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
Warrior Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93241More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2025 on question 83063 on Warrior Vehicles: Procurement, when the concept phase of Project Atilla is due to end.
Answer: Project ATILLA is now in the early stages of commercial competition. This means that the project has progressed from considering conceptual elements such as evaluating project feasibility. The project is now preparing to move into the Invitation to Tender...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordArmoured Fighting Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93240More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the scope was of Project Rarden.
Answer: Project RARDEN is a legacy project that designed and introduced the Rarden cannon into service in the 1970s.
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS Iron DukeMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93239More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of cancelling the Iron Duke conversion programme.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence keeps all capability programmes under regular review to ensure they remain affordable, deliver value for money, and align with operational priorities. The decision to cancel the Iron Duke conversion programme was based on a compreh...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: InjuriesMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93238More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many settlements for non-freezing cold injuries did his department make in 2024/25.
Answer: The War Pensions Scheme (WPS) and Armed Forces Compensation Schemes (AFCS) compensate service personnel and veterans for a wide range of injuries and illnesses arising from or exacerbated by their service. Non-freezing cold injuries (NFCI) are included in...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMarinesMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93237More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what level of readiness is 42 Commando’s Fleet Contingency Troop held at in order to conduct maritime interdiction operations in UK territorial waters.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence continually evaluates the most appropriate options and resources to address the evolving threats faced by the United Kingdom. For security reasons, we cannot disclose specific assessments or operational decisions publicly. However,...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRussia: WarshipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93236More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential benefit of forward mounting Royal Marines from the Fleet Contingency Troop to HMS Somerset in order to provide interdiction options for the tracking of the Russian shi
Answer: The Ministry of Defence continually evaluates the most appropriate options and resources to address the evolving threats faced by the United Kingdom. For security reasons, we cannot disclose specific assessments or operational decisions publicly. However,...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordWarships: Territorial WatersMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93235More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, following the use of lasers by the Russian ship Yantar to disrupt a Royal Air Force Poseidon P-8, what is the threshold needed to necessitate offensive action by the UK military if a foreign vessel is operating i
Answer: The Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence continuously assess its response options to ensure our Armed Forces can act appropriately against malign activities and future threats. For reasons of national security, I am not able to disclose specific details...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordNavy: Rules of EngagementMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93234More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press conference he gave on 19th November 2025 regarding the use of lasers by the Russian ship Yantar, what changes has he made to the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement.
Answer: The Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence continuously assess our Rules of Engagement to ensure our Armed Forces can act appropriately in response to malign activities and evolving threats, including unsafe or unprofessional behaviour by foreign vessels ...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy: RiflesMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93233More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of adopting a 6.8 x 51mm calibre rifle for frontline combat roles.
Answer: A review of performance requirements and technical solutions is ongoing as part of the concept phase for Project GRAYBURN. On current plans, Project GRAYBURN is due to enter its assessment phase in 2026. The project aims to replace the SA80 family of rifl...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025 to question 89765 on Military Aircraft: Procurement, what the in-year saving made by cancelling the Shadow Mk2 upgrade programme was.
Answer: The decision to cancel the Shadow Mk2 upgrade programme was driven by delays in delivering the required capability and an assessment of increased costs for uncontracted work. As a result, no direct in-year savings were realised from this decision. However...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRAF LakenheathMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 34 of the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, by when the two USAF F-35 squadrons at RAF Lakenheath will reach full operating capacity.
Answer: The two US Air Force F-35 squadrons stationed at RAF Lakenheath have reached full operating capacity, which was achieved in Autumn 2025.
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordUSA: Joint ExercisesMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the outcome was of Royal Navy integration into US Carrier Strike Group certification training in October and November 2024.
Answer: In October 2024 the UK Carrier Strike Group and US Carrier Strike Group 8 completed a period of combined integration training during Exercise STRIKE WARRIOR. Exercise STRIKE WARRIOR included the successful re-certification of the UK Carrier Strike Group s...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordNavy: Guided WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 93097More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the requirements of the Royal Navy's a) Stratus LO (Low Observable) and b) Stratus RS (Rapid Strike) programmes.
