Ministry of Defence

We protect the security, independence and interests of our country at home and abroad. We work with our allies and partners whenever possible. Our aim is to ensure that the armed forces have the training, equipment and support necessary for their work, and that we keep within budget.



Secretary of State

 Portrait

Grant Shapps
Secretary of State for Defence

Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Democratic Unionist Party
Gavin Robinson (DUP - Belfast East)
Shadow DUP Spokesperson (Defence)

Labour
John Healey (Lab - Wentworth and Dearne)
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

Liberal Democrat
Baroness Smith of Newnham (LD - Life peer)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Defence)

Labour
Lord Tunnicliffe (Lab - Life peer)
Shadow Spokesperson (Defence)

Plaid Cymru
Hywel Williams (PC - Arfon)
Shadow PC Spokesperson (Defence)

Labour
Lord Coaker (Lab - Life peer)
Shadow Spokesperson (Defence)

Liberal Democrat
Richard Foord (LD - Tiverton and Honiton)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Defence)
Baroness Smith of Newnham (LD - Life peer)
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Defence)

Scottish National Party
Martin Docherty-Hughes (SNP - West Dunbartonshire)
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Defence)

Labour
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab - Life peer)
Shadow Spokesperson (Defence)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Labour
Luke Pollard (Lab - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Shadow Minister (Defence)
Maria Eagle (Lab - Garston and Halewood)
Shadow Minister (Defence)
Steve McCabe (Lab - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Shadow Minister (Defence)
Ministers of State
James Heappey (Con - Wells)
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
James Cartlidge (Con - South Suffolk)
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Earl of Minto (Con - Excepted Hereditary)
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Andrew Murrison (Con - South West Wiltshire)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Scheduled Event
Tuesday 19th March 2024
Ministry of Defence
Orders and regulations - Grand Committee
Single Source Contract (Amendment) Regulations 2024
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Scheduled Event
Monday 25th March 2024
14:30
Ministry of Defence
Oral questions - Main Chamber
25 Mar 2024, 2:30 p.m.
Defence (including Topical Questions)
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Scheduled Event
Tuesday 26th March 2024
14:45
Defence Committee - Oral evidence - Select & Joint Committees
26 Mar 2024, 2:45 p.m.
One-off session with the Secretary of State for Defence
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Scheduled Event
Tuesday 23rd April 2024
10:00
Defence Committee - Private Meeting - Select & Joint Committees
23 Apr 2024, 10 a.m.

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Scheduled Event
Tuesday 30th April 2024
10:00
Defence Committee - Private Meeting - Select & Joint Committees
30 Apr 2024, 10 a.m.

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Scheduled Event
Tuesday 7th May 2024
14:00
Defence Committee - Private Meeting - Select & Joint Committees
7 May 2024, 2 p.m.

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Scheduled Event
Tuesday 14th May 2024
10:00
Defence Committee - Private Meeting - Select & Joint Committees
14 May 2024, 10 a.m.

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Scheduled Event
Tuesday 21st May 2024
10:00
Defence Committee - Private Meeting - Select & Joint Committees
21 May 2024, 10 a.m.

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Scheduled Event
Tuesday 4th June 2024
10:00
Defence Committee - Private Meeting - Select & Joint Committees
4 Jun 2024, 10 a.m.

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Scheduled Event
Tuesday 11th June 2024
10:00
Defence Committee - Private Meeting - Select & Joint Committees
11 Jun 2024, 10 a.m.

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Debates
Monday 18th March 2024
Cadet Expansion Programme
Adjournment Debate
Select Committee Docs
Friday 15th March 2024
12:02
Select Committee Inquiry
Thursday 21st September 2023
Women in the Armed Forces: Follow-Up

In 2021, the Defence Sub-Committee, chaired by Sarah Atherton MP, conducted an inquiry into Women in the Armed Forces and …

Written Answers
Monday 18th March 2024
Littoral Warfare
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled New Amphibious Transport Ships better …
Secondary Legislation
Thursday 14th March 2024
Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme (Amendment) Order 2024
This Order amends the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme 1983 (“the Scheme”), which makes provision for the payment of pensions and …
Bills
Tuesday 26th January 2021
Armed Forces Act 2021
A Bill to continue the Armed Forces Act 2006; to amend that Act and other enactments relating to the armed …
Dept. Publications
Saturday 16th March 2024
00:01

Ministry of Defence Commons Appearances

Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs

Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:
  • Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
  • Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
  • Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.

Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue

Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.

Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
Feb. 19
Oral Questions
Feb. 05
Topical Questions
Mar. 11
Urgent Questions
Dec. 19
Westminster Hall
Mar. 18
Adjournment Debate
View All Ministry of Defence Commons Contibutions

Bills currently before Parliament

Ministry of Defence does not have Bills currently before Parliament


Acts of Parliament created in the 2019 Parliament

Introduced: 26th January 2021

A Bill to continue the Armed Forces Act 2006; to amend that Act and other enactments relating to the armed forces; to make provision about service in the reserve forces; to make provision about pardons for certain abolished service offences; to make provision about war pensions; and for connected purposes.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 15th December 2021 and was enacted into law.

Introduced: 18th March 2020

A Bill to Make provision about legal proceedings and consideration of derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights in connection with operations of the armed forces outside the British Islands.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 29th April 2021 and was enacted into law.

