James Cartlidge MP: written questions 2025
2176 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Air Force: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39044More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has authorised any changes to the length of training undertaken by the Royal Air Force for pilot cohorts since 5 July 2024.
Answer: No significant changes to the length of pilot training courses have been made since 5 July 2024. Changes to the length of the training undertaken by Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots do not require authorisation by the Secretary of State for Defence. RAF train...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39043More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer by the Minister for Veterans and People to Question 123 at the Defence Committee on 11 March 2025, HC 572, what the 100 out-of-date medical requirements were that have been removed fr
Answer: The latest version of Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950, Leaflet 6-7-7, which sets the medical entry standards for the Armed Forces, was published in August 2024 following an intensive review undertaken by clinical experts, Defence personnel staff and t...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHelicopters: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39042More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has authorised any changes to the allocated rotary budget for the (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26 financial year.
Answer: There is no centrally held rotary budget. Rotary capability is delivered across multiple front line commands, who make prioritisation decisions within their budgets as a part of normal financial management.
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSpaceflightMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of constructing a UK-based space launch facility.
Answer: The European demand for satellite launches up to 2033 is forecast to be worth $50 billion. Capturing even 2% of this would bring around $1 billion in revenues for the UK economy. Positioning the UK with growing launch capabilities is a key part of our amb...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Public AppointmentsMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2025 to Question 36712 on Ministry of Defence: Public Appointments, what the annual salary will be of the incoming National Armaments Director.
Answer: The advert for the new National Armaments Director role was published on 18 March 2025. It sets out that if the successful candidate is from outside of the Civil Service, they can expect their salary on appointment to be in the range of £290,000 - £400,00...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces CovenantMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38653More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he plans to have discussions with local government on the implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence’s Covenant Team has utilised its established local Government engagement structures to inform proposals for the Armed Forces Covenant Duty extension. Officials have undertaken an extensive research and engagement programme, includi...
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMulti-role Support Ships: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38652More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2025 to Question 37236 on Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement, whether that answer should refer to Multi Role Support Ships.
Answer: The answer given to the hon. Member is correct. The Multi Role Support Ship has been renamed the Multi Role Strike Ship (MRSS). MRSS will be a Royal Navy crewed warship with a combat system, self-defence and offensive capabilities. The amended name better...
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Marine Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38651More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his target date is for RNMB ARIADNE to reach (a) Initial Operating Capability and (b) Full Operating Capability.
Answer: Royal Navy Motor Boat (RNMB) ARIADNE is currently undergoing trials and testing prior to transition to operations. The Royal Navy does not comment on future availability and the dates of Initial Operating Capability and Full Operating Capability will be r...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMinesweepers: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38650More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has set a formal target date for the decommissioning of all conventional crewed mine hunting vessels in use by the Royal Navy.
Answer: The Royal Navy is gradually phasing out its traditionally crewed and complex mine countermeasure vessels, as modern, autonomous systems are delivered. We do not routinely comment on the timeline for the decommissioning of vessels.
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38649More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the out of service date is for MQ-9 Reaper.
Answer: On current plans, Reaper will remain in service until later in 2025.
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38648More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when MQ-9B protector will reach (a) initial and (b) full operating capability.
Answer: The Protector Programme expects to declare Initial Operating Capability this year. The projected date for Full Operating Capability is yet to be established.
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38647More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there has been a delay to the in-service date for MQ-9B Protector.
Answer: I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to Question 25381 on 28 January 2025, to the hon Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire South (Johanna Baxter). There has been no delay to the Protector Programme In-Service date.
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38646More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the target in service date is for MQ-9B Protector.
Answer: I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to Question 25381 on 28 January 2025, to the hon Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire South (Johanna Baxter). There has been no delay to the Protector Programme In-Service date.
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38645More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has placed any orders for decoy cruise missile-like weapons since 5 July 2024.
Answer: No such procurements have been undertaken in this period, but our requirements are kept under constant review to ensure that our Armed Forces have the battle-winning capabilities they need.
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38644More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has a target date for Proteus to reach minimum deployable capability.
Answer: There is currently no target date for PROTEUS to reach a minimum deployable capability under the existing contract. A large-scale PROTEUS type UAS currently sits outside of the funded Agile work package that UK Ministry of Defence and the Royal Navy (via ...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38643More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has placed any orders for cheap loitering munitions since 5 July 2024.
Answer: As announced on 6 March 2025, the UK has placed contracts, on behalf of the International Fund for Ukraine, to supply Altius 600m and Altius 700m loitering munitions systems to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGuided Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38642More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his target date is for delivering a medium range precision strike system.
Answer: Current timelines for Medium Range Precision Strike (MRPS) anticipate contract award in 2027 and introduction into service in 2028; stakeholders across Defence are, however, working to accelerate this timeline. Notwithstanding, the imperative to provide t...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordGuided Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38641More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made on the procurement of a medium range precision strike system.
Answer: A Prior Information Notice for Medium Range Precision Strike was released in October 2024, and a well attended Industry day was held in December 2024. Since then, the team at Defence Equipment and Support have actively engaged with industry to ensure comm...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38640More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March to Question 37252 on Defence: Finance, what the real terms equivalent of that cash figure is.
Answer: The Government’s commitment to increase defence investment to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 will result in a £13.4 billion increase to defence spending in cash terms in 2027/28 compared to 2024/25. The final real terms equivalent will depend on inflation rates betw...
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38639More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many E-7 Wedgetail aircraft are expected to enter service in the Royal Air Force.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 July 2024 to Question 432 to the hon Member for North Durham (Luke Akehurst).
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38638More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the sustainment contract for E-7 Wedgetail to be signed.
Answer: The sustainment contract for E-7 Wedgetail will be established once the Full Business Case is approved. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 February 2025 to Question 26433 to the right hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mark Francoi...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: EngineeringMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38637More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the retention of engineers in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) British Army and (c) Royal Air Force.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Veterans and People (Alistair Carns) on 13 January 2025 to Question 21528 to the right hon. Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage).
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Space TechnologyMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38636More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase UK sovereign capability in the defence space sector.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence is supporting the Government's ambition to strengthen the UK's space sector. Through major investments from Defence, including £1.5 billion over 10 years in Defence space technologies and £5 billion over a similar period in satelli...
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38088More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with industry on social value models since 5 July 2024.
Answer: This Government is committed to bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy which ensures the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned. As part of the Government’s primary mission to grow the economy and spread the benefit...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38087More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to consult industry on a new defence social value model.
Answer: This Government is committed to bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy which ensures the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned. As part of the Government’s primary mission to grow the economy and spread the benefit...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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