Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
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Written questions
Army: RiflesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71983More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on (a) developing and (b) procuring the A2 variant chambered in 6.5mm Creedmoor of the L129 rifle.
Answer: L129 Sharpshooter rifles have recently been upgraded to the A2 standard and will be issued to units in the coming months. This upgrade has delivered a modular weapon system that can be modified to 6.5 Creedmoor.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy: RiflesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of Project Grayburn procuring a rifle with a common lower receiver group and a variable upper receiver group, based on role.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 28 April 2025 to Question 45196, which explains that Project GRAYBURN is in its concept phase with the aim of identifying and understanding capability requirements, which includes consideration of other ...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordDefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71981More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what lessons his Department learned from Project Hunter.
Answer: In 2023, a review of the approach used to inform the down-selection of AR15 variants for Project HUNTER was conducted. The intent of this review was to capture and understand any lessons or short-comings from this approach so that these can be addressed f...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy: RiflesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71980More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential merits of adopting the (a) L403A1-AIW, (b) the L119A1/A2 and (c) the Sig Sauer MCX as the replacement for the L85A3.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 28 April 2025 to Question 45196.
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNavyMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71979More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of adopting the US Marines’ littoral regiment concept for naval infantry as outlined in their Force Design 2030.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence keeps allied force design developments under review but has no plans to adopt the US Marine Corps Littoral Regiment construct which is designed to support archipelagic warfare and distributed operations in the Indo-Pacific. The Roy...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71978More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of developing a wing-in-ground effect craft for (a) naval logistics and (b) Royal Marines amphibious assault.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence engages routinely with the United States Department of Defense, the US Navy and the US Marine Corps on capability development and experimentation. We are aware of allied activity relating to seaglider technologies and wing-in-groun...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: USAMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71977More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions his Department has had with their US counterparts on the recent trial of the Regent Craft Viceroy Seaglider by the US Marine Corps.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence engages routinely with the United States Department of Defense, the US Navy and the US Marine Corps on capability development and experimentation. We are aware of allied activity relating to seaglider technologies and wing-in-groun...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRAF Akrotiri and RAF Lossiemouth: Air Traffic ControlMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71976More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on upgrading (a) RAF Lossiemouth and (b) RAF Akrotiri to a new digital Air Traffic Control system.
Answer: The Lossiemouth Programme team has completed a programme of thorough research into potential suppliers of Digital Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems and understand the required regulatory assurance processes for the Military Aviation Authority. The program...
Answered 7 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRAF Akrotiri: Military AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71975More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the pan space at RAF Akrotiri in order to accommodate the increase in air assets held at the base.
Answer: There are currently no plans to expand the available ‘pan space’ at RAF Akrotiri. The Ministry of Defence is well set to expand at RAF Akrotiri should the need arise.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRAF Akrotiri: Military AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71974More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of widening the runway at RAF Akrotiri owing to the increased size of the aircraft that use the base.
Answer: No assessment has identified a current requirement to widen the runway at RAF Akrotiri. The existing runway infrastructure fully supports the current operational requirements of the station and remains compliant with the standards set out in the Military ...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMOD Chicksands: RAF WytonMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71973More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) units and (b) functions will be moved from MoD Chicksands to RAF Wyton; and how many personnel.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to identify the best approach to realise the sale of the surplus land parcels including MOD Chicksands. This will include a detailed options appraisal and analysis of the proposed move's business case, however at th...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Hostage TakingMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71972More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress the 14 Squadron Royal Air Force has made on locating the remaining hostages held in Gaza following 7 October 2025.
Answer: While I am unable to comment on intelligence matters for operational security reasons, I can say that the UK Government has been working closely with partners across the region to secure the safe release and recovery of hostages.In support of this effort,...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAntisubmarine WarfareMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71971More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on securing new capability by the Royal Navy’s Anti-Submarine Warfare Spearhead programme.
