Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK’s ballistic missile defence capability in light of the emerging threat environment.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence keeps its approach and posture in relation to evolving threats under constant review, including those from ballistic missiles. The Strategic Defence Review announced further investment in Integrated Air and Missile Defence to provide the broadest range of options for deterring and responding to high-impact threats. As part of this, we are investing up to £1 billion in new funding for homeland air and missile defence. Further details will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he is taking steps to increase levels of production of (a) air defence and (b) land attack missiles.
Answered by Maria Eagle
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) is looking hard at the threats we face and the capabilities we need to meet the challenges, threats and opportunity of the 21 century. The SDR will ensure the UK is secure at home and strong abroad, now and for years to come.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK's cruise missile production capacity.
Answered by Maria Eagle
The UK will continue to maintain a close relationship with its domestic and international industry partners on all aspects of the adequacy of the defence industrial supply chain required to support our capabilities.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on missile production capacity.
Answered by Maria Eagle
The Secretary of State for Defence continues to discuss missile production capacity with our European Allies on a regular basis. For example, the Secretary of State discussed this with France in Paris on 11 March and at the E5 Defence Ministers meeting on 12 March. Missile production capacity is also a key element of NATO’s Defence Production Action Plan, which we continue to work on with allies to ensure its effective implementation. In addition, the UK continues to discuss NATO Alliance-wide missile production and capacity issues via the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD) framework.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the letter on UIN 11295 from the Minister for Veterans and People to the hon. Member for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, dated 19 November 2024, and pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2024 to Question 11295 on Army Cadet Force: Costs, at what stage through the Annual Budget Cycle process his Department is as of 27 January 2025; and how much funding he plans to provide for Control Total for Army Cadet Force expenditure in 2025-26.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Autumn Budget 2024 set the Ministry of Defence budget for financial year 2025-26 as £59.8 billion, an increase of £2.9 billion from this year. The Department is currently conducting the budget-setting process for 2025-26, with final budgets to be set before the start of the financial year in the normal way.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the equipment his Department has provided to Ukraine to help counter chemical threats included (a) gas detection and (b) chemical protective equipment for use by (i) civilians and (ii) armed forces.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to assess and monitor the evolving threat picture in Ukraine, including Russian use of chemicals as a method of warfare. The MOD has been at the forefront of international support and assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and has provided respirators, detectors, decontamination kits, as well as other protective measures to enhance the Armed Forces of Ukraine's protective capabilities against chemical weapons.
Our commitment to Ukraine is unwavering, we continue to work closely with our international partners to coordinate counter-CBRN support and assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 February to Question 131390 on Disease Control: whether any (a) training and (b) reception rooms at his Department's bases have VIU Mobile air purifiers.
Answered by Alex Chalk
The Ministry of Defence has no centrally held records of direct purchases of VIU Mobile air purifiers. Each establishment across the Department would need to be consulted at local level to confirm the presence of such units, together with their location. As such the requested information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether their Department has purchased mobile UV virus irradiation units.
Answered by Alex Chalk
A search of centrally held information has found no record of any direct purchases of mobile UV virus irradiation units by the Ministry of Defence.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many serving military personnel (a) are qualified paramedics and (b) meet the qualification requirements set out by the Health and Care Professions Council.
Answered by Andrew Murrison
The Armed Forces have 107 paramedics, of which 40 are confirmed as meeting the qualification requirements set out by the Health and Care Professions Council.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 10 February 2022 to Question 118592, what the required standard is for ceremonial caps.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 121824 on 21 February 2022 to the hon. Member for York Central (Rachel Maskell).