James Cartlidge MP: written questions 2025
2176 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Defence: ReformMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43575More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Written Ministerial Statement of 1 April 2025 on Defence Reform, HCWS 573, whether the Chief of Defence People will be replaced by a civil service Director General.
Answer: This Government is bringing in the deepest reforms in UK Defence for 50 years, to speed up decision-making, secure faster delivery and achieve the best value for money for our troops and taxpayers. It is too early to specify the overall staffing requirem...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: ReformMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Written Ministerial Statement of 1 April 2025 on Defence Reform, HCWS 573, how ministers will interact with the Quad.
Answer: Defence Reform is making significant changes as part of this Government's ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of UK Defence. These do not require formal Parliamentary approval, but the Government remains committed to transparency a...
Answered 15 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: ReformMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43573More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Written Ministerial Statement of 1 April 2025 on Defence Reform, HCWS 573, how regularly the Quad will meet.
Answer: Defence Reform is making significant changes as part of this Government's ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of UK Defence. These do not require formal Parliamentary approval, but the Government remains committed to transparency a...
Answered 15 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: ReformMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43572More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Written Ministerial Statement of 1 April 2025 on Defence Reform, HCWS 573, whether the reforms will be subject to Parliamentary approval.
Answer: Defence Reform is making significant changes as part of this Government's ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of UK Defence. These do not require formal Parliamentary approval, but the Government remains committed to transparency a...
Answered 15 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterans: Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43555More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to extend the National Insurance contributions holiday for businesses that employ veterans after April 2026.
Answer: The government keeps all taxes under review.
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: South SuffolkDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43538More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of ending the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme on businesses in South Suffolk constituency.
Answer: The Government’s commitment to our horticulture sector and its vital role in strengthening food security remains steadfast. Our proposed approach to future funding for horticulture will be considered alongside Defra’s work to simplify and rationalise agri...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: SubsidiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43537More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to provide future funding to replace the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme.
Answer: The Government’s commitment to our horticulture sector and its vital role in strengthening food security remains steadfast. Our proposed approach to future funding for horticulture will be considered alongside Defra’s work to simplify and rationalise agri...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: GrantsMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will change the eligibility requirements for bursary schemes to allow more armed forces personnel to apply.
Answer: Bursaries are available only for applicants wishing to join the Armed Forces and are not available to existing Service personnel or any others. They are offered to students in full-time education to attract high-calibre individuals to a career in Defence,...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHelicopters: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March to Question 39042 on Helicopters: Finance, if he will outline the prioritisation decisions made by the multiple front line commands to lay out an estimated budget for (a) 2024-2
Answer: Prioritisation decisions made by front line commands regarding spending on rotary wing will take account of capability requirements, as well as the Accounting Officer principles set out in Managing Public Money.
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43216More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) of his Department's civilian personnel, (b) Armed Forces personnel and (c) external private contractors work on recruitment for the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) British Army, (iii) Royal Air Force and (iv) R
Answer: The requested information is presented in the table below. A separate return for the Royal Marines is not available as Royal Navy and Royal Marines recruiting are combined under the Royal Navy Recruit and Attract organisation. ArmyRoyal NavyRoyal Air Fo...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43215More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's recruitment targets for the armed forces are for 2025-26.
Answer: As the hon. Gentleman will know, the current Government inherited a crisis in recruitment and retention from the last administration. We have made a series of announcements to improve recruitment since July 2024. The 2025-26 Single Service recruitment tar...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence Business Services: ContractsMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total value is of the contracts managed by Defence Business Services.
Answer: The total value of the contracts managed by Defence Business Services (DBS) is £957,204,131.21, this sum represents the total forecast value of each contract at its end. All the contracts DBS manage are listed below. Disclosure & Barring Service eBro...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence Business Services: ContractsMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43213More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the contracts managed by Defence Business Services.
Answer: The total value of the contracts managed by Defence Business Services (DBS) is £957,204,131.21, this sum represents the total forecast value of each contract at its end. All the contracts DBS manage are listed below. Disclosure & Barring Service eBro...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordReserve Forces: RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43212More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) full time and (b) reservist armed forces personnel were working on recruitment for the (i) British Army, (ii) Royal Navy, (iii) RAF and (iv) Royal Marines as of 01 April 2025.
