Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote collaboration between UK academic institutions and universities or research centres in the Baltic states on issues of regional security and geopolitical risk.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Government supports extensive relationships between UK academic institutions and partners in the Baltic states on regional security and geopolitical risk. Our Embassies in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania maintain broad networks across universities, think‑tanks and specialist centres, to support UK analysis, deepen understanding of regional developments, and create opportunities for UK academics to collaborate with Baltic partners. This includes collaboration with the Cambridge Centre for Geopolitics, the Baltic Defence College in Estonia and NATO Centres of Excellence in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius. Posts also work with local research organisations on governance and resilience. The Government will continue to support and broaden these networks in line with shared UK-Baltic security interests.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what their latest assessment is of the political situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Government remains deeply concerned about the evolving situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. We speak to all parties on a regular basis, and we continue to support efforts to implement the African Union-led Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, including through funding for monitoring and compliance mechanisms, and the safe, voluntary and dignified returns of Internally Displaced Peoples.
However, implementation of that agreement remains slow, and preparations for the national elections scheduled for 1 June have been hampered by disagreements over security assessments and the registration status of the Tigray People's Liberation Front. In the last week of January, clashes between Tigrayan Forces and the Ethiopian National Defence Forces occurred in the disputed areas of Western and Southern Tigray. While these appear to have subsided, they contribute to a highly fragile and unpredictable security environment.
The Foreign Secretary raised these issues with the Government of Ethiopia during her recent visit to Addis Ababa.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her department's policies of the National Security Assessment on Global Ecosystems, published 20th January 2026.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Nature underpins our security, prosperity, and resilience, and understanding the threats we face from biodiversity loss is essential to addressing them effectively. The assessment published 20 January 2026 has implications across a wide range of Defra policy areas, including food and farming, water, international biodiversity, and climate adaptation.
The assessment is a strategic analysis rather than a prediction. It is designed to help the Government plan for potential shocks that are credible enough to warrant preparation. This approach ensures the UK is better equipped to anticipate and manage risks should they arise. Publishing the assessment also supports international cooperation on shared biodiversity challenges.
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. Defra contributed to the 2025 UK National Security Strategy, which recognises climate and nature degradation as strategic risks, and is supporting its implementation. Defra also supports the Government’s Defence Energy and Capability Resilience Centre of Excellence, announced under the Defence Industrial Strategy, which will strengthen UK resilience by harnessing innovation in dual-use energy technologies and circular economy approaches.
This work complements wider cross-government efforts to build long-term stability across food, energy, and environmental systems.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the National Security Assessment on Global Ecosystems, published on 20 January 2026.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Nature underpins our security, prosperity, and resilience, and understanding the threats we face from biodiversity loss is essential to addressing them effectively. The assessment published 20 January 2026 has implications across a wide range of Defra policy areas, including food and farming, water, international biodiversity, and climate adaptation.
The assessment is a strategic analysis rather than a prediction. It is designed to help the Government plan for potential shocks that are credible enough to warrant preparation. This approach ensures the UK is better equipped to anticipate and manage risks should they arise. Publishing the assessment also supports international cooperation on shared biodiversity challenges.
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. Defra contributed to the 2025 UK National Security Strategy, which recognises climate and nature degradation as strategic risks, and is supporting its implementation. Defra also supports the Government’s Defence Energy and Capability Resilience Centre of Excellence, announced under the Defence Industrial Strategy, which will strengthen UK resilience by harnessing innovation in dual-use energy technologies and circular economy approaches.
This work complements wider cross-government efforts to build long-term stability across food, energy, and environmental systems.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what conversations he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential for sending UK troops to Greenland.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Defence Secretary speaks to his colleagues on a range of issues affecting our national and international security, including the High North.
As noted by the Defence Secretary last week, one UK military officer joined a reconnaissance visit to Greenland, in an observational capacity, at the request of the Danish Government. This was not a deployment of forces to Greenland, but a military recce ahead of future Danish-led exercise activity. They have now returned to Copenhagen, where they are based, following conclusion of the recce.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what modelling his Department conducted on the potential economic benefits of accessing the European Union's SAFE programme.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence, working with officials across His Majesty's Government, thoroughly assessed the possible economic benefit from participation in the SAFE initiative across a range of market outcomes.
This Government has been clear that we will only enter into agreements that serve the national interest and provide value for money for the taxpayer. In this case, the negotiations did not yield an agreement that met this standard.
We will continue to prioritise engagement and cooperation with the EU on the issues that are most important in helping to safeguard European security and prosperity – all in support of this Government’s NATO First defence policy.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total administrative cost to the public purse of (a) negotiating and (b) implementing the Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union as of 9 January 2026.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Security and Defence Partnership agreed with the European Union on 19 May 2025 is an example of this Government delivering on our manifesto commitments to strengthen European security, support growth and reinforce NATO.
The work and costs involved in negotiating and implementing the Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union are carried out as part of officials' routine duties. As such, the costs specific to negotiating and implementing the SDP cannot be calculated separately.
We will continue to prioritise engagement and cooperation on the issues that are most important in helping to safeguard European security and prosperity – all in support of this Government’s NATO First defence policy. Any commitments made will be in support of our defence objectives and will provide value for the UK taxpayer.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent on (a) negotiating and (b) implementing the Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union as of 9 January 2026.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Security and Defence Partnership agreed with the European Union on 19 May 2025 is an example of this Government delivering on our manifesto commitments to strengthen European security, support growth and reinforce NATO.
The work and costs involved in negotiating and implementing the Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union are carried out as part of officials' routine duties. As such, the costs specific to negotiating and implementing the SDP cannot be calculated separately.
We will continue to prioritise engagement and cooperation on the issues that are most important in helping to safeguard European security and prosperity – all in support of this Government’s NATO First defence policy. Any commitments made will be in support of our defence objectives and will provide value for the UK taxpayer.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the addition of the Grok chatbot alongside Google’s generative AI engine on every unclassified and classified network throughout the US Department of War on joint US-UK operations.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The US and UK remain steadfast allies and will continue to closely cooperate on a range of defence and security issues. But how the US Department of War manages the use of technology in their systems is a matter for them. The UK’s Defence AI Strategy recognises AI systems must be adopted to avoid falling behind adversaries, whilst mandating robust cybersecurity and safety measures for these systems. The MOD’s Joint Service Publication 936 mandates that AI systems deployed in UK defence environments must be safe, robust, and secure, must pass relevant assurance checks, and comply with the Government Cyber Security Standard and Secure By Design principles.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with representatives of the European Union on the use of disinformation by states to interfere in (a) political processes and (b) public discourse.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In her speech on 9 December 2025 marking the centenary of the Locarno Treaty, the Foreign Secretary spoke at length about the rising threat from information warfare, designed to create division and undermine democracy in societies like ours. We are working closely with European and other allies, including through the UK-EU Security and Defence Partnerships, to share information and coordinate our responses to information threats.
Ministers and officials are engaged in regular conversations on tackling hybrid threats with the EU and member states, including information warfare, and I was pleased to take part in consultations with EU counterparts on these issues on 15 September 2025.