: SovereigntyMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17840More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral Answer by the Minister for the Armed Forces on 2 December 2024, Official Report, Column 27, what the estimated cost to the US will be of the Chagos settlement excluding the Government-t
Answer: Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17839More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral Answer by the Minister for the Armed Forces on 2 December 2024, Official Report, Column 27, if he will make an estimate of the cost to his Department of implementing the proposed UK-Mau
Answer: Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17838More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his oral Answer to the hon. Member for South Suffolk of 11 November 2024, Official Report, Column 505, whether he plans to provide information on the cost of (a) direct payments made to the gove
Answer: Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNational Grid: CostsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17189More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2024 to Question 16211 on National Grid: Costs of the Western and Eastern Links, whether (a) he and (b) Ofgem is able to provide the estimate requested.
Answer: The analysis of an onshore reinforcement (i.e. overhead pylons) for Western Green Link was conducted 16 years ago and cost estimates for alternative options are not available.As the option of an onshore reinforcement for Eastern Green Link 1&2 did not...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordReserve ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17188More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he received the External Scrutiny Team Report 2024 into the Reserves as referred to in Section 113a of the Reserve Forces Act 1996; and whether he plans to publish his response.
Answer: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence received the External Scrutiny Team’s 2024 report on 29 July 2024. We are most grateful to the team for their work. The Ministry of Defence will place their 2024 report in the Library of the House in...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordVeterans: WomenMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17187More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to commission a Women’s Veterans Strategy.
Answer: This Government will always stand up for those who have served our country, and I am leading work across Government and with civil society to look at the best ways to ensure all veterans get access to the support and opportunities they need and deserve. W...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17186More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish his Department’s pathway for reaching 2.5% of GDP being spent on Defence; and whether he has made any changes to that timetable since 1 November.
Answer: As the Prime Minister has confirmed the path to spending 2.5% of GDP on Defence will be set out in spring 2025.
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordStrategic Defence ReviewMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17185More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Strategic Defence Review will be (a) delivered to Ministers and (b) made available to the public.
Answer: As previously announced by the Secretary of State for Defence to the House of Commons, the Reviewers will make their final report to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Defence in the Spring of 2025. The Secretary of...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: DeploymentMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17184More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where and when (a) Watchkeeper Mk 1, (b) Puma, (c) the 14 Chinook helicopters that are being retired, (d) HMS Northumberland, (e) HMS Albion, (f) HMS Bulwark, (g) RFA Wave Knight and (h) RFA Wave Ruler were last
Answer: Defence has taken the decision to retire some ageing equipment, as we transition to new capabilities and make our Armed Forces fit for the future. HMS BULWARK was last operation in 2017; HMS NORTHUMBERLAND in 2022; HMS ALBION in 2023; RFA WAVE RULER in 20...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCyprus: Puma HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17183More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Pumas in use in Cyprus (a) only provide a firefighting function and (b) are used for (i) search and rescue and (ii) other operational purposes.
Answer: The Puma helicopters based in the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) on Cyprus are used for a range of activities, including aerial firefighting across the island.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmed ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17182More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the size of the (a) Regular Army, (b) RAF, (c) Royal Navy, (d) Royal Marines (e) Army Reserve, (f) RAF Reserve, (g) Royal Navy Reserve and (h) Royal Marines Reserve in 2029.
Answer: The Government is taking decisive action to tackle the long-term decline in Armed Forces numbers and renew the nation’s contract with those who serve, having inherited a recruitment and retention crisis - with targets missed every year for the past fourte...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmy: IncentivesMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17181More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his statement of 20 November 2024 on Defence Programmes Developments, Official Report columns 287 to 289, which Army ranks will qualify for the £8,000 retention payment.
Answer: All qualifying Substantive Regular UK Trained Army Personnel (TAP) soldiers ranking from OR2 (Private) to OR3 (Lance Corporal), entering their third year of service, will receive an Army Retention payment of £8,000.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCyprus: Fire and Rescue ServicesMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17180More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of a military solution of providing an alternative firefighting helicopter capability in Cyprus.
