Ministry of Defence

The UK and our allies have been steadfast in our support for Ukraine and continue to send a wide range of lethal aid alongside continued humanitarian and fiscal support. We work closely with Ukraine and allies, including through our joint leadership of the Ukraine Defence Contact group, to ensure that our collective support meets Ukrainian needs.

We welcome US support to Ukraine, including President Trump’s work to secure a just and lasting peace and we will continue to work closely with the US as we have always done.

Teams from across the Ministry of Defence are involved in the Nuclear Test Veterans records exercise, and have reviewed so far over 43,000 files. The files in scope of the records exercise are primarily being reviewed by each of the Single Service Historic Branches and the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). The release of the Merlin database to the National Archives is being led by the Defence Nuclear Organisation with AWE preparing the records for release.

Over 192,000 HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards have been issued to eligible veterans discharged before December 2018. Due to the data collected, it can only be accurately mapped to region and postcode area, rather than council areas.

The tables below include all Veteran Cards posted since January 2024, excluding cards automatically issued to those leaving service after December 2018. The data is rounded to the nearest hundred to allow for:

• A small number of duplicate cards posted, for example replacements;
• Any inaccuracies in mapping postcodes on area boundaries;
• Address changes since postage; and
• Disclosure protection for areas with low numbers.

The Veterans Data Dashboard also provides more robust population data, including by local authorities, using census and other open government data - https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/office.for.veterans.affairs/viz/2024-07-29VeteransDataDashboardv2final/Story1

The RAF continually assesses its basing footprint based on operational need and the demands of its future activity. While the RAF is embarking on a significant programme of investment across its Estate, the increased use of Aldergrove Flying Station or the movement to Belfast International Airport does not currently feature within the RAF's plans. Should operational demands change, the RAF will ensure all options are considered as part of any future review.

Defence routinely engages with drone component suppliers to iterate, and spiral develop capability in close cooperation with allies.

One of the key mechanisms to ensure that Defence is up to date with the latest developments in drone technology and associated tactics is learning lessons from global conflicts and through our support to Ukraine, where drone capabilities are developed and exploited in cooperation with drone component suppliers. As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, Defence will continue to invest in drone technology to advance our capabilities in tandem with UK industry.

The landmark detail concluded with the US in May this year protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. In addition, an estimated 260,000 jobs are supported by the auto industry in the wider economy.

The Government remains focused on making sure British businesses can feel the benefits of the deal as soon as possible. The Government is continuing discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains.

The Ministry of Defence will continue to support the ongoing negotiations with the US led by the Department for Business and Trade.

For more than a decade, the UK has been a trusted partner of the Lebanese Armed Forces, providing £106 million of financial support and offering training, infrastructure, and equipment.

In collaboration with international partners, we continue to work closely with the Lebanese Armed Forces, identifying opportunities to support capability development to ensure the Lebanese Armed Forces are able to exert a monopoly of force across Lebanon.

Over the past six months, we have completed construction of key infrastructure to enhance border security on the eastern border and will be seeking to work with the Lebanese authorities to replicate this in the South. We have also started training Lebanese Armed Forces troops to conduct area security operations in southern Lebanon. This support package is confirmed and will cost £10 million for financial year 2025-26.

We also continue to coordinate our bilateral support with international partners. This government recognises the critical role the Lebanese Armed Forces play in ensuring future stability and security in Lebanon.

For more than a decade, the UK has been a trusted partner of the Lebanese Armed Forces, providing £106 million of financial support and offering training, infrastructure, and equipment.

In collaboration with international partners, we continue to work closely with the Lebanese Armed Forces, identifying opportunities to support capability development to ensure the Lebanese Armed Forces are able to exert a monopoly of force across Lebanon.

Over the past six months, we have completed construction of key infrastructure to enhance border security on the eastern border and will be seeking to work with the Lebanese authorities to replicate this in the South. We have also started training Lebanese Armed Forces troops to conduct area security operations in southern Lebanon. This support package is confirmed and will cost £10 million for financial year 2025-26.

We also continue to coordinate our bilateral support with international partners. This government recognises the critical role the Lebanese Armed Forces play in ensuring future stability and security in Lebanon.

While I am unable to comment on specific capabilities, equipment gifted to Israel by the UK Government since 7 October 2023 has been non-lethal.

I refer the hon. member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge), in response to Question 59129, on 23 June 2025.

The NATO qualifying status of these costs will be considered in the usual way.

