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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56 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Defence: FinanceTreasuryTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14538More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, paragraph 3, whether defence will be the number one priority at the next spending review.
Answer: As stated in the Defence Investment Plan, the government is committed to increasing defence spending to 3.0% GDP in the next parliament. Funding to achieve this will be set out at the next spending review, where defence will be the number one priority.
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordContingency ReserveTreasuryTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14530More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any of the £15 billion increase in her department’s budget is comprised of funds from the contingency reserve.
Answer: The government has confirmed an additional £15 billion for the Defence Investment Plan between 2026-27 and 2029-30. This package has been funded by reprioritising public spending, acting within our fiscal rules and without taking resources away from day-t...
Answered 6 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordFiscal PolicyTreasuryTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14024More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made as assessment of the potential impact on a) financial markets and b) borrowing rates of changing the horizon for fiscal rules from five years to ten.
Answer: The fiscal rules require the current budget to be in surplus and net financial debt to be falling as a share of the economy by the third year of the rolling forecast period.
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceTreasuryTabled 15 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9862More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress she has made in delivering the Multilateral Defence Mechanism.
Answer: On 17 March, the UK announced our intention to explore setting up a new mechanism for defence financing and joint procurement together with Finland, the Netherlands and other NATO allies. This mechanism will aim to finance and aggregate demand, drive join...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceTreasuryTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7781More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussion has she has had with NATO-Partner countries on membership of the proposed Defence, Security and Resilience Bank.
Answer: The UK announced that it is exploring setting up the Multilateral Defence Mechanism with Finland, the Netherlands and other partners by 2027. This will be designed to improve value for money and increase standardisation in the defence sector through joint...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceTreasuryTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7769More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the potential benefit to the UK of joining the proposed Defence, Security and Resilience Bank.
Answer: The UK announced that it is exploring setting up the Multilateral Defence Mechanism with Finland, the Netherlands and other partners by 2027. This will be designed to improve value for money and increase standardisation in the defence sector through joint...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNational Infrastructure and Service Transformation AuthorityTreasuryTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5062More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, by when he plans to publish the NISTA annual report 2025-26.
Answer: The current plan is to publish the NISTA 2025-26 Annual Report by the end of July 2026.
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordFinance: National SecurityTreasuryTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4886More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (CP1338), published on 24 June 2025, what progress has she made in enabling closer cooperation with the EU regarding illic
Answer: The UK cooperates closely with the EU on illicit finance issues, both on a bilateral and multilateral basis. The UK and European Commission are members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which sets international standards on counter illicit financ...
Answered 4 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Conflict: Middle EastTreasuryTabled 21 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3932More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her statement on 21 May 2026 on the package of measures implemented as part of her Economic Response to the war in the Middle-East, which Members of the House of Commons contributed to the package
Answer: Treasury Ministers, including the Chancellor, regularly speak to Members of Parliament (MPs), business representatives, and other organisations, to inform government policy.
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordFood: PricesTreasuryTabled 21 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3931More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions has she has had with the grocery industry on lowering prices of products; and which products were in the scope of those discussions.
Answer: The Chancellor of the Exchequer regularly meets with a wide range of stakeholders and industry representatives, including retailers and farming trade bodies to gather information on the effects of the Middle East conflict on the industry and to discuss ho...
Answered 3 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordResearch: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127652More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to review the operation of the merged R&D tax relief scheme in relation to companies providing pre-clinical research services.
Answer: The Government recognises the important role that life sciences research and development (R&D) plays in driving innovation and economic growth as well as the benefits it can bring for society. The Government committed to maintaining the generosity of ...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: ValuationTreasuryTabled 15 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127551More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the methodology and the formula used in the current rateable value calculation.
Answer: The Valuation Office calculates a rateable value for each business property in England and Wales. A rateable value is an estimate of what it would cost to rent a property for a year, on a set date known as the Valuation Date.The methodology and approach u...
