Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
Written questions by answering department
4 Jul 2026–13 Oct 2026. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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Written questions
Warships: Antisubmarine WarfareMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17506More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 48, over what timescale will a) Type 92 and b) Type 93 join the fleet to enhance anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan announced at least £1.3 billion investment in the Hybrid Navy Fleet, comprising uncrewed missile platforms (Type 91), uncrewed underwater sensing platforms (Type 92), extra-large uncrewed underwater vessels (Type 93), uncrewed ...
Answered 15 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Aircraft CarriersMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17505More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 54, by what year does he plan to introduce an autonomous airborne early warning system for the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the response I provided to Question 16254 on 13 July 2026: The Royal Navy's Crowsnest Airborne Surveillance and Control capability, which provides the Airborne Early Warning function from Merlin Mk2 helicopters for the Carrier S...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordWarshipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17504More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, page 28 on Integrated Air and Missile Defence, in what way will CCAs to play a key role in IAMD into the 2030s.
Answer: Collaborative Combat Aircraft are expected to also play a key role in Integrated Air and Missile Defence as they augment combat air platforms, initially in the Air-to-Air role to help facilitate control of the air. Potential further capability uses contin...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordTelecommunications Cables: Seas and OceansMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17503More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 49, what novel funding mechanisms will be used to increase the resilience and protection of critical underwater infrastructure.
Answer: As set out in the Defence Investment Plan, the Ministry of Defence will invest £330 million over the next four years in critical underwater infrastructure protection, including enhanced capabilities for RFA PROTEUS. We will also explore opportunities to p...
Answered 22 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Body ArmourMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17500More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what items of a) uniform and b) equipment have been manufactured by Source Tactical under the Virtus programme multi-year contract.
Answer: Source Tactical Gear Limited was the prime contractor for the VIRTUS Integrated Soldier System programme. As the system integrator, Source was responsible for integrating the various components of the VIRTUS system and manufactured certain elements direct...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordLE TacCIS programmeMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17499More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the full scope of Project CENTAUR.
Answer: The Army’s Project CENTAUR has now concluded, having successfully delivered equipment that enables beyond line-of-sight connectivity and supports more resilient and distributed command and control arrangements for deployed land forces, under the Land Doma...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: InvestmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17498More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions has the Defence Investors’ Advisory Group met since its formation.
Answer: We have established a Defence Investors Advisory Group (DIAG) to support the development of the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy (DFIS). Since its establishment, the DIAG has met on five occasions over a nine-month period. This has been supplemente...
Answered 22 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17497More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 31, what steps will be taken to deliver advantage in denied and degraded environments.
Answer: Taskforce RAID is taking steps to deliver advantage in denied and degraded environments by improving our understanding of how adversaries operate in the electromagnetic environment, and by strengthening the UK’s ability to counter that activity. This work...
Answered 27 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17496More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 25, by what date in 2026 will the Defence-wide Secret Cloud minimum viable product be delivered.
Answer: The Defence-wide Secret Cloud Minimem Viable Product is scheduled for 18 September 2026, subject to approval by the National Classified Cloud Executive Committee (NCCEC).
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17495More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 31, what is the scope of machine-augmented intelligence fusion.
Answer: As the volume, range and speed of available information continue to increase, AI offers significant opportunities to augment existing intelligence processes. The Taskforce will establish AI systems capable of processing intelligence data quickly, with a h...
Answered 27 Aug 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17494More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 32, what sprint is the programme currently on.
Answer: Taskforce RAID (Rapid AI Delivery) is focussing on four core areas, prioritised by the Military Commands. The first sprints across these four areas are running concurrently now, following the Taskforce's announcement in June 2026.
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordCanada: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17493More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 27 of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, what steps he plans to take to exploit the (a) size, (b) scale, and (c) freedom of the British Army Training Unit Suffield.
Answer: The British Army is refocusing the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) to support training and experimentation with robotic and autonomous systems, counter-uncrewed aerial systems, and other enabling capabilities across its 2,700 km² training area...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordGuided WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on developing the joint complex weapons portfolio office.
Answer: As set out in the Department's announcement of 1 April 2026, the United Kingdom and France agreed to establish a Joint Complex Weapons Portfolio Office. Work is progressing with the French Government to define, sequence and implement the most efficient ar...
