James Cartlidge MP: written questions
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Written questions
Defence Industrial Joint CouncilMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12764More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times the Defence Industrial Joint Council has met since June 2025.
Answer: The Top Council of the Defence Industrial Joint Council (DIJC) has met four times since June 2025.
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Force: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12763More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current average length of time taken for RAF personnel to complete fast jet training.
Answer: The current average length of time for trainee Fast Jet pilots who finished Initial Officer Training in September 2025 to complete Fast Jet training and joining a front-line Operational Conversion Unit is forecasted to be 46 months. This forecast is subje...
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordA400M AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many A400 aircraft are operationally deployable.
Answer: There are currently 16 aircraft in the A400M Forward Fleet. The Forward Fleet comprises serviceable and short-term unserviceable aircraft. Typically, the short-term unserviceable fleet aircraft are undergoing minor works, forward maintenance or other unfo...
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12761More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Defence Investment Plan will be subject to editing after publication.
Answer: The published version of the Defence Investment Plan is the final product.
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12760More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Defence Investment Plan will be subject to review after publication.
Answer: Parliament will hold the Ministry of Defence to account in the proper and usual way.
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12759More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Defence Investment Plan will contain new defence spending policies.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan will provide the funding to achieve the vision and policies set out in the Strategic Defence Review.
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12758More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Defence Investment Plan will contain new spending commitments.
Answer: We are backing the Defence Investment Plan with the necessary investment and fair, sustainable choices.
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordApache HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12757More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Apache are at a state of readiness.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence continually assesses the readiness and availability of all military equipment, including Apache helicopters, to ensure that the Armed Forces are able to meet current and emerging operational commitments. As he will recall from his ...
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordApache HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12756More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of Apache.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence continually assesses the readiness and availability of all military equipment, including Apache helicopters, to ensure that the Armed Forces are able to meet current and emerging operational commitments. As he will recall from his ...
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAndy BurnhamMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12755More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Rt hon. Member for Makerfield has requested to hold meetings with officials in his Department.
Answer: It would not be appropriate to comment on whether specific meetings, discussions or requests to review Government documents may or may not have occurred. The Defence Investment Plan was published on 30 June 2026 and is publicly available.
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12754More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Right Hon. Member for Makerfield has requested to review the Defence Investment Plan.
Answer: It would not be appropriate to comment on whether specific meetings, discussions or requests to review Government documents may or may not have occurred. The Defence Investment Plan was published on 30 June 2026 and is publicly available.
Answered 13 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12753More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Prime Minister's resignation has changed the publication date of the Defence Investment Plan.
Answer: The intention remains for this to be published before the upcoming NATO summit.
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12752More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has met with the Rt hon. Member for Makerfield to discuss the Defence Investment Plan since 22 June 2026.
Answer: The Secretary of State regularly meets with Parliamentary colleagues to discuss defence issues.
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12751More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has met with the Rt hon. Member for Makerfield to discuss defence spending since 22 June 2026.
Answer: The Defence Secretary regularly meets with Parliamentary colleagues to discuss defence issues.
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: NavyMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12750More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has had made of the UK's ability to contribute to Standing Nato Maritime Group One.
Answer: The Royal Navy routinely contributes to NATO's Standing Naval Forces, including Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1). The UK is fulfilling its leadership role in SNMG1, with a Royal Navy Commodore in command.
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAUKUSMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12749More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times he has held meetings on the AUKUS programme since 5 July 2024.
Answer: The Government is clear that AUKUS is a unique strategic partnership that is fundamental to the strength of our collective deterrence in both the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic. The Defence Secretary is committed to delivering against our AUKUS commit...
Answered 3 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAUKUSMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12748More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his (a) United States and (b) Australian counterpart on Pillar 2 of the AUKUS programme.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Defence regularly discusses AUKUS Pillar 2 in engagements with his United States and Australian counterparts to drive progress on the delivery of cutting-edge capabilities. In addition to this, AUKUS Pillar 2 has formally been a...
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAmmunition: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12747More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent on munitions in each of the previous two financial years.
Answer: The Government’s spend on munitions, including complex weapons and general munitions, for the previous two financial years is as follows: Financial YearSpendFY2024/25£1.073 billionFY2025/26£1.151B billion
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: HousingMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12215More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much will be spent on military accommodation in the next ten financial years.
Answer: I have recently reaffirmed the commitment to £9 billion overall funding envelope for the Defence Housing Strategy in the House in response to an Urgent Question.
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: HousingMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much money will be assigned to the Defence Housing Service in (a) each remaining financial year of the current Parliament and (b) each financial year of the next Parliament.
Answer: We inherited an appalling situation in defence housing and as a Government we are determined to resolve it, as set out the Defence Housing Strategy. This means nine-in-10 military housing upgraded or replaced and a new approach to the development of surpl...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAmmunition: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12213More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total value that his Department plans to spend on munitions in each remaining financial year of the current Parliament.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan outlined spending this parliament totalling £11.1 billion on weapons and munitions the breakdown of which by financial year (FY) is as follows: FY2026/27FY2027/28FY2028/29FY2029/30£2.22 billion£2.62 billion£3.15 billion£3.11 bi...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordChallenger Tanks: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12212More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June to Question 10199 on Challenger Tanks: Procurement, whether he has authorised any change to the cost envelope of delivering Challenger 3.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 24 June 2026, to Question 10201. The total approved cost of delivering the Challenger 3 programme remains at £1.9 billion. The programme’s forecast cost remains within the approved project estimate.
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordChallenger Tanks: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12211More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June to Question 10199 on Challenger Tanks: Procurement, what information his Department holds on the supply chain delays.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 73614, which remains extant. The Department holds detailed programme and supplier performance data for the Challenger 3 programme, including the supply chain. Delays have affected the development an...
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordChallenger Tanks: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12210More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June to Question 10199 on Challenger Tanks: Procurement, when he plans for formal reapproval to be undertaken.
Answer: As I advised within Question 10199, Initial Operating Capability and Full Operating Capability are currently under review. Under current plans, reapproval is planned to take place during Financial Year 2026-27.
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordChallenger Tanks: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12209More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June to Question 10199 on Challenger Tanks: Procurement, when the demonstration phase trials will (a) begin and (b) conclude.
Answer: Challenger 3 Demonstration Phase trials commenced in 2024. The timing for completion of the Demonstration Phase is currently under review as part of ongoing assessment of programme performance.
Answered 30 Jun 2026
Original Parliament record
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