Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of the disruption of drones flying over (i) RAF Lakenheath, (ii) RAF Mildenhall and (iii) RAF Feltwell in November 2024.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold a central estimate of the full cost of disruption caused by drone activity in November 2024. The UK investigation into the disruption led by the MOD Police incurred an estimated cost £607,883.87. The United States Visiting Forces are the principal users of the sites concerned, so it would be for them to articulate any costs incurred through operational disruption.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has made an estimate of the cost to (i) Royal Mail and (ii) UK business of the LockBit ransomware attack on Royal Mail in 2023.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

We do not routinely comment on costs of individual cyber attacks. Royal Mail's parent company, International Distributions Services (IDS), has publicly reported spending £10 million on remediation and systems resilience improvements following the incident affecting Royal Mail in 2023.

We know that cyber attacks can have serious consequences for businesses, with independent research finding that the average cost of a significant cyber incident is almost £195,000. The Government works closely with industry and relevant authorities to support resilience against cyber threats and to ensure risks are appropriately managed.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with Gatwick Airport on the cost resulting from drones near the airport in 2018.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

My Department regularly engages with AirportsUK, individual airports and other partners on the risk that drone incursions pose to airport security and resilience. We also work closely with Home Office on the role of advanced counter-drone technologies in detecting and deterring unauthorised drone activity around sensitive sites and critical infrastructure such as airports.

Since the disruption at Gatwick in 2018, government and industry have worked together to strengthen preparedness for drone incursions. As part of this work, we are commissioning guidance to support airports in understanding drone-related risks and appropriate mitigations.

My Department has not undertaken a formal assessment of the cost of drone incursions as specified, and does not hold estimates for such costs.

This Government is also taking action to improve compliance and reduce the risk of drone misuse. Last year, we concluded a review of UK drone regulations, and are now implementing the recommendations, including measures to increase awareness and understanding of the rules as well as new requirements relating to geo-awareness. Together, these measures are intended to reduce the risk of inadvertent drone activity in restricted airspace, including around airports.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her department has made of the cost to (i) airports, (ii) airlines and (iii) the economy of drone incursions at civilian airports in each of the past five years.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

My Department regularly engages with AirportsUK, individual airports and other partners on the risk that drone incursions pose to airport security and resilience. We also work closely with Home Office on the role of advanced counter-drone technologies in detecting and deterring unauthorised drone activity around sensitive sites and critical infrastructure such as airports.

Since the disruption at Gatwick in 2018, government and industry have worked together to strengthen preparedness for drone incursions. As part of this work, we are commissioning guidance to support airports in understanding drone-related risks and appropriate mitigations.

My Department has not undertaken a formal assessment of the cost of drone incursions as specified, and does not hold estimates for such costs.

This Government is also taking action to improve compliance and reduce the risk of drone misuse. Last year, we concluded a review of UK drone regulations, and are now implementing the recommendations, including measures to increase awareness and understanding of the rules as well as new requirements relating to geo-awareness. Together, these measures are intended to reduce the risk of inadvertent drone activity in restricted airspace, including around airports.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with AirportsUK regarding the cost of drone incursions near UK civilian airports.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

My Department regularly engages with AirportsUK, individual airports and other partners on the risk that drone incursions pose to airport security and resilience. We also work closely with Home Office on the role of advanced counter-drone technologies in detecting and deterring unauthorised drone activity around sensitive sites and critical infrastructure such as airports.

Since the disruption at Gatwick in 2018, government and industry have worked together to strengthen preparedness for drone incursions. As part of this work, we are commissioning guidance to support airports in understanding drone-related risks and appropriate mitigations.

My Department has not undertaken a formal assessment of the cost of drone incursions as specified, and does not hold estimates for such costs.

This Government is also taking action to improve compliance and reduce the risk of drone misuse. Last year, we concluded a review of UK drone regulations, and are now implementing the recommendations, including measures to increase awareness and understanding of the rules as well as new requirements relating to geo-awareness. Together, these measures are intended to reduce the risk of inadvertent drone activity in restricted airspace, including around airports.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the cost of drone incursions near airports in the last five years for (i) airports and (ii) the economy.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

My Department regularly engages with AirportsUK, individual airports and other partners on the risk that drone incursions pose to airport security and resilience. We also work closely with Home Office on the role of advanced counter-drone technologies in detecting and deterring unauthorised drone activity around sensitive sites and critical infrastructure such as airports.

Since the disruption at Gatwick in 2018, government and industry have worked together to strengthen preparedness for drone incursions. As part of this work, we are commissioning guidance to support airports in understanding drone-related risks and appropriate mitigations.

