The government’s aspiration is to invest 2.5% of GDP on defence, when the fiscal and economic circumstances allow. The Prime Minister has been clear that the target and path towards 2.5% will be set out at the next Spending Review.

The government has consistently prioritised defence spending. The Ministry of Defence was the first department to get certainty on its budgets in this Parliament. This settlement was the largest sustained spending increase in defence since the end of the Cold War, with a £24 billion uplift in cash terms over the four-year period. In March 2023, we also provided an extra £11 billion for defence and national security priorities over the next five years, with £4.95 billion over the next two years.

Through the Air Defence and Offshore Wind Task Force, Ministry of Defence (MOD) officials are working closely, and collaboratively, with colleagues from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Scottish Government, the Crown Estates and windfarm industry stakeholders to address the problems that future windfarms would cause to MOD's radars.

This joint work is essential to ensure air security of the United Kingdom and supporting the deployment of offshore windfarms that are essential for our nation's future energy security and decarbonisation.

MOD has established Programme NJORD to deliver the technical solutions needed to address the problems that future offshore windfarms, including Floating installations, would have on MOD's Air Defence Radar. A commercial framework of potential suppliers is now in place and MOD will launch the first call-off competitions within this framework later this year.

Without details of the specific development being referred to, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are unable to confirm whether we have been consulted upon this particular development.

If the MOD is consulted upon the development of wind farms, it carries out assessments to determine whether they will affect defence radars, including those located at RAF Lossiemouth.

When a proposed wind farm development will impact the effective operation of a specific radar(s), the MOD will register an objection. If the developer wants to propose mitigation, this will be considered by the MOD.

Our readiness to deter will be increased through investment in the resilience of the UK’s munitions infrastructure, including storage facilities and stockpiles. The £1.95 billion for resilience and readiness will be spent on measures to address gaps in our capabilities. We are transforming the Department’s workforce model to attract and retain the talent needed. Our Regular and Reserve Armed Forces are fully committed to defending our country and its allies.

The UK discusses a broad range of issues with counterparts on improving NATO's collective security. NATO is undertaking a once-in-a-generation transformation, agreeing a new generation of warfighting plans, to ensure that the Alliance can deter and defend seamlessly across all domains.

The UK has committed almost all our Armed Forces across the full spectrum of capabilities under the NATO Force Model - our strongest ever force contribution to the Alliance.

However, the Government has no current plans to reintroduce National Service or any form of conscription.

I can confirm that no injuries were sustained by staff working on the HMS Queen Elizabeth as a result of the fire on 8 March 2024. There was also no permanent damage caused and the fire will have no impact on HMS Queen Elizabeth’s current programme. An investigation is underway to establish the cause of the fire and this will seek to identify any appropriate lessons that can be implemented in future instances of this nature.

All aspects of military activity are bound by the relevant law of England and Wales, and international law. All UK personnel also receive annual training on both international law and rules of engagement.

Since 2020 UK defence spending has seen several substantial increases, starting with a £20 billion cash increase in SR20, additional funding for munitions and wider resilience, as well as an additional £11 billion as part of the 2023 Spring Statement

Over the next decade we have increased the budget for our Equipment Plan to £288.6 billion to ensure that the Armed Forces have the next generation equipment they need to defend Britain and maintain a strategic advantage.

During this time we have continued to meet all operational commitments, including participating in every single NATO mission, as well as supporting the Granting in Kind of equipment, and training to Ukraine.

We recognise the world is more uncertain and volatile than it has been for several years, and we have set out our longer-term aspiration to invest 2.5% of GDP on defence when the fiscal and economic circumstances allow.

All UK military personnel are held to the highest standards of conduct and accountable to the Secretary of State for Defence. UK military operations are conducted in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict, and military personnel are bound by the laws of England and Wales for their actions under the Armed Forces Act 2006.

The Government has a long-standing position of neither confirming nor denying information relating to the UK Special Forces, as to do so may put personnel and operations at risk.

All UK military personnel are held to the highest standards of conduct and accountable to the Secretary of State for Defence. UK military operations are conducted in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict, and military personnel are bound by the laws of England and Wales for their actions under the Armed Forces Act 2006.

The Government has a long-standing position of neither confirming nor denying information relating to the UK Special Forces, as to do so may put personnel and operations at risk.

The UK continues to be at the forefront of international efforts to end Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. We will be providing £2.5 billion of military support to Ukraine in financial year 2024-25. This includes a £325 million package of cutting-edge drones and £245 million to procure and invigorate supply chains, to produce artillery shells to help fight Putin's illegal invasion.

We will train an additional 10,000 Ukrainians in the first half of this year as well as co-leading new maritime and drone capability coalitions alongside Norway and Latvia respectively.

Defence works very closely with and to support the FCDO, who lead on humanitarian support, to make sure that aid shipments are delivered as rapidly, efficiently and safely as possible. We have supported the delivery of hundreds of tonnes of life-saving aid for Gaza, including by air, land and maritime routes. We are doing everything we can to get far more aid in, exploring new routes and pressing Israel to open more crossings and lift restrictions. The Secretaries of State regularly engage on this matter.

UK defence spending is at its highest level in history and is increasing in real terms. We were one of the first countries to support Ukraine following Russia’s illegal invasion The Integrated Review Refresh recognised the implications of the invasion on our own security and wellbeing, providing extra investment and strengthening our alliances via partnerships (AUKUS and GCAP).

In a volatile, complex and ambiguous security environment we are a proud leading contributor to NATO, contributing to every NATO mission and operation. The UK was the first large European country to commit to 2% of GDP for defence and we have consistently met or exceeded the NATO target.