Answered 24 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordResearch and Development Expenditure CreditTreasuryTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127222More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential a) merits of extending the R&D Expenditure Credit to include capital expenditure and the b) impact of that measure on allowing start-ups and pre-profit companies to inve
Answer: At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government made a number of commitments on R&D tax reliefs as part of the Corporate Tax Roadmap to provide the stability and certainty that help support investment decisions. The Government committed to maintaining the gener...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Development AidTreasuryTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 124889More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2026 to question 123096 on Defence: Development Aid, how much of the reduction in the development budget will be spent on defence in (a) 2026/27, (b) 2027/28 and (c) 2028/29.
Answer: 100 percent of the reduction in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be spent on defence in all of the years referenced.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Development AidTreasuryTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123096More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs' Oral Statement of 19 March 2026 on International Development, Official Report, columns 1042-1045, what proportion of the re
Answer: In 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29, 100 percent of the reduction in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be spent on defence.
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordInsurance: ShippingTreasuryTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117490More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact on global reinsurance markets of war risk insurance coverage for the Strait of Hormuz being cancelled by marine insurers.
Answer: The Treasury is in regular contact with the Bank of England, international counterparts, and affected industries, including our maritime sector. I recently met with Lloyd’s of London as part of the government’s ongoing work to monitor impacts from the unf...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChildminding: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113939More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the removal of the 10% Wear and Tear allowance on childminders transitioning to Making Tax Digital.
Answer: Childminders make a significant contribution to children’s development, learning, and wellbeing. The Government has eased rules on working from schools and community centres and increased early years funding rates above 2023 average fees. These increases ...
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordThatched Roofing: Home InsuranceTreasuryTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111940More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the level of difficulty in obtaining a) home and b) buildings insurance for thatched buildings.
Answer: The government has not made a specific assessment regarding the availability of home insurance for thatched buildings. Insurers make commercial decisions about pricing and the terms of cover they offer based on their assessment of the relevant risks. The ...
Answered 17 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordThatched Roofing: VATTreasuryTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111280More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of making thatching existing properties zero-rated for VAT.
Answer: VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Outside of a limited number of VAT reliefs aimed at stimulating the property market, the standard VAT rate of 20 per cent applies to most constr...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103967More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the total increase in business rates for 2026/27, compared to 2025/26, across the entire NHS estate.
Answer: The Government does not hold data on the total increase in business rates across the entire NHS estate in (a) 2026-27 compared to (b) 2025-26. The total change in business rates revenue is set out in the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook.
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHinchingbrooke Hospital: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 6 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103532More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much have business rates increased for Hinchingbrooke Hospital for the 2026-2027 financial year .
Answer: The Government cannot comment on the bills of individual ratepayers. I recommend that Hinchingbrooke Hospital get in contact with their local authority for any questions regarding their business rates bill.
Answered 13 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordOfficial Residences: TaxationTreasuryTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101525More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2025, to question 95176 on Ministers: Official Residences, whether tax is payable on residences owned by the State.
Answer: The High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) will be paid by property owners, and official residences operate through a range of different ownership structures, including leases and trusts. The details of the HVCTS are to be consulted upon shortly.
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: CambridgeshireTreasuryTabled 10 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98912More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Ministers in her Department will have a role in the decision on the chosen option for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire.
Answer: Decisions on local government reorganisation proposals are subject to collective agreement across government.
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceTreasuryTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95838More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to announce how her Department will move to a) 3.0% of GDP and b) 3.5% of GDP on defence spending.
Answer: We are set to spend 2.6 percent of GDP on defence spending in 2027, with an ambition to spend 3 percent of GDP on defence next Parliament when economic and fiscal conditions allow. The Government is also committed to hitting a headline ambition of 5 perce...
Answered 4 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Excise DutiesTreasuryTabled 1 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 95837More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the findings of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Economic Financial Outlook on the potential impact of the new pay-per-mile tax on
Answer: As announced at Budget 2025, the Government is introducing Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028. The rate of eVED for EVs will be half of the equivalent fuel duty rate paid by the average petrol/diesel driver, ensuring that EVs are cheaper ...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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