Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the readiness category is of (a) HMS Glasgow, (b) HMS Belfast and (c) HMS Cardiff.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
In agreement with the House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC), Royal Navy Surface Fleet readiness data is provided on a six-monthly basis. This information can be found on the HCDC website but for ease, please find links to the previous two submissions:
committees.parliament.uk/publications/49894/documents/267958/default/
committees.parliament.uk/publications/49270/documents/262458/default/
To protect the operational security of the Fleet, I am unable to provide further granularity.
In addition, the Royal Navy does not hold individual Service personnel at a readiness state but rather Force Elements or individual units. This information is withheld as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the status of all Royal Navy frigates under construction and when is the first due to come into service.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As of December 2025, the Royal Navy has five of eight Type 26 City-class frigates and three of five Type 31 Inspiration-class frigates under construction at BAES and Babcock shipyards. The first Type 26, HMS Glasgow, is expected to enter service in the late 2020s, while the first Type 31, HMS Venturer, is planned to enter service by the end of the decade.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made in delivering the Global Combat Ship programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with BAE Systems (BAES) to ensure the Global Combat Ship (Type 26) programme remains on track to meet all user requirements and deliver world-class Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates to replace the Type 23.
Following the steel-cut ceremony for HMS Sheffield on 28 November 2024, five of the eight Type 26 frigates are now under construction on the Clyde. HMS Cardiff is structurally complete and has joined HMS Glasgow in the dry dock at Scotstoun for the outfitting phase. Unit and block assembly on HMS Belfast and HMS Birmingham continues.
HMS Glasgow is forecast to achieve Initial Operating Capability in 2028, with construction of all eight frigates expected to be complete by the mid-2030s.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made on the Type 26 Global Combat Ship Programme.
Answered by Maria Eagle
The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with BAE Systems (BAES) to ensure the Type 26 programme remains on track to meet all user requirements and deliver world-class Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates to replace the Type 23.
Following the steel-cut ceremony for HMS Sheffield on 28 November 2024, five of the eight Type 26 frigates are now under construction on the Clyde. HMS Cardiff is structurally complete and has joined HMS Glasgow in the dry dock at Scotstoun for the outfitting phase. Unit and block assembly on HMS Belfast and HMS Birmingham continues.
HMS Glasgow is forecast to achieve Initial Operating Capability in 2028, with construction of all eight frigates expected to be complete by the mid-2030s.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the IOC for the new Type 26 frigate, HMS Glasgow, remains October 2028.
Answered by Maria Eagle
On current plans the construction of all eight Type 26 frigates is expected to be complete by the mid-2030s. HMS Glasgow's Initial Operating Capability date remains October 2028.
Asked by: David Reed (Conservative - Exmouth and Exeter East)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the progress of (a) the Type 26 frigate programme and (b) its delivery schedule.
Answered by Maria Eagle
The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with BAE Systems (BAES) to ensure the Type 26 programme remains on track to meet all user requirements and deliver world-class Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates to replace the Type 23.
Following the recent steel-cut ceremony for HMS Sheffield on 28 November 2024, five of the eight Type 26 frigates are now under construction on the Clyde. HMS Glasgow is forecast to achieve Initial Operating Capability in 2028, with construction of all eight frigates expected to be completed by the mid-2030s. HMS Cardiff recently completed her float-off operation successfully and has joined HMS Glasgow in the dry dock at Scotstoun for the outfitting phase.
Asked by: Joani Reid (Labour - East Kilbride and Strathaven)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help create defence jobs in Scotland.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Scotland’s defence industry is vital to the UK’s security and economy. The newly published Defence Industrial Strategy is clear that this government will prioritise UK-based defence firms, including those in Scotland.
As part of Brand Scotland, I have been promoting the Scottish defence industry in Norway and in South-East Asia, where I visited HMS Spey, constructed by BAE Systems on the Clyde.
