Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when does he expect to be able to answer named day Question 105652 submitted on 14 January 2026 on the Ajax programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I will respond to the hon. Member shortly.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2026 to Question 104634 on Global Combat Air Programme, whether he expects the posts in the UK to be filled from existing staff in his Department or external applicants.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Currently, posts for the UK in the Global Combat Air Programme – International Government Organisation (GIGO) are filled primarily by staff from the Ministry of Defence, or other Departments when specific skills are required.
The GIGO Treaty states that Personnel for the GIGO shall primarily be composed of Government officials drawn from the Parties.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what co-ordination there is between Veterans Commissioners and VALOUR support centres in providing easier access to essential care and support for veterans.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The competition for round one development funding for VALOUR Recognised Centres is currently underway. Once VALOUR Recognised Centres are established, they will be expected to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including Veterans’ Commissioners.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) UK and (b) overseas military and civilian personnel will be routinely employed at the Global Combat Air Programme International Government Organisation in Reading when it is fully operational.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Global Combat Air Programme International Government Organisation (GIGO) is validating and refining its organisational design.
Tri-nation planning for the Organisation includes a workforce of around 500 employees when fully operational. Exact numbers will fluctuate based on the programme requirements. A third of employees will come from each of Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, there will be a mixture of military and civilian employees from each nation.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of veterans living in Northern Ireland who are eligible for but have not yet applied to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme was established by the Victims Payments Regulations Act 2020 and is run by the independent Victims Payment Board, administered by on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive. Further information is available on https://www.nidirect.gov.uk
The deadline for applications has been extended by two years and will now close on 31 August 2026. The scheme continues to be promoted in Northen Ireland through the veterans’ support network.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when regulatory approvals will be given to BAE Systems, Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement to allow a joint venture for the Global Combat Air Programme to begin work.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
All necessary regulatory approvals were in place ahead of the Edgewing incorporation in June.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions army bomb disposal units were called out in Northern Ireland in the period between 1 January 2025 and 1 July 2025.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Data for the period 1 January 2025 to 1 July 2025 can be found below:
Total Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) Tasks | Total Conventional Munition Disposal (CMD) Tasks |
34 | 19 |
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2025 to Question 75196, whether he expects the contract between GCAP International Government Organisation and Edgewing to be announced and operational by the end of 2025.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The first international Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) contract between the GCAP International Government Organisation and Edgewing is subject to ongoing Commercial Negotiations. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there were any stipulations regarding financial penalties if all 48 F - 35 fighter jets were not supplied by December 2025 in the original contract with Lockheed Martin.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The F-35 Joint Program Office orders aircraft for the F-35 Partner Nations through annual production contracts. The seven F-35B aircraft in production contract Lot 17 should have been delivered by the end of 2025. The Department anticipates four of those aircraft will slip into 2026 and be delivered by April 2026 (a three to four month delay from the original contract). There is not a financial remedy for the delivery of Lot 17 aircraft.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking with his US counterpart to ensure that advanced F-35 fighter jet technology is not utilised by the Chinese Government.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence works closely with the F-35 Joint Program Office to protect sensitive defence technologies associated with the F-35 programme.
There are comprehensive security, counter-intelligence, and export-control arrangements in place to prevent any unauthorised access, transfer, or exploitation of advanced capabilities by third parties, including the Chinese Government.
We continue to engage regularly with our US counterparts to ensure these protections remain robust, up to date, and fully aligned with our shared national-security priorities.