James Cartlidge MP: written questions 2025
2176 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Artillery: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the work undertaken on the development of the RCH 155 will be British; and whether this proportion has changed since 5 July 2024.
Answer: The Mobile Fires Project (MFP), delivering the Remote Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155), is currently in its Assessment Phase. I am withholding further information relating to the number of RCH 155 platforms being procured as it is commercially sensitiv...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArtillery: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 mm (RCH 155) he plans to procure; and whether this number has changed since 5 July 2024.
Answer: The Mobile Fires Project (MFP), delivering the Remote Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155), is currently in its Assessment Phase. I am withholding further information relating to the number of RCH 155 platforms being procured as it is commercially sensitiv...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Bases: Unmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34643More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to conduct an investigation into drone activity over (a) RAF Mildenhall, (b) RAF Feltwell and (c) RAF Lakenheath in November 2024.
Answer: The use of uncrewed aerial systems around protected areas in the UK causes a risk to life and is illegal. Such activity will be subject to thorough investigation. The Ministry of Defence Police is leading the investigation into drone activity over RAF sit...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy: Uncrewed SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34642More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the number of uncrewed land systems in use by the British army.
Answer: The Army is undergoing a combined programme of work to ensure our Land Forces will have the lethality, protection and mobility to fight and win against any adversary. There are a number of programmes and projects across the Army actively developing and ai...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aviation Authority: Uncrewed SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34641More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Military Aviation Authority in increasing the testing of uncrewed systems.
Answer: The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) as the air safety regulator for the Defence Air Environment sets the regulatory framework for Uncrewed Air System (UAS) Test and Evaluation (T&E) but does not own, direct or deliver any UAS T&E activity. In su...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aviation Authority: Uncrewed SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34640More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has considered adapting the Military Aviation Authority for uncrewed testing.
Answer: The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) as the air safety regulator for the Defence Air Environment sets the regulatory framework for Uncrewed Air System (UAS) Test and Evaluation (T&E) but does not own, direct or deliver any UAS T&E activity. In su...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aviation Authority: Uncrewed SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34639More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, assessment he has made of the preparedness of the Military Aviation Authority for uncrewed testing.
Answer: The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) as the air safety regulator for the Defence Air Environment sets the regulatory framework for Uncrewed Air System (UAS) Test and Evaluation (T&E) but does not own, direct or deliver any UAS T&E activity. In su...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPuma Helicopters: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34638More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the comments by the Prime Minister published in the Telegraph on 16 February 2025, whether he plans to proceed with the decommissioning of the Puma helicopter fleet .
Answer: The phased retirement of the 14 oldest Chinook helicopters over the next four years, synchronised with the delivery of replacement state-of-the-art Chinook H-47 (Extended Range) from 2027 onwards, represents the optimal transition that delivers the new ai...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordChinook Helicopters: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34637More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the comments by the Prime Minister published in the Telegraph on 16 February 2025, whether he plans to proceed with the decommissioning of fourteen CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
Answer: The phased retirement of the 14 oldest Chinook helicopters over the next four years, synchronised with the delivery of replacement state-of-the-art Chinook H-47 (Extended Range) from 2027 onwards, represents the optimal transition that delivers the new ai...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS Northumberland: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34636More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Prime Minister’s oral statement on Defence and Security of 25 February 2025, Official Report, column 631 whether he plans to proceed with the decommissioning of HMS Northumberland.
Answer: All named ships remain scheduled for decommissioning in line with the Secretary of State’s announcement of 20 November 2024. We continue to invest in the capabilities needed to meet current and future operational requirements. This will see the introducti...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRFA Wave Knight and RFA Wave Ruler: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34635More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Oral Statement by the Prime Minister of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, column 631, whether he plans to proceed with the decommissioning of (a) RFA Wave Knight and
Answer: All named ships remain scheduled for decommissioning in line with the Secretary of State’s announcement of 20 November 2024. We continue to invest in the capabilities needed to meet current and future operational requirements. This will see the introducti...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordPuma Helicopters: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral statement of the Prime Minister of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, column 631, whether it remains his policy to proceed with the decommissioning of the Puma h
Answer: The phased retirement of the 14 oldest Chinook helicopters over the next four years, synchronised with the delivery of replacement state-of-the-art Chinook H-47 (Extended Range) from 2027 onwards, represents the optimal transition that delivers the new ai...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordChinook Helicopters: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34633More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral statement of the Prime Minister of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, column 631, whether it remains his policy to proceed with the decommissioning of fourteen C
Answer: The phased retirement of the 14 oldest Chinook helicopters over the next four years, synchronised with the delivery of replacement state-of-the-art Chinook H-47 (Extended Range) from 2027 onwards, represents the optimal transition that delivers the new ai...