Answer: The MOD is working at pace through various options to fulfil some short-term capability gaps on Cyprus before the introduction of H-145 from 2026. Capability options will be assessed to ensure that the MOD delivers value for money for the taxpayer.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Private EducationMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17179More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to support armed forces personnel who do not receive Continuity of Educational Allowance with the increase in the cost of private school fees arising from the introduction of VAT on such fees.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) provides Continuity of Education Allowance to Service Personnel to minimise the disruption to their children’s education caused by Service commitments involving frequent moves of the family home. Their circumstances must fit ...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence: ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17178More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his statement of 20 November 2024 on Defence Programmes Developments, Official Report columns 287 to 289, if he will publish a tabulated breakdown of the forecast £500m of savings.
Answer: The information requested is commercially sensitive and cannot be disclosed at this time.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence: ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17177More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his statement of 20 November 2024 on Defence Programmes Developments, Official Report columns 287 to 289, what capabilities he plans to prioritise for the reinvestment of the forecast £150m of s
Answer: As the Secretary of State outlined in his statement of 20 November, we inherited significant financial pressures in the defence budget from the last government. The capability retirements announced will deliver better value for money and ensure we are in ...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCyprus: Fire and Rescue ServicesMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17176More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of providing a (a) commercial and (b) military solution to provide an alternative firefighting helicopter capability in Cyprus.
Answer: The MOD is working at pace through various options to fulfil some short-term capability gaps on Cyprus before the introduction of H-145 from 2026. Capability options will be assessed to ensure that the MOD delivers value for money for the taxpayer.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17175More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his oral statement on Defence Programmes Developments of 20 November 2024, Official Report, column 287, whether he had discussions with (a) Lord Robertson and (b) other members of the Strategic
Answer: As the Secretary of State for Defence explained in his oral statement these decisions were "all backed by the Chiefs and taken in consultation with the SDR Reviewers."
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Military AidMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his oral statement on Defence Programmes Developments of 20 November 2024, Official Report, column 287, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of gifting the (a) 14 Chinook an
Answer: Further decisions on Puma and Chinook will be made in due course and be communicated in the usual way. We continue to assess the feasibility and utility of Granting-in-Kind different capabilities to Ukraine.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPuma HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17173More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of retiring the Puma helicopters early on (a) Episkopi and (b) Dhekelia Garrison.
Answer: The Puma helicopters in the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) on the island of Cyprus have historically supported emergency response across the SBAs, as well as providing troop movement and defence engagement tasks to British Forces Cyprus, including Episkopi a...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTankers and Warships: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17172More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for (a) HMS Albion, (b) HMS Bulwark, (c) RFA Wave Knight and (d) RFA Wave Ruler after they leave service.
Answer: As yet, no further decisions have been made regarding disposal plans for HMS Albion, HMS Bulwark, RFA Wave Knight, and RFA Wave Ruler. As with all decommissioned ships, a full suite of options is being assessed to ensure that the disposal achieves value f...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHMS NorthumberlandMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17171More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of fixing the structural issues with HMS Northumberland.
Answer: The estimated costs for the repair of HMS Northumberland were at least £120 million, with the work anticipated to take over four years.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPuma HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17170More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the potential operational implications are of retiring the Puma helicopters early for (a) the RAF, (b) RAF Akrotiri and (c) British Forces Cyprus.
Answer: The Puma aircraft based in the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) on the island of Cyprus have historically supported emergency response across the SBAs, as well as providing firefighting, troop movement, training and defence engagement tasks. Defence is explori...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHMS NorthumberlandMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17169More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for HMS Northumberland after she leaves service.
Answer: As yet, no further decisions have been made regarding future disposal plans for HMS NORTHUMBERLAND. As with all decommissioned ships, a full suite of options is being assessed to ensure that the disposal achieves value for money and is policy compliant (s...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17168More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his statement of 20 November 2024 on Defence Programmes Developments, Official Report columns 287 to 289, whether he had discussions on military capability retirements with his US counterpart be
Answer: The UK and US enjoy a close relationship across a range of Defence matters, and our senior officials and military keep one another informed on important developments and decisions in a timely manner, which occurred ahead of this statement as a matter of c...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →