Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 48156 on Skynet, when the build of the Skynet 6A satellite transitioned into the testing and validation phase.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Skynet 6 Programme continues to progress to meet Defence’s satellite communication needs. Following build and preparatory activity, the Skynet 6A satellite transitioned into the testing and validation phase in November 2025.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the enforcement powers available to county council Trading Standards services on tackling the sale of illegal tobacco and vaping products on the high street.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the hon member to the answer on 27 October 2025 to UIN 84365 Electronic Cigarettes and Tobacco: Smuggling.
Operation CeCe is a joint UK-wide initiative between HMRC and Trading Standards to target the illicit tobacco trade. Since it began in January 2021, the operation has removed more than 74 million illicit cigarettes, 19,750kg of hand-rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale [1].
In 2023 new sanctions were introduced to support the work that Trading Standards do at retail level. They allow Trading Standards to make a referral into HMRC in relation to their tobacco seizures. HMRC can then then investigate and issue civil sanctions, including penalties of up to £10,000.
At Budget 2025, the Government set out its plans to tackle rogue retailers who breach tobacco and vape regulations, by taking the power in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to introduce a licensing scheme for retailers to sell tobacco and vape products. This will strengthen enforcement and support legitimate businesses. The government is also legislating to introduce the Vaping Duty Stamps scheme from 1 October 2026, which requires all vaping products manufactured or imported into the UK to have a duty stamp on packaging so illicit products are immediately identifiable.
[1] Over £1.4 million in penalties issued as crackdown on illegal tobacco accelerates
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department has taken to help support Trading Standards services in Suffolk in responding to organised criminal activity linked to the sale of illegal tobacco and vaping products.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
I refer the hon member to the answer on 27 October 2025 to UIN 84365 Electronic Cigarettes and Tobacco: Smuggling.
Operation CeCe is a joint UK-wide initiative between HMRC and Trading Standards to target the illicit tobacco trade. Since it began in January 2021, the operation has removed more than 74 million illicit cigarettes, 19,750kg of hand-rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale [1].
In 2023 new sanctions were introduced to support the work that Trading Standards do at retail level. They allow Trading Standards to make a referral into HMRC in relation to their tobacco seizures. HMRC can then then investigate and issue civil sanctions, including penalties of up to £10,000.
At Budget 2025, the Government set out its plans to tackle rogue retailers who breach tobacco and vape regulations, by taking the power in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to introduce a licensing scheme for retailers to sell tobacco and vape products. This will strengthen enforcement and support legitimate businesses. The government is also legislating to introduce the Vaping Duty Stamps scheme from 1 October 2026, which requires all vaping products manufactured or imported into the UK to have a duty stamp on packaging so illicit products are immediately identifiable.
[1] Over £1.4 million in penalties issued as crackdown on illegal tobacco accelerates
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Cutting-edge drone degree to train military forces of the future unveiled, published on 21 January 2025, whether the undergraduate drone degree will involve participation in any military exercises.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The undergraduate drone degree is designed to equip students with the technical skills required to build, upgrade and sustain drone systems, rather than to train them in their operational use. Some elements of the programme will involve students working with industry and defence partners on practical problem solving projects, which may include challenges linked to the operational employment of drones in combat settings.
Students on the programme will not participate in military exercises. However, having Army personnel learning alongside civilian students, supported by academic staff and defence contractors, will provide valuable insight into the realities of operating drones in contested environments and supports a collaborative approach to innovation.
The course does not provide training in how to operate drones; this is delivered separately through the Army’s existing small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems training pathways. Instead, the degree focuses on ensuring personnel have the technical knowledge and engineering expertise to sustain and adapt drone systems at the pace required by rapidly evolving operational demands, as seen in Ukraine
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Cutting-edge drone degree to train military forces of the future unveiled, published on 21 January 2025, whether the undergraduate drone degree will involve training in the use of drones.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The undergraduate drone degree is designed to equip students with the technical skills required to build, upgrade and sustain drone systems, rather than to train them in their operational use. Some elements of the programme will involve students working with industry and defence partners on practical problem solving projects, which may include challenges linked to the operational employment of drones in combat settings.
Students on the programme will not participate in military exercises. However, having Army personnel learning alongside civilian students, supported by academic staff and defence contractors, will provide valuable insight into the realities of operating drones in contested environments and supports a collaborative approach to innovation.
The course does not provide training in how to operate drones; this is delivered separately through the Army’s existing small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems training pathways. Instead, the degree focuses on ensuring personnel have the technical knowledge and engineering expertise to sustain and adapt drone systems at the pace required by rapidly evolving operational demands, as seen in Ukraine
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on implementing Sea Viper Evolution.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Both Sea Viper Evolution Programmes continue to make progress. Capability One, the Royal Navy’s entry level Ballistic Missile Defence Capability, is expected to provide Full Operating Capability in late 2032. Capability Two, providing theatre level Ballistic Missile Defence, remains in the Assessment phase to inform future capability and investment choices. This is particularly important where the Royal Navy’s pivot to a Hybrid Fleet will enable new and novel approaches to ballistic missile defence. Continued progress on both programmes remains subject to the Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when Sea Viper Evolution will reach Full Operating Capability.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Both Sea Viper Evolution Programmes continue to make progress. Capability One, the Royal Navy’s entry level Ballistic Missile Defence Capability, is expected to provide Full Operating Capability in late 2032. Capability Two, providing theatre level Ballistic Missile Defence, remains in the Assessment phase to inform future capability and investment choices. This is particularly important where the Royal Navy’s pivot to a Hybrid Fleet will enable new and novel approaches to ballistic missile defence. Continued progress on both programmes remains subject to the Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the MQ-9B Protector has reached Initial Operating Capability.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Protector RG Mk1 has yet to reach Initial Operating Capability programme milestones. Protector has already deployed on operations and is providing valuable Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance support.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Minister for the Armed Forces answer to an Urgent Question on 5 January 2026 from the Hon. Member for South Suffolk, whether any current members of the armed forces senior command have raised the potential impact of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill on recruitment and retention.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
My Ministerial colleagues and I routinely meet with the Single Service Chiefs, where we discuss a range of priority Defence matters.
The hon. Member will understand that it would be inappropriate to comment further on these discussions.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has discussed the potential impact of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill on recruitment and retention with the (a) Chief of the Defence Staff, (b) Chief of the General Staff, (c) First Sea Lord, (d) Chief of the Air Staff, and (e) Commander Cyber and Specialist Operations Command.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
My Ministerial colleagues and I routinely meet with the Single Service Chiefs, where we discuss a range of priority Defence matters.
The hon. Member will understand that it would be inappropriate to comment further on these discussions.