Stuart Anderson MP: written questions 2026
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Written questions
Ballistic Missile DefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19086More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 49 of his Department's Defence Investment Plan, published 30 June 2026, what enhanced AI command and control system IAMDSOC will use.
Answer: In recognition of the growing air and missile threat, the Strategic Defence Review committed to enhance the UK’s homeland air and missile defences, with £790 million of new money for homeland IAMD subsequently announced in the Defence Investment Plan. Thi...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordSkynetMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19085More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 49 of his Department's Defence Investment Plan, published 30 June 2026, whether capabilities will be lost by not proceeding with SKYNET 6 Narrowband Satellite System.
Answer: The decision not to proceed with the SKYNET 6 Narrowband Satellite System procurement was taken once it was confirmed that alternative assured and resilient narrowband services will be available to meet future capability requirements.
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordBallistic Missile DefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19084More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 49 of his Department's Defence Investment Plan, published 30 June 2026, when decisions on additional investments into IAMDSOC will be made; and what the deciding factors will be.
Answer: In recognition of the growing air and missile threat, the Strategic Defence Review committed to enhance the UK’s homeland air and missile defences, with £790 million of new money for homeland IAMD subsequently announced in the Defence Investment Plan. Thi...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Space TechnologyMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19083More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 49 of his department's Defence Investment Plan, published 30 June 2026, is the £9 billion scheduled to be invested in the space domain between 2030-2035 currently in his Department's budget
Answer: As already announced, funding for investments beyond 2029-30 will be set out as part of future Spending Reviews and subsequent budget-setting processes, in the usual way.
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordSkynetMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the life expectancy of SKYNET 6A.
Answer: The operational design life of the SKYNET 6A satellite is 15 years.
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordBallistic Missile DefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when is the Integrated Air, Space and Missile Defence Operations Centre expected to be integrated.
Answer: In recognition of the growing air and missile threat, the Strategic Defence Review committed to enhance the UK’s homeland air and missile defences, with £790 million of new money for homeland IAMD subsequently announced in the Defence Investment Plan. Thi...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Space TechnologyMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 48 of the DIP, where the current capability is on space-based ISR; and what the expected gains are by 2030.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is developing a nationally separable, space-based Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) satellite constellation and supporting digital infrastructure through Programme ISTARI. As part of the Programme, MOD has c...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Space TechnologyMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19079More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 48 of his Department's Defence Investment Plan, published 30 June 2026, when the six Space Squadrons will be fully manned and operational.
Answer: UK Space Command is undertaking detailed planning to establish the new Space Squadrons, including defining capability requirements and developing the structures necessary to support their delivery. Work is ongoing to determine the workforce, infrastructur...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Space TechnologyMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19078More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 48 of his Department's Defence Investment Plan, published 30 June 2026, what his definition is of interests in the space domain.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence's interests in the space domain are to protect, maintain access to, and develop the space-based capabilities, infrastructure and services upon which the UK's national security, military effectiveness, and prosperity depend. Space c...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordFuture Combat Air System: Skilled WorkersMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19077More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 47 of the DIP, if he will provide a regional split of the 90% of jobs supported outside of London and the South East of England on FCAS programmes.
Answer: The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme supports jobs across the UK, including all nine regions of England plus Scotland, making defence an engine for growth. Around 43% of jobs are based in the North West of England, 19% in the South West of Englan...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGlobal Combat Air Programme: Skilled WorkersMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19076More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the 3,000 graduates and apprenticeships recruited by Team Tempest are still employed on the project.
Answer: The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme is creating opportunities for young people across the UK. Around 3,000 graduates and apprentices have been recruited by the Team Tempest industry partners since 2022, providing the opportunity to work on a ran...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordFuture Combat Air System and Global Combat Air Programme: Skilled WorkersMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 19075More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people have been re-skilled mid-career as a part of FCAS and GCAP.
Answer: The advanced knowledge, skills, and competencies required by the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, with the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) at its core, is getting more people in highly skilled jobs. FCAS supports over 4,500 jobs across the UK...