The current Government inherited a crisis in recruitment and retention from the last administration. Since July 2024 we have taken decisive measures to redress the recruitment crisis, to attract and recruit more from across the United Kingdom including Northern Ireland, as well as maximise the number of applicants that successfully enter and remain in Armed Forces employment. Policies have included one of the largest pay increases in the last 20 years for existing personnel, slashing the time it takes to access medical records from weeks to hours and restructuring the Army’s recruitment organisation.

These activities and their impacts will inform the development of the Armed Forces Recruitment Service which is being implemented to further improve the speed with which highly motivated and capable people can join our Armed Forces, wherever they are from across the United Kingdom. The results are clear: year on year inflow is up 19%, outflow is down 7%, the Navy’s yearly recruiting target has been exceeded, the RAF’s applications are up 34% compared to early 2024, and the Army is seeing a seven-year high in applications.

In addition to the existing national recruitment campaigns including online material, the Services conduct recruitment that is tailored to Northern Ireland. The Services use Outreach stands to facilitate face to face recruitment and attend recruitment fairs such as the UK Careers Fair Belfast and the NI Graduate Recruitment Fair. They also attend local events such as the Portrush Airshow and the Northern Ireland Armed Forces Day.

Due to operational security, we cannot provide details on the numbers or types of military drones purchased by the Ministry of Defence for its own purposes or on behalf of the Drone Capability Coalition or those purchased for Ukraine.

UK industry contributes approximately 15% by value of F-35 production, working with over 100 suppliers and supporting more than 20,000 jobs. The Ministry of Defence will purchase 12 F-35A aircraft as part of the previously agreed F-35B procurement schedule.

It will help sustain the significant employment and industrial benefits provided by the programme. The rear fuselage and tail surfaces of every F-35 are manufactured in Lancashire; the ejection seats are manufactured in Middlesex; and core avionics and electronics systems are manufactured in Scotland, Kent and the South West.

The Department embraces flexible working arrangements where appropriate.

In some cases the Department may provide additional equipment to support flexible working patterns, but to gather the costs of these across the Department would require disproportionate time.

The Strategic Defence Review sets the path for making defence an engine for growth, boosting prosperity, jobs and security for working people across the UK, in support of this Government’s growth mission.

The UK’s manufacturing industry is vital not only to our national security but to our prosperity and economic growth which is why the Defence Industrial Strategy will include measures to back UK business and make defence an engine for growth as we realise the defence dividend. This Government is committed to strengthening domestic supply chains including in the advanced manufacturing sector.

This 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 incorporated into the Integrated Force in a significant way over the next five years as part of a 'high-low' mix of capabilities whether undersea, at sea, on land, or over land. The major funding package includes more than £4 billion for autonomous systems in this Parliament. Further details will be set out as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

This 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 incorporated into the Integrated Force in a significant way over the next five years as part of a 'high-low' mix of capabilities whether undersea, at sea, on land, or over land. The major funding package includes more than £4 billion for autonomous systems in this Parliament. Further details will be set out as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

This 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 incorporated into the Integrated Force in a significant way over the next five years as part of a 'high-low' mix of capabilities whether undersea, at sea, on land, or over land. The major funding package includes more than £4 billion for autonomous systems in this Parliament. Further details will be set out as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

As the Strategic Defence Review highlights, Space is critical for the UK’s national infrastructure and central to future defence operations. In line with the Government’s wider industrial strategy, Defence is collaborating closely with partners across Government, industry, academia, and civil society to build a strong and resilient UK space sector.

Northern Ireland contributes significantly to the UK’s space technology sector through its advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity capabilities. These strengths contribute to the UK’s capacity for space innovation, security, and industrial excellence.

The forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy will highlight capabilities deemed critical to national security, supply chain resilience, and economic growth for the UK more broadly. Space has been identified as an important area of strategic interest to Defence.

Given the fantastic benefits which can be gained from the Cadet experience this Government is committed to getting more young people to become Cadets. The Strategic Defence Review has recommended an expansion of in-school and community-based Cadet Forces across the country by 30% by 2030.

Expanding the Cadet Forces, which provide skills and qualifications to young people from diverse backgrounds across the country, and support economic growth, will benefit all four nations of the UK including Northern Ireland. Planning for this expansion is currently underway, and more detail will be provided in due course.

This Government inherited a recruitment crisis, with targets being missed every year for the past 14 years, and is taking decisive action to get recruitment back on track. This has included the largest pay rise to personnel in decades and scrapping 100 outdated policies that slow recruitment down.

Defence is committed to a diverse workforce and is seeking to ‘select in’ rather than ‘select out’ and is focused on work to review the current policies for Armed Forces recruiting.

