Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 120 of his Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, HC1468, published in July 2023, for what reason CUTLASS was withdrawn from service early.

CUTLASS was withdrawn from service and replaced by STARTER in December 2020 in order to both significantly enhance our Military Aid to the Civil Authorities Explosive Ordnance Disposal capability and provide a significant through-life cost saving.