Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to Question 15576 on Unmanned Air Vehicles, tabled on 26 February 2024 by the Rt hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I responded to the right hon. Member on 10 May 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2023 to Question 1465 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, whether the Airbus H135 helicopters purchased under Project MATCHA have been sold.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I can confirm that the Defence Equipment Sales Authority has completed a sale to the Commonwealth of Australia and their leasing partners of five surplus H135 helicopters.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the five Airbus H135 helicopters purchased under Project Matcha did not enter service.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement (Alex Chalk) to the right hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Kevan Jones) on 8 March 2023 to Question 157622.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the five Airbus H135 helicopters purchased by his Department under Project Matcha have flown operationally.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

These aircraft have not been flown operationally by the UK Armed Forces.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many types of uncrewed aerial systems the Armed Forces operate.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Military Aviation Authority definitions of types as listed in Regulatory Article 1600 for Remotely Piloted Air Systems are:

o Open Class (less than 25 kg)

o Specific Class (no weight limit)

o Certified Class (no weight limit)

The Armed Forces operate Uncrewed Arial Systems/Remotely Piloted Air Systems in all three of these classes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Defence Equipment and Support's article entitled DE&S places new order with BAE Systems to increase 155mm shells stockpile for British Army, published on 11 July 2023, when his Department expects to achieve an eight-fold increase in 155mm ammunition production.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 July 2023 to Question 194703.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost to his Department was of the five Airbus H135 helicopters purchased under Project Matcha.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The total cost of Project MATCHA to date is £38.56 million.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) full-time, (b) reservist and (c) former armed forces personnel were affected by the data breach reported on 6 May 2024.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

At present there is no indication that this data has been accessed, exploited or made publicly available. This is being actively monitored.

We are still analysing the data and not able to give an answer. We have taken a precautionary approach of writing to all those who have received salary, expenses or lump sum payments under either the Armed Forces Pension Scheme or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme since 2018.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any personnel on exchange programmes from non-UK allied Armed Forces have been affected by the data breach following the armed forces payment data breach reported on 6 May 2024.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

At present there is no evidence that any personnel on exchange programmes from non-UK allied Armed Forces have been impacted.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether salary payments for serving armed forces personnel due in May 2024 were affected by the armed forces payment data breach reported on 6 May 2024.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

As of 9 May, all outstanding payments had been paid to recipients and we expect to pay salaries to Armed Forces personnel at the end of May as normal.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when (a) the contractor, (b) officials in his Department, (c) Ministers and (d) he first learned of the armed forces payment data breach reported on 6 May 2024.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The MOD is unable to disclose this information at present for national security reasons.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many investigations the Information Commissioner’s Office has open related to data breaches in his Department.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has three personal data incidents relating to the Ministry of Defence currently open.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to accelerate the delivery of the Boxer RCH 155 Self Propelled Howitzer.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

RCH155 will be developed through a jointly led collaborative procurement between the UK and Germany. Working collaboratively on a joint assessment and qualification plan will exploit the combined capabilities of each nation’s test and trials centres enabling faster delivery at less cost. The certainty of platform choice also enables us to advance early acquisition of ammunition and other critical enablers in the assessment phase. Concurrently, we will continue to explore opportunities to accelerate delivery of RCH155 to the Army, where possible and in line with the new Integrated Procurement Model.

The assessment phase of the programme will determine the most appropriate manufacturing approach and confirm the number of platforms required by the British Army. The Army aims to achieve a Mobile Fires Platform Minimum Deployable Capability within this decade.

The joint programme is potentially worth upwards of £3 billion and marks a step change towards a deeper industrial and wider defence relationship between the UK and Germany.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the value of the programme to procure new Boxer RCH 155 Self Propelled Howitzers is for the Army.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

RCH155 will be developed through a jointly led collaborative procurement between the UK and Germany. Working collaboratively on a joint assessment and qualification plan will exploit the combined capabilities of each nation’s test and trials centres enabling faster delivery at less cost. The certainty of platform choice also enables us to advance early acquisition of ammunition and other critical enablers in the assessment phase. Concurrently, we will continue to explore opportunities to accelerate delivery of RCH155 to the Army, where possible and in line with the new Integrated Procurement Model.

