Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many electronic purchasing cards were held by people for the purposes of making purchases against his departmental budget as of 31 March 2022; and how many of those people were (a) civilian staff permanently employed by his core Department, (b) non-permanent civilian employees of his core Department, (c) ministers and special advisers and (d) members of the armed forces.

As of 30 June 2022, 11,920 electronic purchasing cards were held for the purposes of making purchases against the Ministry of Defence budget.

Comprehensive data on the roles of individual card holders is not readily accessible. However, all cards are issued to military, civilian, and contractor personnel in accordance with the regulations contained in Joint Service Publication 322 – Low Value Purchasing.

No electronic purchasing cards are held by Ministers or Special Advisors.