Answered 2 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordFuture Combat Air System and Global Combat Air Programme: Skilled WorkersMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the breakdown of skills base of the 4,500 people working on FCAS and GCAP.
Answer: The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, with the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) at its heart, is driving investment in a broad range of highly sought-after engineering and manufacturing skills, to keep the UK at the forefront of aerospace innov...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordFuture Combat Air System and Global Combat Air Programme: Quantum TechnologyMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what quantum technologies are being used in FCAS and GCAP.
Answer: FCAS is exploring and developing concepts at this stage and GCAP is still in early design so the viability of specific technology solutions is still being assessed against the requirements. The potential of quantum technologies is being monitored, noting ...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any other nations are expected to join the Global Combat Air Programme.
Answer: The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) has been designed with Allies and partners at its heart and interoperability at the centre of its development.We and our GCAP partners Italy and Japan agree that the programme is in principle open to additional partn...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18708More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the planned timeline for the early retirement of the Shadow R1 ISR aircraft.
Answer: To ensure a managed drawdown, a detailed timeline for the retirement of the Shadow R1 fleet is currently being finalised.
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 45 of his Department's Defence Investment Plan, published 30 June 2026, what sovereign world-leading propulsion system will the Collaborate Combat Aircraft use.
Answer: Collaborate Combat Aircraft (CCA) are developmental. UK Defence will leverage years of work in advanced propulsion technologies. The RAF and Rolls-Royce joint investment in the Orpheus engine family is one example. This work will help to mature capabiliti...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Force: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 45 of his department's Defence Investment Plan, published 30 June 2026, whether the £70 billion for new capabilities in the air domain from 2030 and 2035 is currently planned in the budget.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan restated the government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 3% in the next Parliament, with funding and plans to be set out at the next spending review where defence will be the number one priority. Consistent with the...
Answered 22 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAir ForceMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, out of the 31,080 (April 26) RAF personnel how many of them are medically downgraded.
Answer: At 1 April 2026 (most recently available data) 11.6% of UK full-time trained RAF personnel were graded Medically Non-Deployable (MND). Personnel graded as MND are not fit to deploy on Operations, they may be deployable on UK based exercises and should be ...
Answered 21 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordGlobal Combat Air ProgrammeMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the latest project milestones for the Global Combat Air Programme.
Answer: Work is ongoing with our GCAP partners Japan and Italy where the programme's ambition remains to deliver an aircraft into service from 2035, and the detailed milestones will be agreed following the completion of the Concept and Assessment phase.
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the estimated timeline for all the F-35As to enter service.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave him on 13 July 2026 to Question 16066. The exact delivery profile and date of F-35 aircraft is subject to negotiation between the UK and multinational Joint Program Office, but the UK anticipates taking deliver...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordUncrewed Systems: TestingMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the findings of ARX Robotics UK testing in Estonia.
Answer: ARX Robotics UK systems were evaluated during a British Army exercise in Estonia in May 2026. The trial provided useful evidence regarding the potential of uncrewed ground systems to enhance situational awareness and support reconnaissance activities.
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18701More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to work with NATO Allies on interoperability.
Answer: The Government is committed to a NATO-first approach and is working with Allies to strengthen interoperability across the Alliance. The Strategic Defence Review directed Defence to establish a roadmap for delivering deeper interoperability with NATO Allie...
Answered 21 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18700More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 43 of his Department's Defence Investment Plan, published 30 June 2026, what are the expected greater distances capability across the battlespace provided as part of Project ASGARD.
Answer: In the context of Project ASGARD in the Department's Defence Investment Plan, the phrase “greater distances across the battlespace” is not referring to a single metric, such as a specific range or timescale. It describes the combined operational effect ac...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordChinook Helicopters: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18699More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 42 of his Department's Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, how many Mk6A Chinooks will be retired and how many newer Chinooks will be purchased.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan provides for the recapitalisation of the Chinook fleet through the Chinook Capability Sustainment Programme. Fourteen Chinook Mk6A aircraft are planned to retire, previously agreed in Nov 24. In addition, the Defence Investment...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament record
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