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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2023 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Military Aircraft: ParachutingMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what aircraft do the RAF operate that are capable of deploying airborne parachute infantry at a) company, b) battalion and c) all arms battlegroup scale.
Answer: All twenty-two Atlas C1 aircrafts can be fitted with the Static Line delivery system for deploying parachute infantry at scale in a low-level static line configuration. They can also employ specialist military freefall parachuting and air dispatch of asso...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112348More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2026 to question 109313 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, how many of the first 100 vehicles have had their hulls inspected to ensure there are no faults since being withdrawn fr
Answer: Inspection of hulls takes place as part of the upgrade of all Ajax vehicles to Capability Drop 3 (CD3). To date, 17 vehicles from the first 100 hulls have been upgraded to CD3 and therefore inspected as part of that process.
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: UK Border ForceMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112347More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department currently has operational command of Border Force vessels in the English Channel.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence does not have operational command of Border Force vessels in the English Channel.
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112332More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026, to question 110946 on Navy: Artificial Intelligence, what is the full scope of the Maritime Fighting Web.
Answer: The Maritime Fighting Web (MFW) is not a single system or platform but a long‑term programme of digital modernisation. Subject to the Defence Investment Plan, the MFW will deliver the maritime component of the Digital Targeting Web, enabling the Royal Nav...
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: PalantirMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112331More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, within which Ministry of Defence a) projects and b) programmes are Palantir currently involved.
Answer: Palantir is used across a range of Defence data‑analytics and integration activities, with deployment decided by individual Delivery Teams rather than tied to a single defined list of projects or programmes. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not routinel...
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: PalantirMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he had with Peter Mandelson, whilst he was the UK Ambassador to the United States, on Palantir, prior to the awarding of the contract with the Ministry of Defence.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, and the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, which set out an update on the Government's pr...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRAF Akrotiri: Military AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112310More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many a) RAF Typhoons and b) RAF F-35Bs are stationed at RAF Akrotiri, as at 6 February 2026.
Answer: It is longstanding policy that we do not publicly comment on exact details around operational deployments (including figures), as it would harm the capability, security and operational effectiveness of UK forces.
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112309More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026, to question 110946 on Navy: Artificial Intelligence, what progress has he made in establishing a Royal Navy Targeting organisation to represent the maritime component of
Answer: The Maritime Fighting Web and the Digital Targeting Web are both elements of Defence’s broader programme to improve data‑driven decision making and effects delivery across the Integrated Force. The initiatives are designed for seamless integration to enab...
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026, to question 110946 on Navy: Artificial Intelligence, what assessment has he made of the potential level of need for integration between the Maritime Fighting Web and the
Answer: The Maritime Fighting Web and the Digital Targeting Web are both elements of Defence’s broader programme to improve data‑driven decision making and effects delivery across the Integrated Force. The initiatives are designed for seamless integration to enab...
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111945More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2026 to Question 109313 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, whether the first 100 Ajax vehicles will be upgraded to (a) Capability Drop 3 and (b) Capability Drop 4 standard.
Answer: All 589 vehicles, including the first 100, will be retrofitted to Capability Drop 4. Some of the first 100 vehicles will move to the Capability Drop 3 standard before Capability Drop 4, others will be retrofitted directly to Capability Drop 4.
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2026 to Question 109313 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, when he plans to (a) complete the planned upgrades and (b) deliver the vehicles back into service.
Answer: All Ajax platforms are planned to be upgraded to Capability Drop 4 by September 2029. Vehicles are delivered into service in accordance with the requirements of the Army Fielding plan.
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordArmoured Fighting VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111943More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the (a) Philippines Army’s Sabrah Light Tank and b) the Spanish Army’s VCZAP Castor’s ASCOD2 chassis.
Answer: The Army routinely assesses which vehicles are most appropriate to meet specific capability requirements. The base platform of the Philippines Army’s Sabrah Light Tank is the ASCOD 2 chassis. At present, the British Army has no requirement for a light tan...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the difference between each Capability Drop standard of the Ajax programme.
Answer: It would not be appropriate to comment on the specific detail around each Capability Drop due to operational sensitivities.
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBangladesh: HMS EnterpriseMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the total value of the government-to-government defence sales agreement for the transfer of the former Royal Navy survey vessel HMS Enterprise to Bangladesh.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence does not routinely disclose the financial details or payment structures of bilateral defence sales, including the transfer of HMS Enterprise to the Bangladesh Government, due to commercial and operational sensitivities.
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: ParachutingMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential negative impact of removing parachute infantry deployment as a capability.
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) considered all aspects of Defence, including military parachuting capabilities. The SDR recommended that airborne parachute capability and capacity should remain focused on specialists and a single battalion group. The G...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary Bases: SalesMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111273More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which MOD sites are in scope to be sold under the Defence Estates Optimisation Plan.
Answer: A list of all Ministry of Defence sites that are planned to be disposed of as part of the Defence Estate Optimisation Plan can be found on the House of Commons Defence Disposal Database. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disposal-database-house-o...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRAF Wyton: NATOMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what NATO intelligence functions are based at RAF Wyton.
Answer: No NATO intelligence functions are based at RAF Wyton.
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordCadetsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many MOD sites used by Cadets have been closed under the Future Defence Infrastructure Services programme.
Answer: No Ministry of Defence (MOD) sites used by Cadets were closed under Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) programme. FDIS is a programme within the MOD that focuses on the delivery of facilities management and infrastructure services across the De...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPublic Office (Accountability) BillMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential merits of exceptions for (a) Military Intelligence Services and (b) Special Forces operators under the Hillsborough Law.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) keeps under continual review the implications of proposed legislation for Defence activities, including those undertaken by the most sensitive parts of Defence and the Armed Forces.Work is ongoing across the MOD to ensure tha...
Answered 19 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: RedundancyMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants have left the Ministry of Defence via the targeted voluntary exit scheme since 5 July 2024.
Answer: Since 5 July 2024, the Ministry of Defence has instigated one targeted voluntary exit scheme; this was launched on 6 Jan 2026. This scheme is Department-wide but targeted at certain professional cohorts and forms part of our response to workforce planning...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111267More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servant positions within the Ministry of Defence were gapped as at (a) 5 July 2024 and (b) 1 February 2026.
Answer: In line with recommendations from the Strategic Defence Review the Ministry of Defence aims to reduce Civil Service costs by at least 10% by 2030. To achieve this, the Department is employing a range of workforce levers to facilitate a measured and sustai...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111264More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when will he lift the civil service recruitment controls in his department.
Answer: An initial month-long recruitment pause was introduced in October 2025 across the Department as one of a range of workforce levers to facilitate a measured and sustainable approach to workforce reductions. The pause has been extended and is currently bein...
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: Armed ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111263More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the UK’s contribution to the NATO special operations force.
Answer: Following the recent successful validation by NATO during Exercise Hyperion Storm, the UK is set to command NATO’s Allied Reaction Force 26 Special Operations Component Command from July 2026 to June 2027. This will involve units from the Army’s Ranger Re...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordArmoured Fighting Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110964More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2026, to question 108369 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement, on what date was the project cancelled.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 108369 on 3 February 2026 which remains extant. The stop notice of December 2023 denotes the point that the project was cancelled.
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110963More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the full scope of Project Goshawk.
Answer: Project GOSHAWK is a Taskforce Kindred project to rapidly develop and trial a low-cost air defence interceptor for Ukraine, to reliably defeat aerial drones, loitering munitions, and missiles at varying speeds, altitudes, and trajectories.
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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