Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many heavy lift drones his Department has ordered since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Due to operational security, we cannot provide details on the numbers or types of drones ordered by the Ministry of Defence.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many FPV drones his Department has ordered since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Due to operational security, we cannot provide details on the numbers or types of drones ordered by the Ministry of Defence.
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 press release entitled UK to purchase F-35As and join NATO mission as Government steps up national security and delivers defence dividend, published on 24 June 2025, whether nuclear certification of the aircraft will take place (a) prior and (b) after the aircraft are delivered.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The detail of F-35 procurement is subject to the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan, which is scheduled to complete in the Autumn. However, we will not be providing detailed updates on the steps required to enable participation in the NATO nuclear mission for national security reasons.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many drones his Department has provided to Ukraine by (a) reconnaissance, (b) logistics, (c) FPV and (d) long-range one-way attack since February 2022..
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The UK has delivered over 70,000 uncrewed systems to Ukraine since Russia's illegal invasion began. This includes hundreds of long-range attack drones, first person view (FPV), loitering munitions, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drones and maritime drones. As a former Defence Minister, he will know that for operational security reasons, we cannot provide details of the types of military drones purchased by the Ministry of Defence for its own purposes or those purchased for Ukraine.
The UK is also co-leading the Drone Capability Coalition (DCC) with Latvia, which is working to increase the quality and quantity of drones provided to Ukraine. The DCC is currently focusing on small UAS and interceptors through competitive tenders, and as announced by the Defence Secretary in January, will provide 30,000 FPV drones for Ukraine by August of this year.
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 25 March 2025 to Question 39917 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, how many drones in (a) logistics, (b) strike and (c) intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance roles were purchased by his Department since 25 March 2025.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 July 2025 to Question 64478.
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 press release entitled UK to purchase F-35As and join NATO mission as Government steps up national security and delivers defence dividend, published on 24 June 2025, what his target date is for the RAF to have access to air launched weapons to use with the purchased F-35A aircraft.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
It would not be appropriate to comment on timeframes in which UK F-35A aircraft will have access to US air-launched nuclear weapons for reasons of safeguarding of national security.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, if he will outline the responsibilities of the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge role.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The key responsibilities of the role are:
The Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State and Head of Review and Challenge will be responsible for providing expert strategic advice to the Secretary of State and, as appropriate to the PUS, CDS and NAD as well as the Ministerial team.
They will lead, provide senior oversight and tasking, but not line management, of the Secretary of State’s Office of Net Assessment and Challenge (SONAC) (circa 30 staff).
In this role they will reform the way the Department offers challenge to policy and strategy.
They will play a key role in advising strategic coherence of Departmental outcomes and activity. They will work closely with the Strategy Directorate and use their skills, expertise, and network to improve strategic acumen both in the directorate and across the department.
They will collaborate with the Director of Communications on strategic communications as required.
Provide senior strategic advice to the Secretary of State to assist the strategic coherence and impact of Defence’s activities.
Provide strategic challenge to the Defence Board and other senior decision-making boards as appropriate.
Provide senior leadership to the internal provision of strategic expertise, helping to improve the quality of advice from both the strategy directorate and from elsewhere in the department.
Improve the department’s use of external expertise, including from academia and think tanks.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q43 of the oral evidence given by him to the Defence Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 973, what the remuneration package for the announced Strategic Advisor and Head of Review and Challenge will be.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Malcolm Chalmers will be given remuneration for work in-line with agreed and existing SCS pay bands. The position is non-pensionable.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July to Question 62701 on Defence: Finance, when the Single Intelligence Budget was last included in the core defence budget.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Single Intelligence Account is not included in the Ministry of Defence’s budget.
Historically, the SIA’s budget has included elements of NATO-qualifying defence expenditure. In order to recognise the important contribution the intelligence agencies play in national defence, by 2027, we will consider the whole of the SIA to be NATO-qualifying, in line with our allies. It will be included towards the 2.6% target for core defence spending.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 58776 on National Armaments Director: Public Appointments, when he expects the permanent National Armaments Director to be in place.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer to my answer given on 25 June to HC60825 and HC60826.