My Department has not undertaken a formal assessment of the cost of drone incursions as specified, and does not hold estimates for such costs.

This Government is also taking action to improve compliance and reduce the risk of drone misuse. Last year, we concluded a review of UK drone regulations, and are now implementing the recommendations, including measures to increase awareness and understanding of the rules as well as new requirements relating to geo-awareness. Together, these measures are intended to reduce the risk of inadvertent drone activity in restricted airspace, including around airports.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether K3 Scout Surveillance drones are equipped with an Internet of Things module.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

There is no dedicated Internet of Things module fitted to the Kraken K3 Scout. The platform does contain a number of network-connected systems necessary for its operation, which are managed and protected through secure network architecture, segmentation, routing controls and encrypted communications. The Royal Navy has robust cyber security procedures to identify and secure vulnerabilities of all systems; the Kraken K3 Scout is subjected to the same procedures as all of our units and we have full confidence in the security of these systems.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress she has made on alignment and integration between the SAF mandate and European Trading Scheme.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The UK and EU are currently in negotiations to pursue the linking of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). We are working to negotiate a good deal in line with UK interests as quickly as possible. Separately, on 23 March 2026, the UK ETS Authority launched a consultation on the treatment of SAF in the UK ETS, considering the introduction of, and interactions with, the SAF Mandate. This consultation closed on 15 June 2026, and we are considering the responses alongside the UK-EU ETS linking negotiations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects to publish the outcome of the review of the SAF mandate.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Call for Evidence on SAF supply and industry certainty closed on 28 July. Officials are currently reviewing the evidence and we will provide a government response in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost of the 2022 LockBit attack on NHS 111 and other patient services.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No data is held on the total economic impact of the 2022 LockBit attack on NHS 111 and other patient services.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if her Department will provide an update on the surplus sharing arrangements of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government and Trustees have had constructive engagement on surplus sharing arrangements, and resolving this issue remains a priority for the Government. I will provide an update on the outcome in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if her Department will provide an update on the surplus sharing arrangements of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government and Trustees have had constructive engagement on surplus sharing arrangements, and resolving this issue remains a priority for the Government. I will provide an update on the outcome in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure UK military assistance to Ukraine adapts to the increasing use of guided aerial bombs against frontline cities.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

The UK is stepping up air defence supplies to Ukraine to help protect its civilians, urban centres and critical national infrastructure.

At the latest UDCG on 8 September the UK announced we will contribute a further £100 million towards NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), which will support the delivery of Patriot missiles and other air defence equipment before the winter.

Prior to this at the previous UDCG meeting on 18 June, the UK announced the delivery of more than 350 air defence missiles and radars. In addition to this, twenty remotely guided counter-drone turrets, acquired from Estonia, have now been delivered, which are designed specifically to defeat Shahed-style attack drones.

In addition, we continue to regularly deliver hundreds of UK produced Lightweight Multi-Role Missile (LMM) air defence missiles to Ukraine.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what data his Department has received from the National Cyber Security Centre on (i) the number of cyber attacks on UK businesses and organisations suspected to have originated in Iran and (ii) the cost of those attacks to the UK economy in each of the last five years.

Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) plays a leading role in understanding and responding to cyber threats affecting the UK.

In the latest reporting year, the NCSC received 1,727 incident reports, resulting in 429 incidents requiring NCSC support, of which 204 were assessed as nationally significant.

Between June 2025 and May 2026, the NCSC managed more than 200 incidents affecting organisations within the UK's critical national infrastructure and supporting ecosystem, around 75% of which were assessed as linked to state actors.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what data his Department has received from the National Cyber Security Centre on (i) the number of cyber attacks on UK businesses and organisations suspected to have been inspired by a foreign power and (ii) the cost of those attacks to the UK economy in each of the last five years.

Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) plays a leading role in understanding and responding to cyber threats affecting the UK.

In the latest reporting year, the NCSC received 1,727 incident reports, resulting in 429 incidents requiring NCSC support, of which 204 were assessed as nationally significant.

Between June 2025 and May 2026, the NCSC managed more than 200 incidents affecting organisations within the UK's critical national infrastructure and supporting ecosystem, around 75% of which were assessed as linked to state actors.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what data his Department has received from the National Cyber Security Centre on (i) the number of cyber attacks on UK businesses and organisations suspected to have originated in Russia and (ii) the cost of those attacks to the UK economy in each of the last five years.

Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) plays a leading role in understanding and responding to cyber threats affecting the UK.