Ministry of Defence - Secondary Legislation

This Order amends the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/527) (the “Principal Order”), which provides for benefits to be payable to, or in respect of a person by reason of injury, illness or death caused wholly or partly, by service in the regular or reserve armed forces.
This Order amends the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme 1983 (“the Scheme”), which makes provision for the payment of pensions and allowances to, or in respect of, civilians who were killed or injured during the 1939-1945 World War.
View All Ministry of Defence Secondary Legislation

Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Trending Petitions
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2,830 Signatures
(777 in the last 7 days)
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(221 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
4,145 Signatures
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Petition Open
2,627 Signatures
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Petitions with most signatures
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4,145 Signatures
(45 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
3,994 Signatures
(4 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
3,030 Signatures
(6 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
2,830 Signatures
(777 in the last 7 days)
Petition Debates Contributed
108,278
Petition Closed
6 Feb 2022
closed 2 years, 1 month ago

We are demanding that the government treats Gurkhas fairly and pays them the same pension as other British veterans of the same rank and service. Many Gurkhas joined the Queen’s Gurkha Army believing their pension would sustain them and their families but sadly this has not been the case.

There is no excuse for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to continue to effectively fund the slaughter of bears for ceremonial headgear since an indistinguishable alternative has been produced, which is waterproof, and mimics real bear fur in appearance and performance.

View All Ministry of Defence Petitions

Departmental Select Committee

Defence Committee

Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.

At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.

Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.


11 Members of the Defence Committee
John Spellar Portrait
John Spellar (Labour - Warley)
Defence Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Gavin Robinson Portrait
Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Defence Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Emma Lewell-Buck Portrait
Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)
Defence Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Mark Francois Portrait
Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Defence Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Richard Drax Portrait
Richard Drax (Conservative - South Dorset)
Defence Committee Member since 2nd March 2020
Derek Twigg Portrait
Derek Twigg (Labour - Halton)
Defence Committee Member since 11th May 2020
Kevan Jones Portrait
Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Defence Committee Member since 11th May 2020
Sarah Atherton Portrait
Sarah Atherton (Conservative - Wrexham)
Defence Committee Member since 8th November 2022
Martin Docherty-Hughes Portrait
Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
Defence Committee Member since 12th September 2023
Jesse Norman Portrait
Jesse Norman (Conservative - Hereford and South Herefordshire)
Defence Committee Member since 11th December 2023
Jeremy Quin Portrait
Jeremy Quin (Conservative - Horsham)
Defence Committee Member since 17th January 2024
Defence Committee: Upcoming Events
Defence Committee - Oral evidence
One-off session with the Secretary of State for Defence
26 Mar 2024, 2:45 p.m.
At 3:15pm: Oral evidence
Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP - Secretary of State at Ministry of Defence

