Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
Written questions by answering department
4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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124 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Russia: SanctionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79545More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department's press notice entitled UK targets sanctions circumvention and crypto networks exploited by Russia, published on 20 August 2025, which financ
Answer: The UK remains committed to increasing economic pressure on Russia including its financial and energy sectors. This includes carefully targeted sanctions against Russia's attempts to circumvent sanctions and create alternative payment systems, including t...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRussia: Arms TradeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79544More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department's press notice entitled UK targets sanctions circumvention and crypto networks exploited by Russia, published on 20 August 2025, what estimat
Answer: The UK remains committed to increasing economic pressure on Russia including its financial and energy sectors. This includes carefully targeted sanctions against Russia's attempts to circumvent sanctions and create alternative payment systems, including t...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNew START TreatyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress has she made on renewing the New START Treaty before its expiration in February 2026.
Answer: The New START Treaty is a bilateral agreement between the United States and Russian Federation; any replacement treaty is a matter for the US and Russia. The UK regularly raises issues related to strategic risk reduction, including arms control with the U...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Departmental CoordinationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79289More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the full capability is of the One HMG platform.
Answer: The One HMG Platform provides overseas offices, residential accommodation and services, such as transport and security, that enable His Majesty's Government to achieve its international objectives whilst providing value for money. The aim is that operatio...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Soft Power CouncilForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 45 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published in June 2025, CP 1338, what progress she has made on establishing a new Soft Power Council.
Answer: The Soft Power Council was launched on 15 January 2025. The Council is supporting the UK to take a more strategic approach to soft power, helping to build relationships, deepen trust, enhance our security and drive economic growth.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDiplomatic RelationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 45 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent progress she has made on establishing a College of British D
Answer: The College will be launched in the coming months. In preparation, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) launched on 6 October a new pilot Global Network Programme, a flagship initiative of the forthcoming College. Further details will...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCybersecurity: FinanceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 45 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, how much funding her Department plans to provide for digital technologie
Answer: All details will be announced in the usual way in due course.
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAustralia: International CooperationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79189More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what diplomatic steps she has taken with her Australian counterpart to h
Answer: The Government is delivering this objective through both multilateral fora, including the World Trade Organisation and United Nations, and through bilateral engagement with a range of global partners, including Canada. The Foreign Secretary regularly spea...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSouth Korea: International CooperationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79188More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what diplomatic steps she has taken with her South Korean counterpart to
Answer: The Government is delivering this objective through both multilateral fora, including the World Trade Organisation and United Nations, and through bilateral engagement with a range of global partners, including Canada. The Foreign Secretary regularly spea...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordJapan: International CooperationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79187More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what diplomatic steps she has taken with her Japanese counterpart to hel
Answer: The Government is delivering this objective through both multilateral fora, including the World Trade Organisation and United Nations, and through bilateral engagement with a range of global partners, including Canada. The Foreign Secretary regularly spea...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordSingapore: International CooperationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79186More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what diplomatic steps she has taken with her counterpart in Singapore to
Answer: The Government is delivering this objective through both multilateral fora, including the World Trade Organisation and United Nations, and through bilateral engagement with a range of global partners, including Canada. The Foreign Secretary regularly spea...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordIndonesia: International CooperationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79185More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what diplomatic steps she has taken with her Indonesian counterpart to h
Answer: The Government is delivering this objective through both multilateral fora, including the World Trade Organisation and United Nations, and through bilateral engagement with a range of global partners, including Canada. The Foreign Secretary regularly spea...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordIndia: International CooperationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79184More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what diplomatic steps she has taken with her Indian counterpart to help
Answer: The Government is delivering this objective through both multilateral fora, including the World Trade Organisation and United Nations, and through bilateral engagement with a range of global partners, including Canada. The Foreign Secretary regularly spea...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordGulf States: International CooperationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79183More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what diplomatic steps she has taken with her counterparts in the Gulf st
Answer: The Government is delivering this objective through both multilateral fora, including the World Trade Organisation and United Nations, and through bilateral engagement with a range of global partners, including Canada. The Foreign Secretary regularly spea...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCanada: International CooperationForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79182More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what diplomatic steps she has taken with her Canadian counterpart to hel
Answer: The Government is delivering this objective through both multilateral fora, including the World Trade Organisation and United Nations, and through bilateral engagement with a range of global partners, including Canada. The Foreign Secretary regularly spea...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordJames Scott Rhys AndersonForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75426More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 69511 on James Scott Rhys Anderson, on what dates his Department has raised the issue of James Scott Rhys Anderson with
Answer: The UK regularly raises Mr Anderson's case with Ukrainian counterparts. Most recently, the former Foreign Secretary raised the case with Foreign Minister Sybiha on 15 August. The Prime Minister raised the case with President Zelenskyy on 24 July. I raised...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Sick LeaveForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.
Answer: The Cabinet Office publishes an annual report on sickness absence in different government departments and agencies, the most recent edition of which - published in January 2025 - can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNorth Korea: RussiaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74129More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of deepening (a) commercial and (b) other economic ties between Russia and North Korea.
Answer: The UK remains deeply concerned about the implications of the deepening Russia-Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) relationship for both Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security. The rapid expansion of their military, political, and economic cooper...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS Richmond: Taiwan StraitForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 1 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 73846More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of HMS Richmond's planned use of the Taiwan Strait in September on UK relations with China.
Answer: We do not routinely comment on operational details. Wherever the Royal Navy operates, it does so in full compliance with international laws and norms and exercises its rights to freedom of navigation and overflight provided for by United Nations Conventio...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSanctionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72563More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 33 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made in strengthening the UK’s sanctions (a) implementation
Answer: The Government concluded a review of the implementation and enforcement of UK sanctions in April 2025. Following the review, this Government is committing to do more to make compliance easier for UK industry, to deter non-compliance and to make sure we ha...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNew Zealand: National SecurityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72558More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made in sharpening the UK’s diplomatic focus with New Zealan
Answer: The UK-New Zealand relationship is a close partnership based on shared history, deep people-to-people links and shared priorities and values. The UK engages with the Government of New Zealand at both ministerial and official level across a wide range of r...
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72362More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has (a) witnessed and (a) seen verified video evidence of the Israeli Defence Forces deliberately firing on the civilian population in Gaza during the distribution
Answer: Reports and footage of the chaos at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites are horrifying. It is appalling that at least 2,294 people have been killed and over 16,839 injured at or near the distribution sites. This further illustrates why humanitarian p...
Answered 17 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUSA: Intelligence ServicesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the cancellation by the CIA in the United States of the appointment of Tom Sylvester as the London chief of stati
Answer: It is a longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters.
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordJames Scott Rhys AndersonForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 69511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his (a) Ukrainian and (b) Russian counterpart on the release of James Scott Rhys Anderson.
Answer: The Ukrainian authorities have confirmed British national James Anderson was serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, meaning he holds Prisoner of War (PoW) status. Ukraine holds responsibility for engagement on any members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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