Answered 27 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17491More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 39 of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, what is his planned timetable for setting out a clear policy framework governing the delivery of Dependable AI.
Answer: The Defence Strategic Approach to AI is currently being developed and will be finalised by the end of 2026. As set out in the Defence Investment Plan, this will be accompanied by clear policy frameworks governing the delivery of 'Dependable AI' and the 'R...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17109More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the answer of 3 December 2024 to question 15863 on Defence Equipment: Procurement, what his Department’s direct spend is for goods manufactured in China for a) 2024-25 and b) 2025-26.
Answer: YearSpend (rounded to nearest £100,000)2019-20£3.7 million2020-21£2.7 million2021-22£3.1 million2022-23£3.7 miliion2023-24£5.3 million2024-25£4.3 million The table shows spend from China peaked in the final full year of the last administration. We are una...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordArmy ReserveMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17108More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2026, to question 13293 on Army Reserve, by what date will he measure the success of the commitment in the Strategic Defence Review to increase the proportion of active reserves b
Answer: Since the Defence Investment Plan was published on 30 June 2026, which committed £4.2 billion to the Reserves between now and financial year 2029-30, the Department has been examining the options this presents to increase the proportion of active reserves...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Higher EducationMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17107More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what date applications will open for year two of the Defence Universities Alliance.
Answer: The Defence Universities Alliance was launched with its 35 founding members on 13 July. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) will now work with these members to shape and design the alliance, its governance structures and the agenda going forward, ensuring this ...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordWarrior VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17106More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2025 to question 97408 on Warrior Vehicles: Decommissioning, how many warrior vehicles are a) in the active fleet and b) yet to start the disposal process as at 1 June 2026.
Answer: I can confirm that as at 1 June 2026, there are 542 Warrior vehicles in-service with the British Army. This figure includes those in the active fleet and those yet to start the disposal process. I hope the hon. Member will understand that we do not routin...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordNuclear WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17105More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, page 30, by when he will begin the process to define the requirement for the post-Dreadnought strategic deterrent.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to Question 15525 on 10 July 2026: As announced in the Defence Investment Plan, this Government will invest over £20 billion more in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise over the next four years than the previous...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Global Navigation Satellite SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17104More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 25, by when he will deliver enhanced resilience to the provision of Position, Navigation and Timing data.
Answer: Through funding allocated in the Defence Investment Plan to the Digital Targeting Web, Defence will undertake a range of programmes to continue providing Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) resilience to the Integrated Force. These programmes will build...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17103More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 24, what progress has he made in establishing a Digital Warfighter Group.
Answer: The Stratrgic Defence Review directed the establishment of a Digital Warfighter Group (DWG) to strengthen Defence's ability to exploit technology in support of military operations, by consolidating and enhancing specialist digital, data and artificial int...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAircraft Carriers: Unmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17102More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 51, which autonomous rotorcraft are planned to be included within the Hybrid Carrier Air Wing.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan does not identify specific autonomous rotorcraft platforms for inclusion in the Hybrid Air Wing; that is the role of the PANTHEON programme, which will deliver a range of Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing Autonomous Collabora...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordWarships: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17101More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 57, what are the first seven ships that will come online before 2033.
Answer: As set out in the Defence Investment Plan, the Ministry of Defence will be implementing a phased retirement Type 23 Frigates after decades of proud and faithful service. The Government is investing in: new autonomous surface vessels; autonomous sub-surfac...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Roll-on Roll-off ShipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17100More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 54, what plans does he have to introduce a future strategic sea lift capability.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence is committed to maintaining a strategic sea lift capability for Defence and funding has been prioritised accordingly in the Defence Investment Plan. Planning for a future strategic sea lift solution is ongoing to ensure that there ...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordWildcat HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17099More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 54, what is the out-of-service-date for the Wildcat maritime helicopter.
Answer: The Department intends to replace the Wildcat maritime helicopters with autonomous capabilities in line with the Hybrid Navy concept and will fund this in the 2030s. Any consequential adjustment to maritime Wildcat’s assumed out of service date, originall...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament record
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