James Cartlidge MP: written questions
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Written questions
Unmanned 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 recordMinistry of Defence: Public AppointmentsMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65403More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q43 of the oral evidence he gave to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, if the Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge is a direct replacement for the Director of the Secret
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 recordDefence: Public ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65402More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his oral contribution during the debate on Defence on 2 July, Official Report, Column 327, whether the additional £5 billion spent on defence includes funding for Ukraine.
Answer: The Government is committed to providing Ukraine with £3 billion a year of military support for as long as needed. This year, the UK will provide more financial aid in military support to Ukraine than at any time since the full-scale invasion began: £4.5 ...
Answered 28 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Public AppointmentsMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65401More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, how many candidates were interviewed as part of the recruiting process to appoint the announced Strategic A
Answer: As the hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Defence Minister, Ministers are entitled to directly appoint ‘eminent’ or qualified individuals to provide advice, champion an issue or undertake a review. Such appointments have been made under success...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Public AppointmentsMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65400More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, for how long the application process to fill the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challen
Answer: As the hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Defence Minister, Ministers are entitled to directly appoint ‘eminent’ or qualified individuals to provide advice, champion an issue or undertake a review. Such appointments have been made under success...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Public AppointmentsMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65399More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, whether there was an official application process for the appointment of the announced Strategic Advisor an
Answer: As the hon. Gentleman will recall from his time as a Defence Minister, Ministers are entitled to directly appoint ‘eminent’ or qualified individuals to provide advice, champion an issue or undertake a review. Such appointments have been made under success...
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Public AppointmentsMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65398More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, what the remuneration package for the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge will be.
Answer: Malcolm Chalmers will be given remuneration for work in-line with agreed and existing SCS pay bands. The position is non-pensionable.
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Public AppointmentsMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65397More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, if he will outline the responsibilities of the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge
Answer: The key responsibilities of the role are: The Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State and Head of Review and Challenge will be responsible for providing expert strategic advice to the Secretary of State and, as appropriate to the PUS, CDS and NAD as w...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: HousingMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July to Question 64518 on Armed Forces: Housing, whether the Defence Housing Strategy will be published before the rise of the House on 22 July 2025.
Answer: The Defence Housing Strategy will not be published before the rise of the House on 22 July 2025. However, it will be published later this year.
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceTreasuryTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65293More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July to Question 62703 on Defence: Finance, what the total financial quantum was of the elements of the single intelligence account which will be included in the Ministry of Defence budge
Answer: The Single Intelligence Account plays a vital role in our national defence, hence it has received an increase of funding in the Spending Review, and it will make a greater contribution to the UK’s total NATO qualifying defence spending from 2027.This does...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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