In the latest reporting year, the NCSC received 1,727 incident reports, resulting in 429 incidents requiring NCSC support, of which 204 were assessed as nationally significant.

Between June 2025 and May 2026, the NCSC managed more than 200 incidents affecting organisations within the UK's critical national infrastructure and supporting ecosystem, around 75% of which were assessed as linked to state actors.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what data his Department has received from the National Cyber Security Centre on (i) the number of cyber attacks on UK businesses and organisations suspected to have originated in China and (ii) the cost of those attacks to the UK economy in each of the last five years.

Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) plays a leading role in understanding and responding to cyber threats affecting the UK.

In the latest reporting year, the NCSC received 1,727 incident reports, resulting in 429 incidents requiring NCSC support, of which 204 were assessed as nationally significant.

Between June 2025 and May 2026, the NCSC managed more than 200 incidents affecting organisations within the UK's critical national infrastructure and supporting ecosystem, around 75% of which were assessed as linked to state actors.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with international counterparts on coordinated assistance for frontline Ukrainian cities, including Zaporizhzhia.

Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip

The Government condemns Russia's intensified attacks against Ukrainian cities, including Zaporizhzhia. These attacks continue to cause civilian casualties, damage homes and critical infrastructure, and worsen humanitarian needs in frontline communities. The UK assesses humanitarian needs through partners on the ground, including the United Nations, Red Cross, international Non-governmental Organisations and Ukrainian organisations, and uses this assessment to help target support towards those most affected by Russia's ongoing attacks.

We remain in regular contact with the Government of Ukraine and international counterparts, including through the G7, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union, the UN and wider humanitarian system, to coordinate support, strengthen Ukraine's resilience, protect civilians and ensure assistance is targeted where needs are greatest.

Since February 2022, the UK has provided up to £577 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and the wider region.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what humanitarian support his Department is providing to civilians in frontline Ukrainian cities, including Zaporizhzhia.

Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip

The Government condemns Russia's intensified attacks against Ukrainian cities, including Zaporizhzhia. These attacks continue to cause civilian casualties, damage homes and critical infrastructure, and worsen humanitarian needs in frontline communities. The UK assesses humanitarian needs through partners on the ground, including the United Nations, Red Cross, international Non-governmental Organisations and Ukrainian organisations, and uses this assessment to help target support towards those most affected by Russia's ongoing attacks.

We remain in regular contact with the Government of Ukraine and international counterparts, including through the G7, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union, the UN and wider humanitarian system, to coordinate support, strengthen Ukraine's resilience, protect civilians and ensure assistance is targeted where needs are greatest.

Since February 2022, the UK has provided up to £577 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and the wider region.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what data his Department has received from the National Cyber Security Centre on (i) the number of cyber attacks on UK businesses and organisations suspected to have originated in a foreign country and (ii) the cost of those attacks to the UK economy in each of the last five years.

Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) plays a leading role in understanding and responding to cyber threats affecting the UK.

In the latest reporting year, the NCSC received 1,727 incident reports, resulting in 429 incidents requiring NCSC support, of which 204 were assessed as nationally significant.

Between June 2025 and May 2026, the NCSC managed more than 200 incidents affecting organisations within the UK's critical national infrastructure and supporting ecosystem, around 75% of which were assessed as linked to state actors.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the humanitarian situation in the city of Zaporizhzhia following the recent increase of Russian missile, drone and guided aerial bomb attacks.

Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip

The Government condemns Russia's intensified attacks against Ukrainian cities, including Zaporizhzhia. These attacks continue to cause civilian casualties, damage homes and critical infrastructure, and worsen humanitarian needs in frontline communities. The UK assesses humanitarian needs through partners on the ground, including the United Nations, Red Cross, international Non-governmental Organisations and Ukrainian organisations, and uses this assessment to help target support towards those most affected by Russia's ongoing attacks.

We remain in regular contact with the Government of Ukraine and international counterparts, including through the G7, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union, the UN and wider humanitarian system, to coordinate support, strengthen Ukraine's resilience, protect civilians and ensure assistance is targeted where needs are greatest.

Since February 2022, the UK has provided up to £577 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and the wider region.

Stirling University

Found: Q234 Graeme Downie: Can you give an example of what you mean?

Found: Q234 Graeme Downie: Can you give an example of what you mean?

Found: Q234 Graeme Downie: Can you give an example of what you mean?

Found: Esterson, in the Chair Polly Billington Sir Christopher Chope Lizzi Collinge Torcuil Crichton Graeme Downie