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Defence Committee - Private Meeting
23 Apr 2024, 10 a.m.
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Defence Committee - Private Meeting
30 Apr 2024, 10 a.m.
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Defence Committee - Private Meeting
7 May 2024, 2 p.m.
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Defence Committee - Private Meeting
14 May 2024, 10 a.m.
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Defence Committee - Private Meeting
21 May 2024, 10 a.m.
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Defence Committee - Private Meeting
4 Jun 2024, 10 a.m.
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Defence Committee - Private Meeting
11 Jun 2024, 10 a.m.
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Defence Committee: Previous Inquiries
The Integrated Security, Defence and Foreign Policy Review The Security of 5G SDSR 2015 and the Army inquiry Russia: implications for UK defence and security inquiry Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2015–16 inquiry BBC Monitoring inquiry Defence Acquisition and Procurement inquiry Awards for Valour (Protection) Bill inquiry Naval Procurement: Type 26 and Type 45 inquiry NATO Warsaw summit and Chilcot Report Work of the Department 2017 inquiry F-35 Procurement inquiry North Korea inquiry Indispensable allies: US, NATO and UK Defence relations inquiry Defence Acquisition and Procurement inquiry Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17 inquiry Locally Employed Civilians inquiry The effects of BAE restructuring on UK Defence inquiry National Security Capability Review inquiry The Royal Marines and UK amphibious capability inquiry The Government’s Brexit position paper: Foreign policy, defence and development: a future partnership paper inquiry Military exercises and the duty of care: follow up inquiry Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2016 inquiry UK National Shipbuilding Strategy inquiry The indispensable ally? US, NATO and UK Defence relations inquiry Locally employed interpreters inquiry Trident missile testing inquiry Investigations into fatalities involving British military personnel inquiry SDSR 2015 and the RAF inquiry Defence industrial policy: procurement and prosperity inquiry Military Exercises and the Duty of Care: Further Follow-Up inquiry Evidence from the new Defence Secretary inquiry UK Defence and the Strait of Hormuz inquiry Ministry of Defence Annual Reports and Accounts 2018-19 inquiry Procurement Update inquiry Domestic Threat of Drones inquiry UK Defence and the Far East inquiry Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2018 inquiry Work of the Service Complaints Ombudsman inquiry UK Response to Hybrid Threats inquiry INF Treaty withdrawal inquiry Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2017-18 inquiry Departmental Priorities – Post-NATO Summit inquiry Work of Defence Equipment and Support inquiry Work of the Chief of Defence Staff inquiry Mental Health and the Armed Forces, Part Two: The Provision of Care inquiry Future anti-ship missile system inquiry Statute of limitations – veterans protection inquiry UK Military Operations in Mosul and Raqqa inquiry Mechanised Infantry Vehicle Procurement inquiry Modernising Defence Programme inquiry Departmental priorities inquiry Armed forces and veterans mental health inquiry Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2017 inquiry Global Islamist Terrorism inquiry MoD Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13 Work of the Chief of the Defence Staff MoD Supplementary Estimates 2012-13 Operations in Afghanistan Strategic Defence and Security Review & the National Security Strategy The Armed Forces Covenant in Action? Part 1: Military Casualties Operations in Libya Developing Threats to Electronic Infrastructure The Armed Forces Covenant in Action? Part 2: Accommodation Defence Implications of Possible Scottish Independence Impact on UK Defence of the proposed merger of BAE systems and EADS MoD Main Estimates 2013-14 Towards the next Defence and Security Review: Part One Armed Forces Covenant in Action? Educating Service Personnel Children Armed Forces Covenant in Action? Part 4: Service Personnel Education Defence Acquisition Defence and cyber-security UK Armed Forces Personnel and Legal Framework for Future Operations Future Army 2020 Future Maritime Surveillance Lariam inquiry Publication of the SDSR UK military operations in Syria and Iraq inquiry Shifting the Goalposts? Defence Expenditure and the 2% pledge Flexible Response? An SDSR checklist of potential threats Towards the next defence and security review: Part Three Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14 The situation in Iraq and Syria Decision-making in Defence Policy Future Force 2020 Armed Forces (Services Complaints and Financial Assistance) Bill MoD Main Estimates 2014-15 Inquiry Defence Growth Partnership Ministry of Defence Mid Year Report Towards the next Defence and Security Review: Part Two: NATO Afghanistan - Camp Bastion Attack Defence Materiel Strategy Afghanistan The Armed Forces Covenant in Action Part 5: Military Casualties Pre-appointment hearing: Service Complaints Commissioner Defence contribution to the UK’s pandemic response Progress in delivering the British Army’s armoured vehicle capability Foreign Involvement in the Defence Supply Chain The Integrated Review – Threats, Capabilities and Concepts Defence and Climate Change National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh Armed Forces Readiness Future Aviation Capabilities Defence in the Grey Zone Women in the Armed Forces: Follow-Up NATO, US and UK Defence Relations National security and investment Beyond endurance? Military exercises and the duty of care Defence in the Arctic MoD support for former and serving personnel subject to judicial processes Defence in the Arctic (Sub-Committee) Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2018 Defence industrial policy: procurement and prosperity Departmental Priorities – Post-NATO Summit Domestic Threat of Drones Evidence from the new Defence Secretary Global Islamist Terrorism INF Treaty withdrawal UK Military Operations in Mosul and Raqqa Future anti-ship missile system Statute of limitations – veterans protection Mental Health and the Armed Forces, Part Two: The Provision of Care Work of Defence Equipment and Support Ministry of Defence Annual Reports and Accounts 2018-19 European Defence Industrial Development Programme Modernising Defence Programme Military Exercises and the Duty of Care: Further Follow-Up Procurement Update Work of the Service Complaints Ombudsman UK Defence and the Far East UK Defence and the Strait of Hormuz UK Response to Hybrid Threats Work of the Chief of Defence Staff

50 most recent Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department

13th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on (a) electronic warfare, (b) chemical, (c) biological, (d) radiological and (e) nuclear integrated battlespace in each financial year since 2019-20.

The Joint Electronic Surveillance (JES)​, Force Protection Electronic Counter Measures, (FPECM)​, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear (CBRN) delivery teams’ total spend on equipment by financial year is as follows:

FY

Total spend £million

2019-20

£128.171m

2020-21

£146.601m

2021-22

£120.897m

2022-23

£168.069m

The Joint Electronic Surveillance (JES), Force Protection Electronic Counter Measures, (FPECM), and Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear (CBRN) delivery teams’ total spend on operating costs by financial year is as follows:

FY

Total spend £million

2019-20

£11.648m

2020-21

£12.644m

2021-22

£12.602m

2022-23

£14.107m

The Joint Electronic Surveillance (JES), Force Protection Electronic Counter Measures, (FPECM), and Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear (CBRN) delivery teams are specific project teams in DE&S and the figures above represent the total spend of those teams. The figures do not represent the total spend on all electronic warfare or chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear projects across Defence which would not be held centrally and would not be answerable without a disproportionate cost.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is for delivering the first New Medium Helicopter.

The New Medium Helicopter competition includes a 10% weighting for social value in line with the Cabinet Office Social Value Model and guidance. The competition also includes an additional 15% weighting for UK industrial capability which includes essential industrial considerations, spanning design, production, manufacture and importantly, export potential. This is intended to ensure that the New Medium Helicopter contract will secure the vital operational independence we require, as well as investing in UK skills for the long-term and demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to the Defence & Security Industrial Strategy.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the invitation to negotiate document for the New Medium Helicopter programme.

The New Medium Helicopter competition includes a 10% weighting for social value in line with the Cabinet Office Social Value Model and guidance. The competition also includes an additional 15% weighting for UK industrial capability which includes essential industrial considerations, spanning design, production, manufacture and importantly, export potential. This is intended to ensure that the New Medium Helicopter contract will secure the vital operational independence we require, as well as investing in UK skills for the long-term and demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to the Defence & Security Industrial Strategy.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what social value considerations are included in the procurement of the New Medium Helicopter.

The New Medium Helicopter competition includes a 10% weighting for social value in line with the Cabinet Office Social Value Model and guidance. The competition also includes an additional 15% weighting for UK industrial capability which includes essential industrial considerations, spanning design, production, manufacture and importantly, export potential. This is intended to ensure that the New Medium Helicopter contract will secure the vital operational independence we require, as well as investing in UK skills for the long-term and demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to the Defence & Security Industrial Strategy.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on remotely-piloted air systems in each financial year since 2019-20.