Answer: The Royal Navy has a requirement called the Future Offensive Surface Weapon (FOSuW) which will provide a long range anti-ship strike weapon with land attack capabilities, compatible with the Mk41 Vertical Launch System (VLS). The FOSuW requirement will be...
Answered 1 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92658More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current status of all MOD sites listed within the Defence Estates Optimisation Programme.
Answer: Defence Estates Optimisation (DEO) has completed construction at 17 sites and has disposed of 30 Ministry of Defence sites. The status for the remaining disposal sites is listed in the House of Commons Defence Disposal Database report on the Gov.UK websit...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92657More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, based on the £34.7 billion cost of the deal for the Chagos Islands calculated by the Government Actuary’s Department, how much of the total figure will be paid by his department (a) each year and (b) in total.
Answer: The £34.7 billion figure is incorrect. The correct figure is £3.4 billion, which reflects the real costs of a treaty that lasts 99 years, with an average cost of £101 million per year.The treaty payments will be split between the Ministry of Defence and t...
Answered 26 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy: Ajax Vehicles and Boxer VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92656More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69526 on Army: Ajax Vehicles and Boxer Vehicles, will anti-tank platoons be equipped with a mix of Ajax and Boxer or one or the other depending on whether th
Answer: Anti-tank platoons within Armoured Infantry units will be equipped with Boxer variants.
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGuided Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92651More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was the UK contribution to Lots 39 and 40 of the $3.5 billion contract awarded to Raytheon on 31 July 2025, for the continued production of Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).
Answer: Lot 39 of the contract is expected to be placed by the end of 2025. Lot 40 of the contract is yet to be negotiated by the US Government. The UK proportionate contribution towards the $3.5 billion contract is classified as commercially sensitive informatio...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92646More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 135 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress has he made in establishing comprehensive oversight of a) assets, b) liabilities, c) rates of obsolescence and d) lifecycle costs acr
Answer: In line with the Strategic Defence Review 2025, the Ministry of Defence has established the following to support oversight of a) assets, b) liabilities, c) rates of obsolescence and d) lifecycle costs across his Department’s estate: (a) a centralised asse...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Bases: New BusinessesMinistry of DefenceTabled 19 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92645More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 135 of his Department's document entitled Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made in making Ministry of Defence sites available for (a) start-ups
Answer: In line with the Strategic Defence Review 2025, the Ministry of Defence has been reviewing its estate to identify land that it can release from current operational use. The purposes to which this land can be put is now being assessed. Some sites may becom...
Answered 27 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS Albion and HMS BulwarkMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 139 of the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, how was the retirement of the Albion and Bulwark landing platforms calculated at a constructive loss of £428,459,000.
Answer: The decision to decommission both HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark was announced in November 2024. In the period from 2022 to 2024, a total of £72.1 million has been spent on refitting HMS Bulwark. Neither HMS Albion nor HMS Bulwark were due to go to sea ahead ...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91665More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when will he publish the most recent quarterly portfolio review of his Department’s projects within the Government major projects portfolio.
Answer: In line with other Departments, the Ministry of Defence discloses declassified programme performance information for most of our major programmes, alongside the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) Annual Report. The next N...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordLebanon: Military AidMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91664More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support has he provided to Lebanon in the development of its armed forces.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a wide range of support to Lebanon in the development of the Lebanese Armed Forces' capacity as the legitimate defender of Lebanon's sovereignty. This includes providing equipment, training on both maritim...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSaudi Arabia: Military AidMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91663More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the full scope of Operation CROSSWAYS.
Answer: The scope of Operation CROSSWAYS is to provide military support to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, primarily focused on training and tailored military advice to the Saudi armed forces. It also includes a phased deployment of air defence equipment to Saudi Arabia...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91436More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what the status is of the New Medium Helicopter
Answer: Officials continue to consider the New Medium Helicopter business case as part of the Government’s approval process, with a decision to be made shortly as part of the upcoming Defence Investment Plan.
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91434More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential imp
Answer: Delivery Confidence Assessments reflect that moment in time and will change throughout a programme's lifecycle. An assessment of Red does not mean that the programme is undeliverable, but that there are management interventions required as a priority in o...
Answered 25 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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