I welcome the announcement by BAE Systems that they will be investing £1 billion in education and skills across the UK, which will lead to more than 200 jobs in Glasgow.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on improving service accommodation at Glencorse Barracks since April 2022.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The below table provides information concerning how much the Department has spent improving Service Family Accommodation (SFA) and Single Living Accommodation (SLA) at each of the establishments, since 2022:
| Service Family Accommodation | Single Living Accommodation |
RAF Lossiemouth | £4,094,738 | £6,197,356.91 |
RAF Kirknewton | £0 | £14,560.80 |
RRH Benbecula | £0 | £0 |
RRH Buchan | £0 | £0 |
RAF Saxa Vord | £0 | £0 |
Kinloss Barracks | £1,464,387 | £471,500.62 |
Glencorse Barracks | £0 | £617,322 |
Dreghorn Barracks | £0 | £5,533,352 |
Redford Barracks | £0 | £225,694 |
Cameron Barracks | £616,030 | £0 |
Leuchars Station | £1,282,762 | £38,469.15 |
RM Condor | £1,034,471 | £366,096.15 |
HMS Dalraiada | £0 | £0 |
HMS Caledonia | £0 | £344,789 |
HMS Scotia | £0 | Nil |
University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland - | £0 | £0 |
University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland - | £0 | £0 |
There is no onsite SLA at Benbecula, Buchan, RAF Saxa Vord, HMS Dalriada, University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland, Edinburgh and University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland, Glasgow.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on improving service accommodation at Redford Barracks since April 2022.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The below table provides information concerning how much the Department has spent improving Service Family Accommodation (SFA) and Single Living Accommodation (SLA) at each of the establishments, since 2022:
| Service Family Accommodation | Single Living Accommodation |
RAF Lossiemouth | £4,094,738 | £6,197,356.91 |
RAF Kirknewton | £0 | £14,560.80 |
RRH Benbecula | £0 | £0 |
RRH Buchan | £0 | £0 |
RAF Saxa Vord | £0 | £0 |
Kinloss Barracks | £1,464,387 | £471,500.62 |
Glencorse Barracks | £0 | £617,322 |
Dreghorn Barracks | £0 | £5,533,352 |
Redford Barracks | £0 | £225,694 |
Cameron Barracks | £616,030 | £0 |
Leuchars Station | £1,282,762 | £38,469.15 |
RM Condor | £1,034,471 | £366,096.15 |
HMS Dalraiada | £0 | £0 |
HMS Caledonia | £0 | £344,789 |
HMS Scotia | £0 | Nil |
University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland - | £0 | £0 |
University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland - | £0 | £0 |
There is no onsite SLA at Benbecula, Buchan, RAF Saxa Vord, HMS Dalriada, University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland, Edinburgh and University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland, Glasgow.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on improving service accommodation at Kinloss Barracks since April 2022.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
The below table provides information concerning how much the Department has spent improving Service Family Accommodation (SFA) and Single Living Accommodation (SLA) at each of the establishments, since 2022:
| Service Family Accommodation | Single Living Accommodation |
RAF Lossiemouth | £4,094,738 | £6,197,356.91 |
RAF Kirknewton | £0 | £14,560.80 |
RRH Benbecula | £0 | £0 |
RRH Buchan | £0 | £0 |
RAF Saxa Vord | £0 | £0 |
Kinloss Barracks | £1,464,387 | £471,500.62 |
Glencorse Barracks | £0 | £617,322 |
Dreghorn Barracks | £0 | £5,533,352 |
Redford Barracks | £0 | £225,694 |
Cameron Barracks | £616,030 | £0 |
Leuchars Station | £1,282,762 | £38,469.15 |
RM Condor | £1,034,471 | £366,096.15 |
HMS Dalraiada | £0 | £0 |
HMS Caledonia | £0 | £344,789 |
HMS Scotia | £0 | Nil |
University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland - | £0 | £0 |
University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland - | £0 | £0 |
There is no onsite SLA at Benbecula, Buchan, RAF Saxa Vord, HMS Dalriada, University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland, Edinburgh and University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland, Glasgow.