Answer: The Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Spearhead Programme has focussed on accelerating the Navy’s understanding of advanced capabilities. Key areas progressed include maritime autonomy, machine learning and artificial intelligence, to supplement existing crewe...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSubmarinesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71970More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the capability of the Royal Navy’s Project CETUS crewless submarine demonstrator following its launch in February 2025.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence is continuing to assess XV EXCALIBUR to determine its operational capabilities. Since its launch in February 2025, the vessel has already completed Sea Acceptance Trials and recently participated in multinational collaboration as p...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLE TacCIS ProgrammeMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71969More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the scope is of the TIQUILA intelligence, surveillance, tracking and reconnaissance programme.
Answer: TIQUILA is delivering Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) enabled Mini Uncrewed Air Systems (MUAS). TIQUILA will deliver Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLoS) persistent ISTAR information to Brigade Combat Teams across ...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPrison Officers: Protective ClothingMinistry of JusticeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers require stab vests due to the danger of the prisoners in their charge.
Answer: The previous Lord Chancellor announced in June the mandatory use of Protective Body Armour (PBA – also known as stab vests), for staff in specialist units, which includes Close Supervision Centres, Separation Centres and Segregation Units in the Long-Term...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPrison Officers: Protective ClothingMinistry of JusticeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what stab vests are issued to prison officers.
Answer: Protective body armour (PBA) is currently issued in the following circumstances:Operational Response and Resilience Unit staff wear PBA when deployed. Where necessary, ballistic protection may be required.Operation Tornado mobilised staff are issued PBA a...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCyprus: PrisonsMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71966More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve (a) infrastructure and (b) capacity at HMP Dhekalia within the Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus.
Answer: HMP Dhekelia has received several infrastructure upgrades in recent years, including refreshed dining and recreational spaces. A redevelopment of the facility is currently in the planning stages, which aims to increase capacity and further improve facilit...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLincolnshire Police: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71965More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional funds above and beyond the police grant have been allocated to Lincolnshire Police to extend the financial viability of the police force.
Answer: Despite the challenging fiscal environment, this government is committed to investing in policing.In May 2025, the Home Office provided a package of funding support to Lincolnshire worth up to £5.7m. The Home Office is working closely with Lincolnshire, o...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: FinanceHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71964More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49534 on Asylum: Finance, how many instances of Aspen card usage for purposes not within the parameters of the cards’ use have been recorded since 5 J
Answer: Aspen cards are issued only to the main applicants on claims for Asylum Support. Those on Section 95 support are able to withdraw cash and utilise chip and pin for transactions. Aspen cards for those on Section 4 can only be used for chip and pin payments...
Answered 12 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMotorcycles: Road Traffic OffencesHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71963More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the process is for risk assessing the pursuit of a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet.
Answer: There is no prohibition on undertaking a pursuit of a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet.Decisions on when to initiate a pursuit involving a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet are operational matters for the police, taking into account...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordCambridgeshire Constabulary: Stun GunsHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71962More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by what date Taser 10 will be approved for use by Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
Answer: We are considering the results of independent testing and assessments of the Taser 10, before we take a decision on whether to approve it for police use.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordPolice: VeteransHome OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71961More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of police officers in England and Wales are former armed forces service personnel.
Answer: The Home Office does not hold data on police officers that were previously in the armed forces.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordHinchingbrooke HospitalDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71960More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the level of the increase in the NHS backlog at Hinchingbrooke Hospital following strike action by resident doctors in July 2025.
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care has not made a formal estimate of the level of increases in NHS waiting lists at individual hospital site level.NHS England regularly publishes its Referral to Treatment Waiting Times every month, which are availab...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS: StrikesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 71959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the level of available resource within the NHS of (a) resident doctors, (b) consultants and (c) nurses in the event of strike action.
Answer: The National Health Service makes every effort through rigorous contingency planning to minimise disruption as a result of industrial action and its impact on patients and the public. Assessments are made by local Trusts about the level of resourcing, and...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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