The assessment phase of the programme will determine the most appropriate manufacturing approach and confirm the number of platforms required by the British Army. The Army aims to achieve a Mobile Fires Platform Minimum Deployable Capability within this decade.

The joint programme is potentially worth upwards of £3 billion and marks a step change towards a deeper industrial and wider defence relationship between the UK and Germany.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Boxer RCH 155 Self Propelled Howitzers the Army plans to procure.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

RCH155 will be developed through a jointly led collaborative procurement between the UK and Germany. Working collaboratively on a joint assessment and qualification plan will exploit the combined capabilities of each nation’s test and trials centres enabling faster delivery at less cost. The certainty of platform choice also enables us to advance early acquisition of ammunition and other critical enablers in the assessment phase. Concurrently, we will continue to explore opportunities to accelerate delivery of RCH155 to the Army, where possible and in line with the new Integrated Procurement Model.

The assessment phase of the programme will determine the most appropriate manufacturing approach and confirm the number of platforms required by the British Army. The Army aims to achieve a Mobile Fires Platform Minimum Deployable Capability within this decade.

The joint programme is potentially worth upwards of £3 billion and marks a step change towards a deeper industrial and wider defence relationship between the UK and Germany.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Boxer RCH 155 Self Propelled Howitzer will enter service with the Army.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

RCH155 will be developed through a jointly led collaborative procurement between the UK and Germany. Working collaboratively on a joint assessment and qualification plan will exploit the combined capabilities of each nation’s test and trials centres enabling faster delivery at less cost. The certainty of platform choice also enables us to advance early acquisition of ammunition and other critical enablers in the assessment phase. Concurrently, we will continue to explore opportunities to accelerate delivery of RCH155 to the Army, where possible and in line with the new Integrated Procurement Model.

The assessment phase of the programme will determine the most appropriate manufacturing approach and confirm the number of platforms required by the British Army. The Army aims to achieve a Mobile Fires Platform Minimum Deployable Capability within this decade.

The joint programme is potentially worth upwards of £3 billion and marks a step change towards a deeper industrial and wider defence relationship between the UK and Germany.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role armed forces personnel will play in deportation flights for the Rwanda scheme.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 April 2024 to Question 21377 to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Mr Pollard).

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) armed forces personnel, (b) civil servants in his Department and (c) veterans have been affected by personal data incidents affecting MOD suppliers in each year since 2010.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many potential recruits to the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy, (c) RAF and (d) Royal Marines have been affected by personal data incidents related to recruitment systems since 2010.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personal data incidents related to the recruitment for the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy, (c) RAF and (d) Royal Marines there have been since 2010.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personal data incidents have affected suppliers to his Department in each year since 2010.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department last signed new contracts for (a) AMRAAM, (b) ASRAAM, (c) CAMM, (d) Javelin, (e) NLAW, (f) Tomahawk and (g) Aster missiles.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The below table contains the dates of when new contracts were last signed for each of the munition type requested. It does not contain subsequent contract amendments or renewals.

Notes:

1. Javelin and Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) are procured through Foreign Military Sales, a government to government agreement directly between the UK MOD and the US Government.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2024 to Question 23990, how many eligibility decisions have been overturned as a result of the review.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the right hon. Member to my answer to Questions 23990 and 23497. I will update the House once the review is completed.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) original and (b) end date as of 13 May 2024 is for the Recruiting Partnership Project.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The original end date of the Army’s Recruiting Partnering Project contract with Capita was 11 March 2022 however, following an extension, the current end date is 31 March 2026. In September 2023 the Army commenced discussions with Capita to enact the option of a third-year contract extension until the commencement of the Armed Forces Recruitment Service in 2027.