The DE&S Remote Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) delivery team total spend on equipment by financial year is as follows:

FY

Total spend

2019-20

222.376

2020-21

235.916

2021-22

395.316

2022-23

401.739

The RPAS total spend on operating costs by financial year is as follows:

FY

Total spend

2019-20

15.495

2020-21

16.219

2021-22

18.434

2022-23

16.768

The RPAS is a specific project team in DE&S and the figures above represent the total spend of that team. The figure does not represent the total spend on all remote piloted air system projects across Defence which would not be held centrally and would not be answerable without a disproportionate cost.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Watchkeeper unmanned aircraft systems are currently operational.

Details of the number of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in the UK Armed Forces are published on an annual basis on the gov.uk website.  The most recent publication can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-equipment-and-formations-2023

For reasons of operational sensitivity we do not release figures on the current availability of any platform.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department paid in VAT in each year since 2010.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) can provide details of VAT paid (both recoverable and non-recoverable) by MOD’s main VAT registration for the previous four financial years. During this period, we have paid a total of £20.9 billion in VAT.

VAT paid but recovered from HMRC £million

VAT paid and not-recovered £million

Total VAT, £ million

FY2019/20

1,835

3,005

4,840

FY2020/21

1,955

3,026

4,981

FY2021/22

2,132

3,143

5,275

FY2022/23

2,200

3,607

5,807

Total

8,122

12,781

20,903

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department paid in National Insurance contributions in each year since 2010.

The total value of Employer National Insurance costs between FY 2010-11 and FY 2022-23 are shown in the table below.

Year

Departmental Group Total

£million

2022-23

951.5

2021-22

870.3

2020-21

858.1

2019-20

811.1

2018-19

794.6

2017-18

802.3

2016-17

778.5

2015-16

586.5

2014-15

611.7

2013-14

631.4

2012-13

658.2

2011-12

689.2

2010-11

681.7

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions the Government has had with the government of the Netherlands on the future Littoral Strike Platform.

The Multi-Role Support Ship Programme is currently in its pre-concept phase, which has included the exploration of opportunities to collaborate with the Netherlands on common design options, interoperability, and equipment commonality. The focus is on determining the requirement and on setting the programme up for success, with work ongoing to ensure affordability.

The UK continues to have a strong and enduring relationship with the amphibious forces of the Netherlands, and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Netherlands last year reaffirmed that commitment. The intent will be collaborate and co-operate across the amphibious and littoral domains, both in developing equipment capability, interoperability and exploiting training opportunities to mutual benefit.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled New Amphibious Transport Ships better suited for war conditions, published by the Dutch Ministry of Defence on 6 March 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision to end the joint procurement of a littoral strike platform with the UK on the Royal Navy’s plans to acquire this capability through the Multi-Role Support Ship programme.

The Multi-Role Support Ship Programme is currently in its pre-concept phase, which has included the exploration of opportunities to collaborate with the Netherlands on common design options, interoperability, and equipment commonality. The focus is on determining the requirement and on setting the programme up for success, with work ongoing to ensure affordability.

The UK continues to have a strong and enduring relationship with the amphibious forces of the Netherlands, and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Netherlands last year reaffirmed that commitment. The intent will be collaborate and co-operate across the amphibious and littoral domains, both in developing equipment capability, interoperability and exploiting training opportunities to mutual benefit.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
13th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answers of 24 January 2024 to Questions 10872 and 10873 on Ranger Regiment, the Answers of 24 January 2024 to Questions 10657 and 10658 on Armed Forces: Recruitment, the Answer of 24 January 2024 to Question 10656 on Armed Forces: Discharges, the Answer of 24 January 2024 to Question 10655 on Armed Forces and the Answer of 30 January 2024 to Question 10874 on Defence Equipment: Theft, when he plans to write to the hon. Member for Croydon Central with the information requested.

I will respond to the hon. Member shortly.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled DE&S and Team Resolute sign Fleet Solid Support ships contract, published on 18 January 2023, which (a) blocks and (b) modules will be built at Harland and Wolff's UK sites.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor (Alex Chalk) to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Dearne (John Healey) on 25 January 2023 to Question 128600.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many buildings owned by his Department and its agencies are currently empty.

The Department does not hold this information centrally and it can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's publication entitled MOD common law compensation claims statistics 2022/23, published on 26 February 2024, how many and what proportion of new compensation claims on noise-induced hearing loss were related to the Ajax project in each financial year since 2018-19.

The information requested, by financial year (FY), is below:-

FY2018-19 – Nil

FY2019-20 – Nil

FY2020-21 – Nil

FY2021-22 – Four (0.1%)

FY2022-23 – Four (0.1%)

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
12th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's publication entitled MOD common law compensation claims statistics 2022/23, published on 26 February 2024, what was the total cost to the public purse of settled compensation claims for noise-induced hearing loss related to the Ajax project in each financial year since 2018-19.

None of the Ajax-related Noise-Induced Hearing Loss claims have yet settled.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
5th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many flying hours he has completed domestically on RAF aircraft since his appointment.

Ministerial transport will vary and is always decided with consideration to the best use of time and interests of the taxpayer. As a whole, domestic flights allow Ministers and members of their office to visit more parts of the United Kingdom in the time available, particularly areas further away from London, and reduce the need for overnight accommodation. All travel decisions are made with consideration for security and time restraints. It is not the convention to provide granular detail on the movements of protected individuals.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
5th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse has been of his domestic travel using RAF aircraft since his appointment.