An update to Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950 Leaflet 6-7-7, which outlines the medical entry standard for the Armed Forces, was published in August 2024 following an intensive period of review undertaken by clinical experts, Defence personnel staff and the recruiting agencies. Recent updates to policy include; new regulations for a range of conditions including asthma and eczema, and candidates with Autism Spectrum Disorder may now be able to join the Armed Forces providing they meet certain criteria.

I responded to the right hon. Member on 3 July 2025.

This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country, no matter which community they are based in. Across the country, including in Eastbourne and across the South East, a wide range of support is available for Armed Forces personnel as they transition into civilian life. The Veterans Welfare Service is a first port of call for veterans and their families if they are facing challenges and provides support on a wide range of issues.

For support with employment, the Career Transition Partnership is the initial point of provision for those leaving military Service and Op ASCEND is the employment pathway for veterans. Across England, Op RESTORE and Op COURAGE provide physical and mental health specialist services. Housing support is available across the United Kingdom via Op FORTITUDE, a single referral pathway connecting veterans with support.

We recently announced VALOUR, a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support, which will ensure easier access to essential care and support for veterans across the country. A new regional approach, based on a network of VALOUR recognised support centres and regional field officers, will help to ensure that services are designed to meet the needs of their local communities. Further details on VALOUR will be announced in due course and more information can be found at the following link:  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/valour-information-and-next-steps

Final prices will be identified during contract negotiation.

The UK will purchase 12 new F-35A fighter jets and join NATO’s dual capable aircraft nuclear mission in a major boost for national security. The Secretary of State for Defence has said he expects those F-35As to start being delivered before the end of the decade.

In total since January 2024, The Department can identify 48 ‘drone’ related contracts valuing £3.6 billion that have been active within the Ministry of Defence.

Nine of these are marked as having a primary supplier address outside the UK.

24 of these contracts were competitively tendered, 23 were single source tenders and one unknown.

In total since January 2024, The Department can identify 48 ‘drone’ related contracts valuing £3.6 billion that have been active within the Ministry of Defence.

Nine of these are marked as having a primary supplier address outside the UK.

24 of these contracts were competitively tendered, 23 were single source tenders and one unknown.

We are now conducting a review of security across Defence that will assess and assure the state of protective security at all sites. As I am sure you can appreciate, we will not comment on the specifics before the review has concluded.

This Government has reset our relationship with nuclear test veterans and the organisations that support them, and we remain committed to listening to their concerns and working collaboratively to address them.

I understand that many are eager for an update on progress on the records exercise. Our focus has been to start by reviewing all surviving policy records and instructions related to blood and urine testing, as well as policies relating to the retention of these records. We have begun with the policy files to ensure there is an understanding of the policy procedures and instructions for medical tests that were given at the time. Doing this first helps us to understand whether policies and instructions were followed. The Ministry of Defence has begun the process of looking at Nuclear Test Veterans' service and medical records.

I will update the House when I am in a position to share the findings of this exercise.

This Government has reset the relationship with nuclear test veterans and the organisations that support them, and we remain committed to listening to their concerns and working collaboratively to address them.

As of 30 June 2025, officials have reviewed over 43,000 files, including files from the Merlin Database, as part of the exercise that is looking at concerns raised with me about some Nuclear Test Veterans' medical records. The contents of the Merlin database will be transferred to The National Archives (TNA) as formal public records under the Public Records Act. Records will be held in perpetuity and made available via the public facing online catalogue at TNA called "Discovery". As the records are digital they will be free to download and there will be no limit on the number that can be downloaded.

I will update the House when I am in a position to share the findings of the exercise that is looking at concerns raised with me about some Nuclear Test Veterans' medical records.

The Defence Housing Strategy will be published later this year and will set out wider plans to improve the standard of Service family homes.

The Ministry of Defence is currently undertaking an extensive review of its entire estate, including how the Department will make best use of the properties that have been reacquired from Annington, and which homes and locations can most benefit from investment.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 May 2025 to Question 55117 to the hon. Member for Fylde (Mr Andrew Snowden).

I engage regularly with the Scottish Government and with the Scottish Veterans' Commissioner on issues affecting veterans who live in Scotland. Health is a devolved matter, so it is for the Scottish Government to decide on funding allocations.

The Secretary of State for Defence has regular engagements with the US Secretary of Defense where they discuss a range of topics including defence spending. At the Hague Summit, Allies committed to investing 5% of GDP annually on defence and security, which will build an Alliance that is stronger, fairer and more lethal than ever before.

