The Prime Minister announced on 30 June, through the Defence Investment Plan, that the Government is committed to spending more than £5 billion to fund a drone transformation over the next four years. As part of this, £650 million will deliver inexpensive expendable autonomous systems including drones and uncrewed ground vehicles to rapidly enhance the lethality of the Army, Commando Force and Special Forces.

It will also fund Europe’s biggest drone testing centre, the Uncrewed Systems Centre, opened earlier this month in Swindon, and a new Uncrewed Systems Taskforce to rapidly develop and field new autonomous capabilities with industry. This will ensure the UK can continuously scale production and get the very latest drones into the hands of our Armed Forces to protect the UK and our Allies.

The Uncrewed Systems Centre will develop the latest drone technology in conjunction with the Front-Line Commands. The precise military applications of any artificial intelligence-enabled autonomous system that may be developed will depend upon validated user requirements.

Given the speed of innovation in uncrewed systems technology, it is not possible to estimate with certainty the likely value of defence exports that may result from technologies developed or tested at the Uncrewed Systems Centre (USC). Nevertheless, by accelerating the UK's position as a leader in uncrewed capability in Europe, we believe the USC will unlock future exports in an ever-evolving technology.

Now the Defence Uncrewed System Centre (DUSC) has been established we expect frontline commands, industry, innovators and allies to utilise the facilities as we move towards more autonomy and uncrewed systems being deployed across our forces. We have not made an estimate of numbers, but we know the demand from across defence is real and growing.

The Uncrewed Systems Centre has evolved from the UK's leadership of the 21-nation Drone Capability Coalition for Ukraine and is international by design. Announcements on international partnerships will be made in the usual way.

Metrics to assess the performance of the Uncrewed Systems Centre are under development.

The Uncrewed Systems Centre works closely with the Department’s Joint Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems Office (JCO) on the development of counter-drone technologies.

Given the speed and variety of innovation in uncrewed systems technology, it is not possible to quantify the reduction in time taken to develop and field new uncrewed capabilities that the Uncrewed Systems Centre (USC) will enable. Nevertheless, by bringing together Defence, industry and academia, the USC will ensure that the development of new uncrewed capabilities matches the evolving threat landscape.

The Uncrewed Systems Centre (USC) in Swindon will play a part in the Department’s drive to implement the ambitions set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy, particularly to back UK based businesses and to put the UK at the leading edge of defence innovation.

While the USC does not have a target for the proportion of its work to be delivered by UK-based companies, work is already underway with a number of British businesses, including SMEs.

The Uncrewed Systems Centre (USC) in Swindon will play a part in the Department’s drive to implement the ambitions set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy, particularly to back UK based businesses and to put the UK at the leading edge of defence innovation.

While the USC does not have a target for the proportion of its work to be delivered by UK-based companies, work is already underway with a number of British businesses, including SMEs.

The Uncrewed Systems Centre (USC) in Swindon will play a part in the Department’s drive to implement the ambitions set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy, particularly to back UK based businesses and to put the UK at the leading edge of defence innovation.

While the USC does not have a target for the proportion of its work to be delivered by UK-based companies, work is already underway with a number of British businesses, including SMEs.

Two of the key lessons for the MOD from the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran are the pace of technical innovation and a whole of society effort, if our Armed Forces are to retain an edge over, and therefore deter, our adversaries.

The Uncrewed Systems Centre addresses both these lessons. It coheres existing activities across Defence, wider government, industry and academia, and provides the strategy, leadership and prioritisation that will allow the UK to accelerate as a leader in uncrewed capability and our Armed Forces to remain at the cutting edge of innovation.

All drivers, regardless of age, have a legal responsibility to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if at any time they develop a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive.

The DVLA will investigate those drivers who notify them of a medical condition and will only issue a driving licence to them if they can meet the appropriate medical standards.

A public consultation on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers was launched on 7 January and closed on 11 May.

The Department for Transport is currently analysing the responses, and the government response will be published once that is complete.

The logistical arrangements for carrying out any potential new eyesight tests formed part of the consultation. No decisions will be made until the responses to the consultation have been carefully considered.

While the consultation focused on the mandatory eyesight testing of drivers aged 70 and over, we also recognise that as the population ages, more will need to be done to address the challenges this poses and consideration will also be given in the future to other fitness to drive measures, such as cognitive assessments.

All drivers, regardless of age, have a legal responsibility to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if at any time they develop a medical condition that may affect their ability to drive.

The DVLA will investigate those drivers who notify them of a medical condition and will only issue a driving licence to them if they can meet the appropriate medical standards.

A public consultation on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers was launched on 7 January and closed on 11 May.

The Department for Transport is currently analysing the responses, and the government response will be published once that is complete.

The logistical arrangements for carrying out any potential new eyesight tests formed part of the consultation. No decisions will be made until the responses to the consultation have been carefully considered.

While the consultation focused on the mandatory eyesight testing of drivers aged 70 and over, we also recognise that as the population ages, more will need to be done to address the challenges this poses and consideration will also be given in the future to other fitness to drive measures, such as cognitive assessments.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has no specific plans to prioritise vehicles commissioned for essential purposes, but should there be a specific need, DVSA would consider this in a similar way to actions taken during the pandemic. DVSA would welcome contact from any customers who are believe they have a specific requirement in relation to essential service vehicles.

