Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
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Written questions
Ajax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the minimum operationally deployable capability drop standard for the Ajax-family of vehicles.
Answer: Capability Drop 3 is the minimum operationally deployable capability drop, with deployability being subject to decisions based on the safety reviews.
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary 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how many of the first 100 vehicles have had their hulls inspected to ensure there are no faults since being withdrawn fr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 recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112346More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026 to question 109314 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, what were the objections expressed by Mauritius regarding the creation of the Mar
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to Question 109314 on 09 February 2026.
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSyria: Islamic StateForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112344More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2026 to question 108357 on Syria: Islamic State, how many Islamic State-linked individuals have been repatriated to the United Kingdom fr
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 February 2025 in response to Question 27530.
Answered 24 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Border ForceHome OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112343More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what policing powers Border Force personnel hold.
Answer: Border Force immigration officers and designated customs officials in England and Wales may utilise some powers set out in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 as applied by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to immigration office...
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Border ForceHome OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112341More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Border Force personnel are qualified to conduct Visit, Board, Search, Seizure operations.
Answer: Border Force officers operate using a range of powers from the Immigration Act 1971, The Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, The Criminal Justic...
Answered 18 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 recordChris WormaldCabinet OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112306More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what role Chris Wormald played in the (a) selection and (b) appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK Ambassador to the United States.
Answer: I refer you to the former Cabinet Secretary’s oral evidence before the Foreign Affairs Committee on 3 November 2025, and the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address.
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLord MandelsonCabinet OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112305More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral contribution of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister in response to the question from the hon. Member for Huntingdon of 9 February 2026, Official Report, column 583, if he will se
Answer: I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, and the Written Ministerial Statement, and the Oral Statement on the 23rd February, in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, which set ...
Answered 10 Mar 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 recordUSA: Diplomatic ServiceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111942More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, who was (a) considered and (b) interviewed for the role of UK Ambassador to the United States in 2025.
Answer: As is normal practice, we do not publish details of unsuccessful applicants, or potential candidates, for senior roles in the diplomatic service or elsewhere in government.
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordChagos IslandsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111941More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions did the National Security Advisor, Jonathan Powell, have with then UK Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson, regarding the Chagos Islands.
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set ou...
Answered 2 Mar 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 RoofingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111939More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of growing water reed for the purposes of thatching materials within the Great Fen project.
Answer: Defra, Natural England, and Environment Agency are working closely with our Great Fen partners to look at the benefits of paludiculture (wetter farming) and trialling a range of diversification options. This is vital to enable thriving and sustainable rur...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordEspionage: ChinaCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111938More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any box notes were provided to the Prime Minister by the National Security Advisor regarding the alleged China Spy Case.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 23 October 2025, Official Report, column 1087.
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department held with the Mauritian Government on the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands in (a) January 2009 and (b) July 2009.
Answer: The then government explained to Parliament in 2009 that the purpose of the meetings in 2009 was to establish a dialogue between the UK and Mauritius on the British Indian Ocean Territory. Officials set out their respective views on the issue of sovereign...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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