Answer: The requested information is presented in the table below. A separate return for the Royal Marines is not available as Royal Navy and Royal Marines recruiting are combined under the Royal Navy Recruit and Attract organisation. ArmyRoyal NavyRoyal Air Fo...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43178More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 01 April 2025 to Question 41483 on Defence: Procurement, what the (a) eight business cases waiting for approval with His Majesty's Treasury and (b) seven cases waiting for approval with
Answer: The eight cases with HM Treasury are as follows:1) Sheffield Forgemaster Recapitalisation2) Future Maritime Support Programme3) Project BRAMLEY (ICT infrastructure)4) Defence Marine Services – Next Generation5) Astute6) Dreadnought Support7) Future Combat...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordStrategic Defence ReviewMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43151More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last met with the lead members of the Strategic Defence Review team.
Answer: The Reviewers are reporting regularly on progress to the Defence Secretary, the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Review will be published in the Spring. As the Prime Minister reported in his Statement on Defence and Security in the ...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordStrategic Defence ReviewMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43150More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Prime Minister last met with the lead members of the Strategic Defence Review team.
Answer: As the Prime Minister reported in his Statement on Defence and Security in the House of Commons, the Strategic Defence Review is being finalised. The Reviewers are reporting regularly on progress to the Prime Minister, the Defence Secretary, and the Chanc...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordArtillery: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43149More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2025 to Question 34898 on Artillery: Procurement, when he plans to make a decision on the procurement of 15 MLRS and one RRV.
Answer: We are currently undertaking a Strategic Defence Review which is looking at the threats we face and the capabilities we need to meet the challenges, threats and opportunities of the 21st century. It would be inappropriate to prejudge the outcomes of the R...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Written QuestionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43148More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has used artificial intelligence to respond to written parliamentary questions since 5 July 2024.
Answer: I can provide the hon. Member and the House full assurance that all Parliamentary Questions are signed off by Ministers, and this practice remains in place. The Ministry of Defence continues to explore the use of AI to support routine business operations ...
Answered 9 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAmmunition: Lost Property and TheftMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43147More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37603 on Ammunition: Lost Property and Theft, if he will list incidents recorded on the Defence Incident Management Database since 5 July 2024.
Answer: Since 5 July 2024 to 31 March 2025 11,763 security incidents have been raised and recorded in the Defence Incident Management Database. When any type of security incident is raised, it is reviewed by security personnel and subjected to an initial security...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMulti-role Support Ships: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43146More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 38652 on Multi-role Support Ships: Procurement, whether external consultants were involved in the renaming process.
Answer: The name change from Multi-role Support Ship to Multi-role Strike Ship (MRSS) took effect on 25 February 2025. No external consultants were involved.
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMulti-role Support Ships: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43145More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 38652 on Multi-role Support Ships: Procurement, on what date it was renamed.
Answer: The name change from Multi-role Support Ship to Multi-role Strike Ship (MRSS) took effect on 25 February 2025. No external consultants were involved.
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43144More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 38645 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, whether he plans to procure decoy cruise missile-like weapons.
Answer: Defence requirements are kept under constant review to ensure that our Armed Forces have the battle-winning capabilities they need. Due to the sensitive nature of this capability area it would be inappropriate to comment in detail. All capability requirem...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: GrantsMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43142More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost to his Department was for bursary schemes in the armed forces for the 2024-25 financial year.
Answer: Bursaries are available only for applicants wishing to join the Armed Forces and are not available to existing Service personnel or any others. They are offered to students in full-time education to attract high-calibre individuals to a career in Defence,...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: GrantsMinistry of DefenceTabled 1 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 43141More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) serving personnel, (b) students, (c) others were (i) entitled to and (ii) in receipt of a bursary on 1 April 2025.
Answer: Bursaries are available only for applicants wishing to join the Armed Forces and are not available to existing Service personnel or any others. They are offered to students in full-time education to attract high-calibre individuals to a career in Defence,...
Answered 10 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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