DVSA understands the customer base for Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) testing and continue to ensure its network supports those customers and meets their needs. In addition, DVSA is planning a network of vehicle examination facilities that are approved customer sites. This will increase the number of sites nationally where Vehicle Approvals can be conducted.

DVSA is increasing the number of locations where IVA checks can be carried out and ensuring that it has flexibility to meet customer demand. When DVSA is considering the closure of its own testing facilities, DVSA will also ensure suitable service provision is still provided.

The number of Specialist Vehicle Standards Assessors (SVSAs) who conduct IVA testing is shown below.

Northern England and Scotland – 11 SVSAs

Southern England and Southwest – 10 SVSAs

Eastern England and the Southeast – 9 SVSAs

West Midlands and Wales – 12 SVSAs

DVSA can deploy Specialist Standard Assessors on a national basis where required, in response to customer demand.

DVSA is also in the process of recruiting a further six SVSA’s. In line with demand. DVSA keeps recruitment or multi-skilling of existing teams to increase flexibility under review.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has no specific plans to prioritise vehicles commissioned for essential purposes, but should there be a specific need, DVSA would consider this in a similar way to actions taken during the pandemic. DVSA would welcome contact from any customers who are believe they have a specific requirement in relation to essential service vehicles.

DVSA understands the customer base for Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) testing and continue to ensure its network supports those customers and meets their needs. In addition, DVSA is planning a network of vehicle examination facilities that are approved customer sites. This will increase the number of sites nationally where Vehicle Approvals can be conducted.

DVSA is increasing the number of locations where IVA checks can be carried out and ensuring that it has flexibility to meet customer demand. When DVSA is considering the closure of its own testing facilities, DVSA will also ensure suitable service provision is still provided.

The number of Specialist Vehicle Standards Assessors (SVSAs) who conduct IVA testing is shown below.

Northern England and Scotland – 11 SVSAs

Southern England and Southwest – 10 SVSAs

Eastern England and the Southeast – 9 SVSAs

West Midlands and Wales – 12 SVSAs

DVSA can deploy Specialist Standard Assessors on a national basis where required, in response to customer demand.

DVSA is also in the process of recruiting a further six SVSA’s. In line with demand. DVSA keeps recruitment or multi-skilling of existing teams to increase flexibility under review.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has no specific plans to prioritise vehicles commissioned for essential purposes, but should there be a specific need, DVSA would consider this in a similar way to actions taken during the pandemic. DVSA would welcome contact from any customers who are believe they have a specific requirement in relation to essential service vehicles.

DVSA understands the customer base for Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) testing and continue to ensure its network supports those customers and meets their needs. In addition, DVSA is planning a network of vehicle examination facilities that are approved customer sites. This will increase the number of sites nationally where Vehicle Approvals can be conducted.

DVSA is increasing the number of locations where IVA checks can be carried out and ensuring that it has flexibility to meet customer demand. When DVSA is considering the closure of its own testing facilities, DVSA will also ensure suitable service provision is still provided.

The number of Specialist Vehicle Standards Assessors (SVSAs) who conduct IVA testing is shown below.

Northern England and Scotland – 11 SVSAs

Southern England and Southwest – 10 SVSAs

Eastern England and the Southeast – 9 SVSAs

West Midlands and Wales – 12 SVSAs

DVSA can deploy Specialist Standard Assessors on a national basis where required, in response to customer demand.

DVSA is also in the process of recruiting a further six SVSA’s. In line with demand. DVSA keeps recruitment or multi-skilling of existing teams to increase flexibility under review.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has no specific plans to prioritise vehicles commissioned for essential purposes, but should there be a specific need, DVSA would consider this in a similar way to actions taken during the pandemic. DVSA would welcome contact from any customers who are believe they have a specific requirement in relation to essential service vehicles.

DVSA understands the customer base for Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) testing and continue to ensure its network supports those customers and meets their needs. In addition, DVSA is planning a network of vehicle examination facilities that are approved customer sites. This will increase the number of sites nationally where Vehicle Approvals can be conducted.

DVSA is increasing the number of locations where IVA checks can be carried out and ensuring that it has flexibility to meet customer demand. When DVSA is considering the closure of its own testing facilities, DVSA will also ensure suitable service provision is still provided.

The number of Specialist Vehicle Standards Assessors (SVSAs) who conduct IVA testing is shown below.

Northern England and Scotland – 11 SVSAs

Southern England and Southwest – 10 SVSAs

Eastern England and the Southeast – 9 SVSAs

West Midlands and Wales – 12 SVSAs

DVSA can deploy Specialist Standard Assessors on a national basis where required, in response to customer demand.

DVSA is also in the process of recruiting a further six SVSA’s. In line with demand. DVSA keeps recruitment or multi-skilling of existing teams to increase flexibility under review.

We know that drugs drive reoffending and are committed to supporting offenders into recovery so they can turn their lives around.

It is crucial we have a multi-pronged approach to tackling drugs - to curb the supply of drugs into prisons, several security measures have been implemented, including tackling the use of illicit mobile phones in prison, since we know they drive drug supply.

To support prisoners into recovery and steer them away drugs, there are 81 prisons with Incentivised Substance Free Living Units which provide a dedicated, supportive environment for any prisoner who wants to live drug-free in prison.

As set out in our manifesto, we have committed to increasing access to purposeful activity in prisons, recognising its critical role in reducing demand for drugs and supporting recovery.

To bring together this rehabilitative and security focused approach to tackling drug use, 54 Drug Strategy Leads in key prisons are working to ensure that local drug strategies are effectively implemented.