Both global and national security risks are already continually assessed as part of the military requirement for sites that shape the disposal position.

We are committed with counterparts in Government to maintaining robust data around the educational outcomes of all children to inform future strategic and policy development. It is important to remember that education is a devolved matter, and caution should be applied in considering the feasibility of a UK-wide dataset, where very different education systems would be compared. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the importance of the devolved administrations maintaining their own datasets to inform where their resources should be targeted.

The Department for Education (DfE) continues to provide the MOD updated datasets on how Service children perform in state schools in England across key measures of academic attainment; this information is published in the Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report. The DfE and the MOD have also recently published joint guidance to schools and local authorities on how best to support Service children in education.

In Scotland, the Additional Support for Learning (ASL) Act places duties on education authorities, who retain the statutory responsibility for the delivery of education in Scotland. These duties require Scottish authorities to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of pupils. This includes Service children and young people, who may require extra support, short or long term and for whatever the reason. Delivery of ASL is a joint endeavour between the Scottish Government and Scottish Local Authorities.

The Welsh Government are currently exploring the potential to broaden the definition of Service children in Wales to ensure the maximum number of children can benefit from the support available. Linked to this they are considering how they collect data on Service children in Welsh schools to ensure that policy and support is based on robust evidence.

Understanding that education is a devolved matter, the Secretary of State for Defence does not issue core funding to educational settings for Service children.

However, the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Armed Forces Families Fund provides additional funding opportunities for schools and local authorities across the UK. Since 2023, £4.5 million has supported the Service Pupil Support Programme (SPSP) in schools and local authorities across the UK. The sub themes of the SPSP align with the aims of the Armed Forces Families Strategy and include elements focusing upon the educational outcomes of Service children and supporting Service children with additional learning needs. The SPSP is evaluated externally and is also presently funding three university research projects in areas of specific interest.

In England the Department for Education continues to allocate additional funding in the form of the Service Pupil Premium (SPP) to state funded schools with Service children among their pupils. Service Pupil Premium funding helps schools to provide pastoral and academic support to current and former Service children. Schools are allocated SPP funding for each pupil aged 5 to 16 who is currently recorded as a Service child in the autumn school census or who has held this status in the last six years via ‘Ever 6’, or who receives a child pension from the MOD. The SPP is now worth £350 per eligible pupil annually. For example, more than £26 million has been paid to schools in the financial year 2023 to 2024, benefiting more than 78,000 pupils.

On 26 June 2025, I was delighted to announce £300,000 of funding for wraparound housing support for veterans in Northern Ireland. This will sit alongside VALOUR, the Government's new UK-wide initiative to ensure easier access to essential care and support. This regional approach, based on a network of VALOUR support centres providing multiple services in one place, together with regional field officers coordinating the provision of local services, will ensure that services are designed to meet the needs of their local communities.

The Ministry of Defence will initially purchase 12 F-35A aircraft from within previously agreed F-35B purchase schedules. Future F-35 purchases will be reviewed as part of the Defence Investment Plan, which will conclude in the autumn.

UK industry contributes approximately 15% by value of F-35 production, working with over 100 suppliers and supporting more than 20,000 jobs. Although final assembly of all F-35 aircraft takes place at Lockheed Martin's facility in Fort Worth, Texas, the UK plays a significant role in the programme through the manufacture of key components.

The rear fuselage and tail surfaces of every F-35 are manufactured in Lancashire; the ejection seats are manufactured in Middlesex; and core avionics and electronics systems are also produced throughout the UK.

With the creation of the National Armaments Group on 31 March 2025 and the transfer of Ministerial responsibility for defence exports to the Ministry of Defence on 31 July, Whitehall teams specialising in defence exports are being brought together for the first time. The new team will have responsibility for supporting defence exports, including supporting a new framework for an enhanced Government-to-Government mechanism to support defence exports.

We have longstanding reciprocal arrangements to use allies Air-to-Air refuelling support when required, just as our Voyagers also support refuelling of other allies' jets. Future national air-to-air refuelling options will be considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan, and in subsequent force development work.

As per longstanding Government policy, I can neither confirm nor deny information relating to UK Special Forces.

Annex 1, paragraph 2 of the Chagos Archipelago Treaty, once it has entered into force, will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information and will not require prior notification of any military operation.

Moreover, Article 3(2) of the treaty states that Mauritius cannot undermine, prejudice or otherwise interfere with the long-term, secure and effective operation of the military base on Diego Garcia, and that Mauritius shall cooperate to that end.