Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 114 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what progress he has made in planning for the use of UK commercial airfields in times of crisis.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has robust plans for mobilising and deploying the Armed Forces in response to any number of events and crises, whether they take place at home and abroad. These plans are regularly reviewed, tested and exercised. As part of the planning process the MOD will identify civilian infrastructure which is deemed critical to enable and support military activity. This includes civilian airfields. The MOD routinely engages with commercial transport operators and industry associations and works closely with other Government Departments including the Department for Transport.