We also remain committed to increasing our overall spending to 2.5% of GDP as soon as fiscal and economic conditions allow. The Prime Minister has been clear that the target and path towards 2.5% will be set out at the next Spending Review.

The hon. Member will be concerned to note that his own party has thus far declined to match the Governments commitments on defence spending, saying only that a Labour Government would meet the 2% NATO minimum. Such a policy would mean an immediate £7 billion cut to the defence budget, with profound consequences for both our national security and our relationship with international allies.

Further to the table provided to you in my letter of 7 February, the British Army regiments which have been disbanded since 2010 have been listed below.

As noted in that letter, this information represents single Service estimates based on management information which is not gathered for statistical purposes or subject to the same level of scrutiny as official statistics produced by Defence Statistics. I have attached an updated table to reflect minor discrepancies in the original which were observed during further analysis.

Within the Royal Armoured Corps, the 1^st and 2^nd Royal Tank Regiments were merged to become The Royal Tank Regiment in 2014. The Queen’s Royal Lancers merged with the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s) to become the Royal Lancers in 2015. For the Reserves, the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry was placed in suspended animation in 2014. The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry was created in the same year.

Within the Army Air Corps, 9^th Regiment Army Air Corps was disbanded as a front-line regiment in 2016 and re-established as a flying regiment in 2018.

Within the Royal Artillery, 40^th Regiment Royal Artillery was placed into suspended animation in 2012 as was 39^th Regiment in 2015. For the Reserves, 100 (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery was placed in suspended animation in 2014.

The table below has been updated for the Royal Engineers. Within this Corps, 25 Engineer Regiment was disbanded in 2012 as was 38 Engineer Regiment in 2013. 28 Engineer Regiment was disbanded in 2014 but re-established in 2018. For the Reserves, both 72 and 73 Engineer Regiments disbanded in 2014. There were also two hybridised regiments; 101 Engineer Regiment and 33 Engineer Regiment. 101 Engineer Regiment became a Reserve regiment in 2018 and 33 Engineer Regiment became Regular regiment.

Within the Royal Signals, 7 Signal Regiment disbanded in 2012. 15 Signal Regiment was re-formed in 2015 and 13 Signal Regiment in 2020. For the Reserves, 38 Signal Regiment disbanded in 2015.

The table below has been updated for the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers (REME). Within this Regiment, 5 Battalion REME was formed in 2013. In 2015, 10 Battalion REME and 11 Battalion REME merged to become 8 Battalion REME. For the Reserves, 104 Battalion REME was disbanded in 2013. This was then re-established in 2015 along with 105 and 106 Battalions. However, in 2018, 104 Battalion merged with 103, 105 Battalion merged with 101, and 106 Battalion merged with 102.

The table below has been updated for the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC). Within this Corps, 8 Regiment RLC was disbanded in 2012. 12 Logistic Support Regiment was disbanded in 2013. 2 Logistic Support Regiment, 23 and 24 Regiment RLC were disbanded in 2014. 5 Training Regiment RLC disbanded in 2016 and 3 Regiment RLC in 2023. For the Reserves, 88 Postal and Courier Regiment, 155 and 160 Transport Regiments, 166 Supply Regiment and 168 Pioneer Regiment were disbanded in 2014.

Within the Royal Army Medical Corps, 2 Medical Regiment and 33 Field Hospital were disbanded in 2018. 3 Medical Regiment disbanded in 2022 when a number of re-designations took place. For the Reserves, in 2023, 225 (Scottish) Medical Regiment merged with 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital, 253 (Northern Ireland) Medical Regiment merged with 204 (Northern Ireland) Field Hospital, 201 Field Hospital merged with 212 Field Hospital and 207 Field Hospital merged with 208 Field Hospital.

Within the Royal Military Police, 4 and 5 Regiments Royal Military Police disbanded in 2020 and the Special Operations Regiment was formed. The Special Investigations Branch Regiment was subsumed into the Defence Serious Crimes Unit[1] on its formation in 2023.

No Regiments within the Army’s Infantry, Intelligence Corps or Veterinary Corps have been disbanded or merged since 2010.

The Royal Marines is organised into Commando Units rather than Regiments and none have been disbanded since 2010.

British Army Regiments (2010-2023)

[1] The Defence Serious Crimes Unit does not belong to the Army, it is part of the Defence Serious Crime Command (DSCC) within the Ministry of Defence.

[2] RE data for years 2010-2011 and 2014-2017 for Regulars, 2014-2018 for Reserves and additional hybrid regiments has changed since the original answer of 7 Feb.

[3] The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) are organised at unit level into Battalions, rather than Regiments. This represents a distinction in naming convention rather than difference in workforce requirement or operational outputs.

[4] REME data for years 2013, 2015 and 2018 for the Reserves has changed since the original answer of 7 Feb.

[5] RLC data for years 2012-2015 for the Regulars has changed since the original answer of 7 Feb.

The UK continually assesses potential threats to our overseas territories, including the sovereign base areas on the island of Cyprus. British Forces Cyprus provides a permanent military presence, and we are investing in the SBAs to combat current and future threats, in order to ensure local, regional and global security.

What assessment he has made of the security of the Sovereign Base Areas and the armed forces in Cyprus.

I thank the Minister for his response. The Secretary of State has said:

“We want to do everything possible to ensure the security of Cyprus”.

Does the Minister agree that it would be appropriate to keep the Cypriot Government informed of all UK military operations conducted from their island? Should not that be an official obligation, for the security of Cyprus?