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Written Question
Air Force: Termination of Employment
Monday 17th March 2025

Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many RAF pilots have (a) retired or (b) left the profession for other reasons in each of the last ten years.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The outflow of Regular Royal Air Force Pilots by Training Indicator and Exit Reason by Calendar Years 2015 to 2019 can be found in the table below:

Trained

Untrained

Calendar Year

End of Engagement

All Other Outflow

All Other Outflow

2015

60

92

~

2016

49

84

~

2017

41

81

~

2018

54

57

~

2019

63

61

6

Please note the following:

  • Outflow includes outflow to Civil Life, transfers to another Service, transfers to a Reserve population, and movements within the RAF Regular population to different branches/trades.
  • End of Engagement for Officer includes personnel opting to leave at an option point.
  • Figures which are 5 or fewer are represented by ‘~’ due to the risk of individuals being identified.

The outflow for Calendar Years 2020 to 2024 has been withheld as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed Forces.

This withholding of data for later years reflects the continual review of information suitable for release and considers a variety of factors including the current threat and risk factors.

Written Question
Defence Equipment and Support: Artificial Intelligence
Monday 3rd March 2025

Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what purposes Defence Equipment and Support has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Answered by Maria Eagle

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

Working with the Defence Science and Technology group, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has continued to develop approaches for using AI to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our work. DE&S has launched a number of secure services, which provide access to Large Language Models (these are AI systems capable of understanding and generating natural language by processing large amounts of text data) and has successfully employed the use of AI techniques to improve the exploitation of large, unstructured and semi-structured datasets. This has provided opportunities that were not previously viable or cost effective through traditional data processing practices. All assessments are kept under continuous review.

Written Question
Dstl: Artificial Intelligence
Thursday 27th February 2025

Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what purposes the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Answered by Maria Eagle

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

Over the last 12 months, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has:

  • Delivered the final year of an ambitious 4-year AI Science and Technology (S&T) Programme which has conducted experimentation across a range of defence use-cases for AI and developed important enabling areas of research such as AI ethics and AI assurance.
  • Provided support to wider defence AI activities through the Defence AI Centre, for example Dstl’s expertise on AI Assurance significantly informed the recent publication of MOD guidance on Dependable AI in Defence, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-936-dependable-artificial-intelligence-ai-in-defence-part-1-directive.
  • Worked with international partners on AI, such as the AUKUS Pillar 2 experimentation on developing Resilient and Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Technologies in order to improve international interoperability for AI-enabled systems.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/aukus-takes-another-step-forward-with-real-time-ai-trials.

  • Worked closely with industry and academic partners on AI, for example via their Agile Delivery Partner which enables joint multi-disciplinary teams and academic research centres to transition civilian AI techniques into Defence applications and help strengthen the UK’s Defence AI Ecosystem.
  • Continued to develop approaches to using AI to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its work, for example piloting secure access to Large Language Models and also trialling the use of AI techniques to improve exploitation of its large database of Defence Science and Technology Reports.

Dstl can draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform AI usage. This includes the Generative AI Framework for HMG, which has been superseded by the AI Playbook for the UK Government, as well as JSP936 covering dependable AI in defence.

Written Question
UK Hydrographic Office: Artificial Intelligence
Tuesday 18th February 2025

Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what purposes the UK Hydrographic Office has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Answered by Maria Eagle

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

Over the last 12 months, the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has been assessing and experimenting with a number of AI and machine learning tools for general productivity tasks as well as more targeted hydrographic use cases. These are listed below.

Trial and evaluation tools

These tools are currently being used and assessed but have not reached production status.

  • The beta Admiralty Virtual Ports product uses Kaedim, a Generative AI tool to create 3-D models from 2-D images of features (e.g., photographs of buildings). This enables the building of a 3-D Digital Twin that can provide richer maritime information. Kaedim is a SaaS solution.
  • The Scientific Analysis Group have been using UKHO developed machine learning models for automated cleaning of bathymetric data. These are mostly used for Defence requests. All outputs are post validated by experts and feedback is being collected where possible.
  • Our Remote Sensing team have been using an internally developed machine learning model for automated extraction of coastline from satellite imagery. This tool has been used for a variety of use cases. Outputs are post validated by experts and feedback is collected where possible.
  • Software developers and Data teams have been using AI coding assistants as part of a central government trial. Quality and testing standards have remained the same to make sure the quality of code matches expectations.
  • The UKHO internal communications and marketing teams have been using the Government Communication Service Assist tool for creating and editing internal communications in line with Cabinet Office guidelines.
  • The marketing team have been trialling an AI-based media monitoring/social listening service named Signal.ai to track media mentions and share of voice across digital social media channels.
  • Working with third-party, the UKHO has used AI tools to generate videos supporting ongoing culture work. Outputs are assessed by our People team.
  • UKHO Data Acquisition, which offers training services to other hydrographic offices, has been trialling an AI tool to detect whether students have used AI to generate material.

Initial experiments

These are early-stage experiments that may later turn into larger projects dependent on results.