Ministerial transport will vary and is always decided with consideration to the best use of time and interests of the taxpayer. As a whole, domestic flights allow Ministers and members of their office to visit more parts of the United Kingdom in the time available, particularly areas further away from London, and reduce the need for overnight accommodation. All travel decisions are made with consideration for security and time restraints. It is not the convention to provide granular detail on the movements of protected individuals.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
11th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the destinations were of domestic overnight visits undertaken by Ministers within their Department in each of the last three financial years.

The Government publishes on GOV.UK details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visas, accommodation, meals). As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers' travel at home or abroad.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
4th Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by The Earl of Minto on 27 November 2023 (HL200), what assessment they have made of the accuracy of report of the Board of Inquiry into the Nimrod crash on 2 September 1995, taking into consideration the rules pertaining to such boards of inquiry at that time, and its finding that Flight Lieutenant Dominic Gilbert was to blame for the crash.

It is not possible to re-consider aspects of Boards of Inquiry held in the past without full reinvestigation of the original incident. It would not be in the public interest to re-open any such inquiries, where it is deemed there are no lessons to be identified for the Service, such as when aircraft are no longer in service. The likely complexity of such work due to the passage of time and the need to re-allocate Departmental resources are also significant considerations.

In 1997 Defence Ministers directed that BOI should not be permitted to attribute blame or negligence in cases of unnatural death or serious injury. Subsequently, in 2008, Boards of Inquiry were replaced by Service Inquiries under the Armed Forces Act 2006, separating accident investigation from the operational chain of command.

Service Inquiries (SI) are not permitted to find negligence or apportion blame, in order to encourage an open reporting culture, and to ensure that full and frank evidence be provided to SI panels.

Earl of Minto
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
4th Mar 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have nominated a candidate to sit on the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives Executive Committee.

Although the UK has not nominated a candidate to the Executive Committee this year, we are represented on the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives (NCGP) and are working closely with the Chair to formulate the programme of work for the next two years. The UK has been instrumental in updating the NCGP Terms of Reference to increase its influence and strengthen the Women, Peace and Security agenda at NATO.

Earl of Minto
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi & System Boiler Range (2401-0138) products were first installed in service family accommodation properties.

The affected Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi and System Boiler Range (2401-0138) were installed in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties from August 2022 to early January 2024.

It is not known when Ideal first discovered this issue. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) officials were made aware of potential fire safety issues relating to these boilers on 31 January 2024 and have interpreted Ideal’s risk assessment of the boiler fault occurring as very low. There was no requirement to inform Ministers, as this is routine Departmental business, however the Minister for Defence Procurement received a submission on this on 12 March 2024.

DIO has communicated the recall via MOD stakeholders for cascade to Service personnel, through DIO’s Families First newsletter and via gov.uk; this week, a letter will be/has been issued to all Service Families living in SFA.

Ideal will cover all costs of repairs and installations, therefore there will be no cost to the Department.

DIO has identified 1,626 SFA which have the Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi and System Boilers (2401-0138) installed.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when (a) officials and (b) Ministers in his Department first learnt of fire safety issues related to Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi & System Boiler Range (2401-0138) products.

The affected Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi and System Boiler Range (2401-0138) were installed in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties from August 2022 to early January 2024.

It is not known when Ideal first discovered this issue. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) officials were made aware of potential fire safety issues relating to these boilers on 31 January 2024 and have interpreted Ideal’s risk assessment of the boiler fault occurring as very low. There was no requirement to inform Ministers, as this is routine Departmental business, however the Minister for Defence Procurement received a submission on this on 12 March 2024.

DIO has communicated the recall via MOD stakeholders for cascade to Service personnel, through DIO’s Families First newsletter and via gov.uk; this week, a letter will be/has been issued to all Service Families living in SFA.

Ideal will cover all costs of repairs and installations, therefore there will be no cost to the Department.

DIO has identified 1,626 SFA which have the Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi and System Boilers (2401-0138) installed.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when fire safety issues related to the Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi & System Boiler Range (2401-0138) products were first discovered.

The affected Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi and System Boiler Range (2401-0138) were installed in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties from August 2022 to early January 2024.

It is not known when Ideal first discovered this issue. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) officials were made aware of potential fire safety issues relating to these boilers on 31 January 2024 and have interpreted Ideal’s risk assessment of the boiler fault occurring as very low. There was no requirement to inform Ministers, as this is routine Departmental business, however the Minister for Defence Procurement received a submission on this on 12 March 2024.

DIO has communicated the recall via MOD stakeholders for cascade to Service personnel, through DIO’s Families First newsletter and via gov.uk; this week, a letter will be/has been issued to all Service Families living in SFA.

Ideal will cover all costs of repairs and installations, therefore there will be no cost to the Department.

DIO has identified 1,626 SFA which have the Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi and System Boilers (2401-0138) installed.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to cover the cost of (a) removing and (b) replacing the Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi & System Boiler Range (2401-0138) products in service family accommodation.

The affected Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi and System Boiler Range (2401-0138) were installed in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties from August 2022 to early January 2024.

It is not known when Ideal first discovered this issue. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) officials were made aware of potential fire safety issues relating to these boilers on 31 January 2024 and have interpreted Ideal’s risk assessment of the boiler fault occurring as very low. There was no requirement to inform Ministers, as this is routine Departmental business, however the Minister for Defence Procurement received a submission on this on 12 March 2024.

