Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many PhD positions will be supported through defence nuclear skills investment.
Answer
The Government is investing £65.6 million through the Nuclear Skills Plan to support more than 500 doctoral students across the civil and defence nuclear sectors. The investment will support four cohorts beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, helping to build the pipeline of highly skilled specialists required to support the UK’s civil nuclear ambitions and the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
Verdict: AMBER (40/100)
The question asked for the number of defence PhD positions. The reply gives a specific figure of more than 500 doctoral students, but that figure combines civil and defence nuclear research. It does not separate out the defence number or say whether a defence-only figure is held, so the question is only partly answered. A member of the public would likely need to ask again for the defence-specific figure.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| How many PhD positions will be supported through defence nuclear skills investment. | Partially Addressed | Direct | The reply gives a concrete figure of more than 500 doctoral students, but it covers civil and defence nuclear combined and never isolates the number of defence PhD positions, nor says that a defence-only figure isn't separately held. The question asks for the defence subset, so the answer is only partly responsive. |