  • Our data science team has been experimenting with large language models for the purposes of extracting pertinent information from incoming textual data. For example, the UKHO ingests numerous Notices to Mariners from around the world, which need to be assessed as part of keeping maritime products up to date.
  • Data scientists and engineers have been working to make the UKHO Mine Hunting Capability machine learning ready. As part of this, there has been initial experiments with machine learning to inform the data and metadata required to support future testing of commercial offerings or tools developed by other government departments.
  • Experiments have run into using large language models for summarising internal information using Retrieval Augmented Generation architecture. Future work around this use case is likely to involve commercial products, e.g., Microsoft Copilot for business.
  • The Strategic Business Intelligence function have been experimenting with Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini to augment horizon scanning and news gathering. The experiments are proving successful although there are some concerns with the veracity of information provided and traditional research is still being used to validate.
  • General usage of AI tools such as those bundled with Microsoft Teams Premium for meeting summarisation and minute taking.

Currently, none of these tools have associated ATRS records. The UKHO is working with GDS on our algorithmic transparency approach, as there are a range of established tools and algorithms that are being used that could fall under scope as well as these new tools. An initial mapping has been completed.

The UKHO uses several government resources to aid with AI guidance and ensure that AI tools are adopted in a safe way. This includes the Generative AI Framework for HMG, which has been superseded by the AI Playbook for the UK Government, as well as JSP936 covering dependable AI in defence. Additionally, conversations have been taking place with MOD around the results of their trial of Microsoft Copilot for Business, as adoption of this toolset could cover common office productivity use cases that are currently being serviced by several different tools.

Written Question
Submarine Delivery Agency: Artificial Intelligence
Tuesday 18th February 2025

Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what purposes the Submarine Delivery Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months.

Answered by Maria Eagle

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services and boost living standards for working people across the country.

The Submarine Delivery Agency sees the importance and value of using AI, and is actively exploring ways in which it can be used to deliver our outputs in a safe and ethical way. The SDA has appointed a Responsible AI Senior Owner (RAISO) in accordance with Departmental policy and taken part in the Ministry of Defence-wide trial of Microsoft Copilot. The SDA is in the commissioning and discovery phases of several AI projects across a number of office-related processes in line with the Defence AI Strategy, co-ordinated with the Defence AI Centre and in accordance with the Departmental policies.

Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Artificial Intelligence
Wednesday 22nd January 2025

Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what purposes (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have used AI in the last 12 months.

Answered by Maria Eagle

The Ministry of Defence is experimenting with a range of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to increase productivity and efficiency across the Department. That includes the use of informational chatbots, machine learning applications and generative AI to manage large volumes of data, automate laborious or repetitive tasks and support policy work (summarising documents, drafting emails, generating meeting minutes etc).

Written Question
Veterans: Radiation Exposure
Monday 6th January 2025

Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 17507 on Veterans: Radiation Exposure, when (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have met (i) nuclear veterans and (ii) campaigners to update them on the progress of his review since 13 September 2024.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Government is deeply grateful to all those who participated in the UK nuclear testing programme. We recognise their Service and the huge contribution they have made to the UK’s security.

That is why I have already met with representatives of the nuclear test veteran community in September and December to discuss a range of topics relating to their experiences and the challenges they face. Ministry of Defence officials regularly engage and meet with representatives, and have done so every month since September 2024 to update them on the work currently being done.

Written Question
Veterans: Radiation Exposure
Monday 16th December 2024

Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the anticipated total cost of compensation for legal claims brought by Nuclear Test Veterans.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The claims from Nuclear Test Veterans are at the pre-action stage. It is for the Claimants’ legal representatives to formulate their case against the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in court should they wish to proceed. The MOD is not able to estimate the value of compensation claimed without an indication of the level of damages sought by the prospective Claimants.

Written Question
Veterans: Radiation Exposure
Thursday 12th December 2024

Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer on 26 November to Question 14583 on Veterans: Radiation Exposure, if he will set a deadline for the publication of his Department's internal review into the whereabouts of nuclear test veterans' medical records.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Government is deeply grateful to all Service personnel who participated in the UK nuclear testing programme. We recognise the huge contribution they have made to our national security and take this issue very seriously.

I have asked officials to look seriously into unresolved questions regarding medical records as a priority, and this is now underway. This work will be comprehensive, and it will enable us to better understand what information the Department holds in relation to the medical testing of Service personnel who took part in the UK nuclear weapons tests, ensuring that we can be assured that relevant information has been looked at thoroughly.

I am also firmly committed to regular engagement with organisations representing nuclear test veterans to understand their concerns, and officials in the Department are also engaging regularly.

Written Question
Defence: Procurement
Wednesday 11th December 2024

Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to prioritise domestic supply chains in defence procurement.

Answered by Maria Eagle

This Government is committed to developing a UK Defence industrial base that ensures a strong Defence sector and resilient supply chains. The Statement of Intent for the Defence Industrial Strategy, published on Monday 2 December, set out a commitment to prioritising UK businesses for investment and boosting sovereign capacity. It will enact a deep reform of Ministry of Defence procurement to reduce waste, improve delivery and support growth, whilst ensuring we remain compliant with our obligations under our international trade agreements.