DIO has communicated the recall via MOD stakeholders for cascade to Service personnel, through DIO’s Families First newsletter and via gov.uk; this week, a letter will be/has been issued to all Service Families living in SFA.

Ideal will cover all costs of repairs and installations, therefore there will be no cost to the Department.

DIO has identified 1,626 SFA which have the Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi and System Boilers (2401-0138) installed.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service families accommodation properties are affected by the product recall of Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi & System Boiler Range (2401-0138) products.

The affected Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi and System Boiler Range (2401-0138) were installed in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties from August 2022 to early January 2024.

It is not known when Ideal first discovered this issue. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) officials were made aware of potential fire safety issues relating to these boilers on 31 January 2024 and have interpreted Ideal’s risk assessment of the boiler fault occurring as very low. There was no requirement to inform Ministers, as this is routine Departmental business, however the Minister for Defence Procurement received a submission on this on 12 March 2024.

DIO has communicated the recall via MOD stakeholders for cascade to Service personnel, through DIO’s Families First newsletter and via gov.uk; this week, a letter will be/has been issued to all Service Families living in SFA.

Ideal will cover all costs of repairs and installations, therefore there will be no cost to the Department.

DIO has identified 1,626 SFA which have the Ideal Heating Logic 2 Combi and System Boilers (2401-0138) installed.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of successors to the Hawk T2 aircraft.

The RAF has already started its standard Capability Investigation process into the future of combat aircrew training; this comprehensive review will include the approach to the procurement of the replacement of the current Advanced Jet Trainer capability. The investigation will consider options for aircraft, simulators and associated combined live / virtual training, such that we can continue to deliver a world-class training capability for the UK Armed Forces.

The Capability Investigation's findings are expected later this year and will provide evidence on likely costs and timing of the replacement training solution to the Hawk T2.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate her Department has made of the costs of replacing the Hawk T2 aircraft.

The RAF has already started its standard Capability Investigation process into the future of combat aircrew training; this comprehensive review will include the approach to the procurement of the replacement of the current Advanced Jet Trainer capability. The investigation will consider options for aircraft, simulators and associated combined live / virtual training, such that we can continue to deliver a world-class training capability for the UK Armed Forces.

The Capability Investigation's findings are expected later this year and will provide evidence on likely costs and timing of the replacement training solution to the Hawk T2.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to (a) maintain and (b) enhance (i) intelligence-sharing and (ii) security cooperation with (A) Germany and (B) other allies.

The UK has excellent sovereign capabilities, but these are enhanced and extended by our international alliances. The Government recently published it response to the Intelligence and Security Committee Report on 'International Partnerships', and welcomes the important oversight provided by the Committee. The Ministry of Defence remains committed to broadening and deepening our relationships with Germany and allies, who make an invaluable contribution to the safety and security of the UK.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the decision by Australia to provide AUS $50 million to the International Fund for Ukraine on 15 February 2024, whether any new contracts have been placed through the Fund since that date.

Since 15 February 2024 no new contracts have been placed through the International Fund for Ukraine.

Two contract amendment have been placed to provide additional air defence ammunition, tracks and engines for Armoured Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the decision by Australia to provide AUS $50 million to the International Fund for Ukraine on 15 February 2024, whether this funding will be used for a third round of bids for the Fund.

The third International Fund for Ukraine Urgent Bidding Round launched in January 2024.

The recent decision by the Government of Australia to contribute to the International Fund for Ukraine increases the money available within the Fund for the purchase of critical capabilities for Ukraine.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost per flight hour is for the Hawk T2 aircraft.

I am withholding the information requested as its release would prejudice commercial interests.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual maintenance budget is for the Hawk T2 fleet.

Maintenance for the Hawk T2 airframe is provided under the Hawk Integrated Support Solution (HISS) contract (airframe). The HISS Contract price from April 2023 to March 2024 is £56 million.

Additionally, the Adour 951 engine is supported by the Hawk Engine Support Solution (HESS) contract. The HESS Contract price from April 2023 to March 2024 is £7.88 million.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the flight hour limit is on Hawk T2 engines.

The engine life of the Rolls-Royce Adour 951 engine is currently limited to 1,700 flying hours due to safety limitations which were introduced following the discovery of damage affecting some engine components.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK Armed Forces Personnel have been deployed in Singapore in each year since 2010.

Number of UK Armed Forces Service personnel deployed in Singapore since 2010:

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

0

~

0

80

0

0

0

0

~

10

0

~

~

~

The UK also has military personnel stationed in Singapore in the British High Commission as part of its Defence Section and the British Defence Staff Southeast Asia, as well as part of the British Defence Singapore Support Unit. Full details are in the table below.

Number of UK Regulars stationed in Singapore as at 1 January since 2010:

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

10

10

10

~

~

~

~

10

10

10

10

10

10

~

10

Deployed personnel are defined here as military personnel who are deployed on operations. Navy personnel who have been deployed on a ship are not included in deployment figures for countries even if the operation that they are deployed on includes duties in the country or countries mentioned in the above figures. Deployment data are derived from the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) `Move and Track` system, which records all personnel who enter a deployment theatre for over 24hrs. Figures of 5 or fewer are represented by ‘~’.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times UK ships have visited Singapore in each year since 2010.

The number of ships that have visited Singapore in each year since 2010 are shown in the table below:

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Number of Ships

0

1

0

4

2

0

0

0

5

4

2

3

4

3

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel there are in the Ranger Regiment of the British Army.

