Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
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Written questions
Air Force: InfrastructureMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72337More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of RAF infrastructure is more than 50 years old.
Answer: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand that considerable amounts of the defence estate is over 50 years old but the Government does not keep statistics based on...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSpace: DefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72336More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential merits of renegotiating the 1967 Outer Space Treaty to reflect current exploitation of the difference between (a) air and (b) space.
Answer: The Outer Space Treaty (OST) is the cornerstone of international space law with all major space-faring nations being party to this treaty. The Treaty explicitly affirms that activities in the exploration and use of outer space must be carried out in accor...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: Alternative FuelsMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72335More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the outcome of Project Monet.
Answer: Project MONET delivered detailed reporting on the potential for emerging technologies to enhance Defence flying training which will inform future investment decisions.
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72334More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are his Department’s ethical principles for developing and deploying AI.
Answer: The SDR recognised the transformative potential of AI and set out MOD's commitment to accelerate the adoption of AI-enabled capabilities across warfighting domains. All development and use of AI across Defence must align with MOD's AI Ethics Principles, p...
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSpace Technology: DefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72333More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential merits of elevating space assets to a priority portfolio under the National Armaments Director.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence is introducing Service-agnostic capability portfolios to increase flexibility and drive pace in procurement. As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, delivering space-based capabilities is a priority for defence and a space syst...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Defence and Security ExportsMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72332More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date will the Defence Exports Office be operational.
Answer: Design work for the Exports function is well underway and building momentum through several pilot Government to Government exports. Initial stand up is expected no later than end October 2025 with full implementation continuing over the next 12 months.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: TestingMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72331More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the result of the trial drone against drone engagement using the APKWS precision-guided rocket conducted by BAE Systems Falconworks unit.
Answer: The trial referenced by the hon. Member was conducted by BAE Systems for a multi-rotor Uncrewed Air System (UAS) and the information on the trial can be found on the open internet.The UK Armed Forces remain steadfast in their commitment to advancing their...
Answered 19 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAfghanistan: ResettlementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Afghans housed in Service Families Accommodation under Operation Lazurite were brought to the UK under the Afghan Response Route.
Answer: We are committed to honouring the promise made to those Afghans who supported the UK mission in Afghanistan, often at great personal risk.As of 4 September 2025, there are 97 Afghan Response Route (ARR) eligible families residing in Settled Service Family...
Answered 9 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAnt MiddletonMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date Ant Middleton was appointed by the Executive Council as the first Chief Cadet of the Volunteer Cadet Corps.
Answer: In November 2019, Ant Middleton was appointed as Chief Cadet and Honorary Captain in the Royal Navy’s Volunteer Cadet Corps. This ended nine months later following controversial statements made on Twitter.
Answered 4 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordISTARMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72260More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the composition is of the UK ISTAR Force.
Answer: The current RAF UK ISTAR Force is listed below: Poseidon MRA1 RC-135W Rivet Joint Reaper (MQ-9A) Protector RG Mk1 (MQ-9B) Shadow R1 Wedgetail AEW Mk1
Answered 6 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: CrewMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72259More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what balance of (a) airmanship, (b) handling aptitude and (c) capacity his Department will use to stream pilots for Protector as opposed to fast-jet, rotary or multi-engine.
Answer: Airmanship, handling aptitude and capacity has been interpreted to be characteristics of an individual pilot. There is no specific set balance regarding airmanship, handling aptitude, and capacity used when streaming pilots for Protector as opposed to fas...
Answered 6 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72258More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Protector MQ-9Bs have been procured for the Royal Air Force.
Answer: Sixteen Protector RG Mk1 have been procured for the Royal Air Force.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72257More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what manpower reduction Protector MQ-9B’s ATLC function creates by replacing the LRE capability of Reaper.
Answer: The Automatic Take Off and Land Capability (ATLC) of Protector negates the requirement for Ground Control Station (GCS), pilot, sensor operator and GCS support staff to be present at any forward operating base to conduct the take-off and landing. As Prote...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72256More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what date sufficient crews and familiarisation with the new Protector system will be achieved to allow Protector to be deployed.
Answer: I am withholding the requested information as it would harm the Capabilities and Security of the Armed Forces.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72255More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from when will Protector be certified to operate in Class A to C airspace.
Answer: As a military registered air system, Protector RG Mk1 only requires certification by the Military Aviation Authority, who issued the Military Type Certificate for the air system in April 2025. Protector is already capable of operating in Class A and C air...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: CrewMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72254More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from what date RPAS will pilots be streamed for selection rather than recruited separately from crewed systems.
Answer: With effect from 1 April 2024, Pilots recruited into the Royal Air Force are eligible to be streamed to Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) following completion of their Elementary Flying Training.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ares vehicles will be required by an infantry platoon in the armoured role.
Answer: The Department does not release detailed information on its workforce requirements below top-level figures. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will understand that I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the ...
Answered 6 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72226More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the 8005 manning establishment for an infantry (a) platoon, (b) company and (c) battalion in the armoured role equipped with Ares.
Answer: The Department does not release detailed information on its workforce requirements below top-level figures. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will understand that I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the ...
Answered 6 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBoxer VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72225More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the 8005 manning establishment for an infantry (a) platoon, (b) company and (c) battalion in the heavy mechanised role equipped with Boxer.
Answer: The Department does not release detailed information on its workforce requirements below top-level figures. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will understand that I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the ...
Answered 6 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordWeapons: TestingMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72224More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what integration opportunities across the Defence enterprise have been identified by the DE&S battlespace integration centre.
Answer: The Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Battlespace Integration Centre has identified numerous integration opportunities through the work undertaken to date on Integrated Air and Missile Defence, Future Air Dominance System, and other themes within t...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBallistic Missile DefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72216More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress Defence Equipment and Support has made on modelling the key integration challenges associated with Homeland Integrated Air and Missile Defence.
Answer: Modelling the key integration challenges associated with Homeland Integrated Air and Missile Defence is in progress to determine the best balance for investment of the up to £1 billion of new funding announced in the Strategic Defence Review.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNavigation: SatellitesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72215More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress the Defence Equipment and Support Space delivery team has made on researching alternatives to global positioning systems.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence continues to use GPS, but to ensure resilience we will continue to investigate alternatives. The Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Space Delivery Team continue to progress the research into alternative Global Positioning Sys...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy: Ajax Vehicles and Boxer VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what doctrinal publication defines the British Army’s armoured infantry company group tactics.
Answer: The British Army’s Armoured Infantry company group tactics are defined within the doctrinal publication Army Field Manual Warfighting Tactics, Part 5A: Armoured and Armoured Infantry Subunit Tactics.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNuclear Submarines: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72213More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the size of the budget contingency for the Dreadnought nuclear submarine programme is.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to page 11 of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise 2025 Annual Update to Parliament, which was published on 22 May 2025. The publication is available at the following location: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/682f01c2e9440...
Answered 7 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: Nuclear WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 72212More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which sovereign missile systems are able to be installed on F-35B.
Answer: The Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), Meteor and SPEAR 3 are the sovereign missiles that can be installed on the F-35B. ASRAAM is fully cleared and in service for use on the F-35B whilst both Meteor and SPEAR 3 are undergoing integration v...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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