Attacks on humanitarian personnel in any circumstances are totally unacceptable, and it is deplorable for staff engaged in the already hugely dangerous work of demining in Ukraine to be killed or injured by Russian strikes. Russia's illegal invasion has left Ukraine with extensive explosive ordnance contamination, threatening civilians and acting as an obstacle to recovery, reconstruction and the safe return of displaced people.

Since June 2022, through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's Global Mine Action Programme, the UK has funded UK NGO The HALO Trust to deliver humanitarian mine action interventions in Ukraine, latterly with UK NGO Mines Advisory Group and Ukrainian Deminers Association as downstream partners. Our demining efforts have released over 1,131,304 square metres of land and provided Explosive Ordnance Risk Education to 134,491 beneficiaries (June 2022 to end March 2026).

The UK has also provided equipment and training to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the State Transport Special Service to strengthen Ukraine's humanitarian demining sector. Our funding for these efforts in Ukraine is just one aspect of our wider support for demining activities in countries and regions across the world, delivered primarily through our Global Mine Action Programme.

Attacks on humanitarian personnel in any circumstances are totally unacceptable, and it is deplorable for staff engaged in the already hugely dangerous work of demining in Ukraine to be killed or injured by Russian strikes. Russia's illegal invasion has left Ukraine with extensive explosive ordnance contamination, threatening civilians and acting as an obstacle to recovery, reconstruction and the safe return of displaced people.

Since June 2022, through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's Global Mine Action Programme, the UK has funded UK NGO The HALO Trust to deliver humanitarian mine action interventions in Ukraine, latterly with UK NGO Mines Advisory Group and Ukrainian Deminers Association as downstream partners. Our demining efforts have released over 1,131,304 square metres of land and provided Explosive Ordnance Risk Education to 134,491 beneficiaries (June 2022 to end March 2026).

The UK has also provided equipment and training to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the State Transport Special Service to strengthen Ukraine's humanitarian demining sector. Our funding for these efforts in Ukraine is just one aspect of our wider support for demining activities in countries and regions across the world, delivered primarily through our Global Mine Action Programme.

Attacks on humanitarian personnel in any circumstances are totally unacceptable, and it is deplorable for staff engaged in the already hugely dangerous work of demining in Ukraine to be killed or injured by Russian strikes. Russia's illegal invasion has left Ukraine with extensive explosive ordnance contamination, threatening civilians and acting as an obstacle to recovery, reconstruction and the safe return of displaced people.

Since June 2022, through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's Global Mine Action Programme, the UK has funded UK NGO The HALO Trust to deliver humanitarian mine action interventions in Ukraine, latterly with UK NGO Mines Advisory Group and Ukrainian Deminers Association as downstream partners. Our demining efforts have released over 1,131,304 square metres of land and provided Explosive Ordnance Risk Education to 134,491 beneficiaries (June 2022 to end March 2026).

The UK has also provided equipment and training to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and the State Transport Special Service to strengthen Ukraine's humanitarian demining sector. Our funding for these efforts in Ukraine is just one aspect of our wider support for demining activities in countries and regions across the world, delivered primarily through our Global Mine Action Programme.

The Defence Investment Plan states that the Department will deliver the full scope of the next phase of the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme. This programme forms part of Defence's wider investment in the Royal Navy's Hybrid Navy and will deliver enhanced autonomous mine countermeasures capability. Elements of Block 1 Mission Systems are being procured through the OCCAR-led UK/FRANCE Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) programme. These deliveries will complete in 2026 and funding arrangements are agreed between the participating nations based on capability needs. We will continue to discuss further cooperative opportunities with France on autonomous mine-hunting systems through our regular dialogues.

The Defence Investment Plan sets out the Government's intention to pursue closer cooperation with Norway across a number of maritime capability areas. As part of the next phase of the Mine Hunting Capability programme, the Department will procure three Offshore Support Vessels, alongside enhanced autonomous mine countermeasures capability.

The £1.1 billion investment referenced in the Defence Investment Plan is allocated to the next phase of the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme.

The Defence Investment Plan states that the Department will deliver the full scope of the next phase of the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme. This programme forms part of Defence's wider investment in the Royal Navy's Hybrid Navy and will deliver enhanced autonomous mine countermeasures capability. The MHC programme will deliver three Offshore Support Vessels (OSV), and six Mission Systems’ worth of equipment, capable of delivering the full end-to-end process for sea mine detection to neutralisation.

The Defence Investment Plan announced a further £90 million of additional investment in the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) to procure Offshore Support Vessels (OSV) in conjunction with Norway. The Offshore Support Vessels are currently in the design stage with Norway and timings will be confirmed in due course.

Four MMCM systems have been procured for the Royal Navy. Two systems have been delivered to date, one of which has entered service in support of potential operations in the Middle East. The remaining two systems are currently forecast for delivery by the end of this year.

The Ministry of Defence is improving mine hunting capabilities through the development and introduction of autonomous, remote and uncrewed systems under the Programme of Record Mine Hunting Capability Block 1 and 2 programmes.

Block 1 capability is being brought into service ready for deployment, while investment has been approved in the initial stages of Block 2 to deliver a more enduring and scalable capability, improving operational effectiveness and enhancing force protection.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to the hon. Member for Slough (Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi) to Question 120373.

Find written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to the hon. Member for Slough (Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi) to Question 120373.

Find written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

I refer the hon. Member to the statement on the Middle East given in Parliament by the Secretary of State on Monday 23 March 2026.

The Strategic Defence Review considered all aspects of Defence, including the capabilities required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty-first century. The plan for implementing the Review’s recommendations for the Integrated Force will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.

Decisions on employment of Ukrainian military assets rests with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment further on this specific issue.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon on 17 March 2026 to Question 118983.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon on 17 March 2026 to Question 118983.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon on 17 March 2026 to Question 118983.