As of 1 January 2024, there were 1,040 Regular Army Personnel serving in the Ranger Regiment.

Please note the following notes/caveats from Analysis (Army):

  1. This figure represents Trade Trained Regular and Gurkha Army only and therefore excludes Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves and all other Reserves.

  1. The figure includes all personnel who are serving in a battalion within the Ranger Regiment.

  1. As the Ranger Regiment is still an evolving organisation, the above information includes all personnel serving in a Ranger Battalion, some of which may not be Rangers. Figures therefore include attached Arms and are not comparable to figures for other Infantry Regiments.

  1. The figure includes Gurkhas serving in Ranger Units.

  1. The figure has been rounded to 10 for presentational purposes; numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.
James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many deployments have the Ranger Regiment participated in since 2021.

Since 2021, the British Army’s Ranger Regiment has conducted 691 deployments.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
7th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent funding Sheffield Forgemasters has received from the Nuclear Innovation Programme.

Sheffield Forgemasters received £4,224,812 of funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero sponsored Nuclear Innovation Programme between July 2019 and June 2023.

James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure security of communications between members of the Armed Forces and their international counterparts.

The Ministry of Defence has a robust information and data classification policy that enables information to be stored, processed and shared securely with our international partners. The policy is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure it remains appropriate to the threats we face and communications are carried out on systems with controls proportionate for the classification level.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) recruitment target for and (b) number of personnel recruited to the (i) full time British Army and (ii) Army Reserves was in each year since 2010.

The first table shows the Basic Training untrained intake for Reserve Officers and Other Ranks by financial year.

Table 1. Reserve FR20 Untrained Intake to Phase 1 by Officers / Other Ranks

Financial Year

Total

Officers

Other Ranks

2012/13

2,650

60

2,600

2013/14

1,270

50

1,220

2014/15

2,890

110

2,780

2015/16

3,500

200

3,300

2016/17

3,020

160

2,860

2017/18

2,380

160

2,220

2018/19

1,870

120

1,750

2019/20

2,680

160

2,520

2020/21

2,270

170

2,100

2021/22

2,400

110

2,290

2022/23

1,630

90

1,540

Source: Analysis (Army)

The second table shows the Basic Training untrained intake actuals and targets for Reserve Other Ranks by financial year. There are no targets for Officers.

The actuals in the second column differ from the Other Ranks figures above; this is explained in Notes 4 and 5 below.

Table 2. Reserve Group A Other Ranks Untrained Intake to Phase 1 Actuals and Targets

Financial Year

Reserve Group A Other Ranks Untrained Intake Target

Reserve Group A Other Ranks Phase 1 Intake Actuals

2012/13

Not Held

2,600

2013/14

1,550

1,220

2014/15

2,800

2,780

2015/16

5,000

3,300

2016/17

6,480

2,850

2017/18

4,760

2,210

2018/19

2,910

1,740

2019/20

2,800

2,500

2020/21

2,500

2,070

2021/22

2,820

2,250

2022/23

2,950

1,530

Source: Analysis (Army) & Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command (ARITC)

For the Regular Army, I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 January 2024 in answer to PQ7264: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-12-18/7264 which shows the Basic Training Starts (BTS) Targets for British Army Other Ranks by financial year.

Notes/Caveats:

  1. Figures in Table 1 are for FR20 Phase 1 and Reserve Army ‘Group A’ Intake only.

  1. The FR20 population consists of ‘Group A’ Army Reserves, some Sponsored Reserves and those personnel serving on FTRS contracts who were previously Army Reservists.

  1. ‘Group A’ includes Volunteer Reserves, Mobilised Volunteer Reserves, High Readiness Reserves and OTC support & training staff and Officers under training.

  1. Figures supplied in Table 1 are for the FR20 population and will match Accredited Official Statistics as supplied in the Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics Report from 2017/18 onwards. Figures are however for Phase 1 Intake only and may not match figures before this period.

  1. Figures in Table 2 are for Reserve ‘Group A’ Other Ranks Phase 1 Intake and include movement between populations in FR20 i.e. Group E to Group A movements etc.

  1. Army Reserve ‘Group E’ was introduced during November 2020. ‘Group E’ were previously included in ‘Group A’ and subsequently removed. Intake figures in Table 1 for Financial Year 2020/21 onwards are not directly comparable to previous Financial Years.

  1. Figures include Untrained Intake from other Army populations and from other Services.

  1. Figures have been rounded to 10 for presentational purposes; numbers ending in "5" have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

  1. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the Army spent on advertising (a) above the line, (b) on Tiktok, (c) on Facebook and Instagram, (d) on Snapchat and (e) on Twitter in each financial year since 2017.

The table shows the cost of the Army’s recruitment advertising costs by financial year.