Answered 12 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS Albion and HMS Bulwark: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral statement of the Prime Minister of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, column 631, whether it remains his policy to proceed with the decommissioning of (a) HMS Al
Answer: All named ships remain scheduled for decommissioning in line with the Secretary of State’s announcement of 20 November 2024. We continue to invest in the capabilities needed to meet current and future operational requirements. This will see the introducti...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Peacekeeping OperationsMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34295More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleague on the potential deployment of British peacekeeping forces in Ukraine.
Answer: The Secretary of State regularly holds discussions with his Cabinet colleagues on the war in Ukraine and how we can continue to best support Ukraine going forward.We are not going to get into any further details at this stage and our focus is on ensuring ...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordStrategic Defence ReviewMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, columns 361-364, whether he will extend any contacts for the lead members of the Strategic Revie
Answer: The external review team continue to support the Government in delivering this crucial piece of work. The Strategic Defence Review-which will be published in the Spring-will ensure the United Kingdom is both secure at home and strong abroad, now and for t...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordStrategic Defence ReviewMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34293More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many draft versions of the Strategic Defence Review he has received from Lord Robertson.
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review is advanced as the Prime Minister has said. The Review, which will be published in the spring, will help set the path for Britain's defence for the next decade.
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceTreasuryTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33957More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what economic assumptions her Department has used to calculate the proposed increase in defence spending of £13.4bn by 2027.
Answer: Economic assumptions are based on independent forecasts provided by the OBR, under the Charter of Budget Responsibility. The next forecast will become available at the Spring Statement on 26 March in the usual way.
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the proposed increase in defence spending will be a real terms increase of £6bn.
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.
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Military AidMinistry of DefenceTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33955More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any proportion of the proposed increase in defence spending from 2027 will be spent on providing further military aid to Ukraine.
Answer: The Government is committed to providing at least £3 billion a year to Ukraine for as long as it takes.
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Peacekeeping OperationsMinistry of DefenceTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential (a) size and (b) scale of a British peacekeeping force for Ukraine.
Answer: We are not going to get into any further details at this stage, our focus is on ensuring Ukraine is in as strong a position as possible. We will continue our dialogue with allies to secure a path to a lasting peace in Ukraine.
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Peacekeeping OperationsMinistry of DefenceTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the British Army is currently of appropriate (a) scale and (b) capability to provide a potential peacekeeping force to Ukraine.
Answer: The UK is ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine Our focus is ensuring Ukraine is in as strong a position as possible. When, how and on what terms this war comes to an end can only be decided by negotiations with Ukraine at the ...
Answered 7 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNATOMinistry of DefenceTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with international allies regarding Britain’s role in NATO, in the context of his attendance at the Munich Security Conference 2025.
Answer: At the Munich Security Conference, the Secretary of State for Defence met with his counterparts from Norway, Sweden, and New Zealand. He also attended a working breakfast, which was attended by a number of Allied Defence Ministers. Earlier in the same wee...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordJoint Expeditionary ForceMinistry of DefenceTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with international allies regarding Britain’s role in the Joint Expeditionary Force, in the context of his attendance at the Munich Security Conference 2025.
Answer: The UK is the framework nation for the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). Since the Munich Security Conference, the Secretary of State has discussed the JEF with his Norwegian counterpart during a visit to Norway from 19 - 20 February 2025 and at a meeting ...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordNATO Rapid Reaction CorpsMinistry of DefenceTabled 26 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with international allies regarding Britain’s role in the ARRC, in the context of his attendance at the Munich Security Conference 2025.
Answer: Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC) provides NATO with a rapidly deployable, flexible HQ that can act as a Joint, Land or Corps HQ for operations and crisis response. The United Kingdom is HQ ARRC’s ‘framework nation’ and British personnel ...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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