The contract to 31 March 2024 has cost £886.33 million.

The Senior Responsible Officer for the Recruiting Partnering Project contract undertakes this role alongside other duties.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the contract end date is for the Armed Forces Recruitment Programme.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Service commencement date for the Armed Forces Recruiting Programme is January 2027. Following a transitional period, the contract will run for seven years with the option to extend for an additional three years.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an estimate of the number of UK veterans who were turned away from polling stations on 2 May after attempting to use their Veterans ID Card as voter ID.

Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 24794 on 13 May 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Recruiting Partnership Project has a full-time senior responsible officer.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The original end date of the Army’s Recruiting Partnering Project contract with Capita was 11 March 2022 however, following an extension, the current end date is 31 March 2026. In September 2023 the Army commenced discussions with Capita to enact the option of a third-year contract extension until the commencement of the Armed Forces Recruitment Service in 2027.

The contract to 31 March 2024 has cost £886.33 million.

The Senior Responsible Officer for the Recruiting Partnering Project contract undertakes this role alongside other duties.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on the Recruiting Partnership Project.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The original end date of the Army’s Recruiting Partnering Project contract with Capita was 11 March 2022 however, following an extension, the current end date is 31 March 2026. In September 2023 the Army commenced discussions with Capita to enact the option of a third-year contract extension until the commencement of the Armed Forces Recruitment Service in 2027.

The contract to 31 March 2024 has cost £886.33 million.

The Senior Responsible Officer for the Recruiting Partnering Project contract undertakes this role alongside other duties.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the (a) Minister for Veterans Affairs and (b) Minister for Trade Policy has attended any meetings with (i) Stoll Foundation and (ii) Stoll veterans on the sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions and the support provided to residents during the transition period.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

I refer my Rt Hon. Friend to the reply given to his question on 8 May 2024 (PQ UIN 23983)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average amount of time is that an (a) officer and (b) rating serves in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Making the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) an attractive and rewarding employer remains of paramount importance and promoting retention efforts to extend the length of service of our sailors enables the RFA to retain skilled personnel.

The table below provides the average length of service on exit by trained RFA Personnel between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2023.

Average Length of Service (LOS) has been calculated by the length of current service, against the difference between the sailor’s joining and exit dates.

Data has been provided for all exits from the RFA, including Resignation Under Age 60, Resignation Aged 60 or Over, and Other Wastage including Dismissal, Forced Early Retirement, Medical Discharge, Contract of Employment not offered, Offer of Employment Rejected and Death Whilst in Service.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) serving armed forces personnel and (b) veterans had their addresses accessed during the armed forces payment data breach reported on 6 May 2024.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

There is no evidence that data has been exfiltrate or accessed.

We are still analysing the data and not able to give an answer but, early findings are that only a small proportion of the data includes addresses.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) full-time equivalent and (b) part time civil servants there were at Defence Business Services in each year since 2010.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The below table shows the number of full time and part time core workforce individuals within Defence Business Services (DBS) as at 31 March for each year.

DBS was established in July 2011, therefore the earliest data provided is from 31 March 2012. The major changes in staff levels on 31 March 2015 and 31 March 2021 are the result of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) merging with DBS on 1 April 2014, and UK Security Vetting (UKSV) leaving DBS on 1 April 2020.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on whether personal data belonging to (a) current and (b) former armed forces personnel has been published online following the armed forces payment data breach reported on 6 May 2024.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Department has found no evidence of personal data that belongs to current and former Armed Forces personnel being published online following the armed forces payment data breach reported on 6 May 2024. This will continue to be monitored.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personal data incidents affecting suppliers to his Department have been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office in each year since 2010.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The requirement to record personal data incidents reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office within 72 hours came into force in May 2018 under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. The figures requested per year are as follows:

2018 1

2019 2

2020 2

2021 1

2022 1

2023 0

2024 1

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which external organisation his Department has commissioned to conduct an independent investigation into the armed forces payment data breach reported on 6 May 2024.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has commissioned the independent investigation under an existing cyber incident response contract. The MOD is unable to disclose which external organisation has been commissioned at present for national security reasons.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has found evidence that personal data has been copied out of the subcontractor’s IT system by a malign actor following the armed forces payment data breach reported on 6 May 2024.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The investigation into the network compromise is ongoing and at this time there is no evidence to suggest that any data has been exfiltrated.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his oral statement entitled Defence Personnel Data Breach of 7 May 2024, Official Report, column 466, when the investigation into that data breach will be concluded.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The investigation into the network compromise is ongoing and is expected to file an initial report at the end of June.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) full-time, (b) reservist and (c) former armed forces personnel reported suspicious activity related to their bank account to his Department following the data breach reported on 6 May 2024.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

As of 9 May, no personnel had reported suspicious activity related to their bank account following the data breach reported on 6 May 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what powers he plans to give the proposed envoy to oversee production of weapons and ammunition in the context of (a) managing contracts and (b) spending.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence is working closely with other Government Departments to outline the scope of the envoy role and we will confirm further details in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for joint working between the (a) proposed envoy to oversee production of weapons and ammunition and (b) Minister for Defence Procurement.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence is working closely with other Government Departments to outline the scope of the envoy role and we will confirm further details in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, to whom the proposed envoy to oversee production of weapons and ammunition will report.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence is working closely with other Government Departments to outline the scope of the envoy role and we will confirm further details in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what powers the defence production envoy will have.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence is working closely with other Government Departments to outline the scope of the envoy role and we will confirm further details in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to appoint a defence production envoy.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence is working closely with other Government Departments to outline the scope of the envoy role and we will confirm further details in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for joint working between the (a) proposed envoy to oversee production of weapons and ammunition and (b) head of Defence Equipment and Support.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence is working closely with other Government Departments to outline the scope of the envoy role and we will confirm further details in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what process he plans to use to select the proposed envoy to oversee production of weapons and ammunition.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence is working closely with other Government Departments to outline the scope of the envoy role and we will confirm further details in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many airframes his Department plans to purchase for the New Medium Helicopter programme.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

There has been no change to the advertised requirement of a range of up to 44 platforms in the New Medium Helicopter Contract Notice that was published in May 2022. The results of the contract competition will inform the number of airframes to be delivered.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many programme milestones the Ajax programme has missed since 2010.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Between 2010 and the programme reset in 2023, four programme milestones were missed. Following signature of the new contract in September 2023, no milestones have been missed.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of when Ajax will have completed its reliability growth trials.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on the 23 November 2023 to Question 2256.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department last made a payment to General Dynamics Land Systems UK in relation to the Ajax programme.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The most recent payment against the main General Dynamics Ajax contract was made on 14 May 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many CCTV cameras manufactured by (a) Hikvision and (b) Dahua are installed on his Department's sites.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

We take the security of our personnel, systems and establishments very seriously and have a range of measures in place to ensure the integrity of our arrangements. These measures are kept under constant review and adjusted according to the threat. It is, however, long standing policy that we do not comment on the detail of those arrangements.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many CCTV cameras manufactured by (a) Hikvision and (b) Dahua have been installed on his Department's sites in each year since 2010.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

We take the security of our personnel, systems and establishments very seriously and have a range of measures in place to ensure the integrity of our arrangements. These measures are kept under constant review and adjusted according to the threat. It is, however, long standing policy that we do not comment on the detail of those arrangements.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence entitled Defence Personnel Data Breach of 7 May 2024, Official Report, column 469, who will lead the Cabinet Office review of Government contracts with Shared Services Connected Ltd; and what estimate he has made of when that review will be completed.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The review of Shared Services Connected Ltd is being led by the Government Security Group in the Cabinet Office. The timelines for this review are still being determined as part of the commissioning process.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to procure F35A aircraft.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey) on 16 June 2023 to Question 188192.