Media Name

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2202-23

Facebook

£231,425

£576,454

£494,971

£532,996.82

£606,351

Snapchat

£79,903

£130,020

£204,345

£388,521.19

£479,342.14

Twitter

£55,431

£203,164

£129,277

£196,164.98

£90,000

Display

£1,292,885

£3,506,037

£3,804,808

£3,500,017

£2,309,891

Out of Home

£287,000

£451,614

£190,000

£200,000

£150,000

Radio

£388,980

£1,813,738

£859,134

£1,045,000

£964,998

Paid Search

£209,532

£699,264

£1,153,600

£1,355,525

£1,165,874.32

TV

£1,992,500

£3,076,945

£4,429,580

£2,524,105

£3,594,987

Please note the following notes/caveats:

  1. These figures are single Service estimates based on management information which is not gathered for statistical purposes or subject to the same level of scrutiny as official statistics produced by Defence Statistics.
  2. The data for financial year 2018/2019 represents costs from November 2018 to March 2019.
  3. The breakdown prior to November 2018 is not held. This data would need to be produced by an external contractor who no longer provides this service for the Army.
  4. Spend on Facebook advertising from March – May 2023 will be incorporated in the 23/24 financial year, as this is the period for which the services were procured.
  5. Spending on Instagram is incorporated in Facebook figures, as both fall under the umbrella of Meta.
  6. Recruiting Group do not advertise on TikTok.
  7. For the purposes of this answer, ‘above the line’ is taken to include Display, Out of Home, Radio, Paid Search and TV.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2024 to Question 13532 on Armed Forces: Parachuting, if he will break down the data provided by (a) broken bones, (b) respiratory illness, (c) punctured lungs, (d) other injury and (e) death.

From 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2023, a total of 527 Service personnel sustained injuries from parachuting. Of these:

  1. 143 had broken bones (fractures)
  2. 1 had a respiratory illness
  3. 382 had other injuries

There was one fatality as a result of parachuting in 2021.

This information was drawn from a number of databases and relied on manual data extraction based on specific search terms.

The type of injury was identified from a number of different variables in the data including the free text narrative of the description of the incident. The MOD Health and Safety systems are not medical databases and do not contain clinical diagnoses. The databases are also live and therefore information is subject to change or revisions. As a result, there is a risk of inconsistency with the data, and the returns may not be exhaustive.

Any records that did not contain one of the search terms used has been categorised as ‘other’. These are reported conditions including but not limited to sprains, pain, bruising and lacerations.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much the RAF spent on advertising (a) above the line, (b) on Tiktok, (c) on Facebook and Instagram, (d) on Snapchat and (e) on Twitter in each financial year since 2017.

This question has been interpreted as spend on advertising for Recruitment. With regards to the figures for 2017, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House

Year

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Spend £

742,162

9,453,479

8,334,191

2,820,455

8,541,160

11,240,860

2,209,334.

Year

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Facebook/Inst

£52,735

£887,324

£874,933

£310,407

£158,550

£610,013

£179,662

SnapChat

£63,001

£178,558

£6,663

£542,277

£654,943

£175,206

Twitter

£48,384

£11,152

£83,269

£4,992

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) recruitment target for and (b) number of personnel recruited to the (i) full-time RAF and (ii) RAF Reserves was in each year since 2010.

Information required to answer the question is not held centrally and will take time to collate. I will write to the right hon. Member as soon as the information is available.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) recruitment target for and (b) number of personnel recruited to the (i) full time Royal Navy and (ii) Maritime Reserves was in each year since 2010.

Please see the table below for the recruitment target and number personnel recruited to the Royal Navy in each year since 2010:

Recruiting Year

Target*

Intake**

2010-2011

1332

1331

2011-2012

1472

1464

2012-2013

1692

1642

2013-2014

2274

2144

2014-2015

2237

2176

2015-2016

2576

2192

2016-2017

2779

2311

2017-2018

2843

2284

2018-2019

3043

2365

2019-2020

3009

2637

2020-2021

3175

2925

2021-2022

2963

2494

2022-2023

2738

2001

* Source Recruit and Attract, Navy Directorate of Personnel and Training

**Source: Analysis Navy

It is taking time to collate the information requested for the Maritime Reserve, therefore I will write to the right hon. Member once this process is complete.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is to implement the recommendations of The Independent Review of UK Government Welfare Services for Veterans 2023, published on 17 July 2023.

Our response to the Review was published in December 2023. The Government accepts the principle and intended outcome of all the review’s recommendations and is currently working to deliver them.

There are several recommendations which the Ministry of Defence is already actively taking forward, including the retirement of the Veterans UK brand, and the transformation of the way we deliver welfare support to ensure a consistently high level of service. The response sets out our commitment and high-level plans, and further detail will be made available in due course as we make progress.

Andrew Murrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the value of contributions by each country is to the International Fund for Ukraine.

To date seven countries have contributed £896 million to the International Fund for Ukraine. These contributions are set out in the following table:

Country

Contribution in £million

Denmark

133

Iceland

3

Lithuania

5

Netherlands

110

Norway

119

Sweden

26

UK

500

Australia and New Zealand have recently announced their intention to contribute 50 million Australian dollars and 6.5 million New Zealand dollars to the International Fund for Ukraine.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding from the International Fund for Ukraine has been (a) committed and (b) spent on contracts awarded through the Fund.

The International Fund for Ukraine has committed £344 million across 27 contracts. To date, £131 million has been spent on these contracts.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
6th Mar 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his German counterpart on leaks of discussions among members of that country's armed forces.

The Secretary of State for Defence held a secure phone call with Boris Pistorius, the German Federal Minister of Defence, on 4 March 2024. They discussed the specifics of the incident itself, and Minister Pistorius set out the steps that Germany is taking to investigate and to prevent future incidents. The investigation itself is a matter for the German Government, but the Secretary of State for Defence has full faith that Germany is handling the matter appropriately. While it is right that we treat this matter very seriously, we must also be very clear that Putin leaked this call in an attempt to drive a wedge between us and weaken the West's collective support for Ukraine; we must not let that happen and we must show that we are united and resolved to support Ukraine for the long term.

James Heappey
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)