Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
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Written questions
Navy: Uncrewed SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4930More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the answer of 16 April 2026 to question 124255 on Navy: Uncrewed Systems, which autonomous systems have been a) developed and b) adopted via the Maritime Big Play programme.
Answer: Maritime Big Play is focussed on technology standards and solutions that will facilitate tri-lateral AUKUS interoperability of uncrewed systems. The intended outcome is the provision of clear recommendations to ensure that the nations are able to operate ...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Military AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to question 125359 on Teledyne Marine: Navy, by when he plans to deliver Sentinel and Slocum gliders to the Royal Navy.
Answer: Sentinel and Slocum gliders are being delivered as part of the Royal Navy’s Future Maritime Data Gathering programme, with remaining deliveries expected in summer 2026.
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his foreword in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, what progress he has made on delivering land drone swarms.
Answer: The British Army and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory are progressing a research and development project to deliver land drone swarming capabilities. Phase 1 completed in April 2026 and focused on developing a software defined swarm testbed, ...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordGuided Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4927More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his foreword in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, what progress he has made on delivering up to 7,000 new long range weapons.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence continues to deliver the munitions programme for the UK’s Armed Forces against evolving threats. The Defence Investment Plan will turn the Strategic Defence Review’s vision and recommendations into an affordable delivery plan. It w...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4926More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the development of Ajax 2.
Answer: The Department is working on a phased approach to delivering an improved Ajax vehicle. The first phase will restart trials using the current version of Ajax, with a limited number of vehicles operated under tightly controlled conditions and maintenance re...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPoland: Military AlliancesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (CP1338), published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made on collaborating with Poland on air and missile defence.
Answer: In accordance with the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, we are prioritising collaboration and capability development with European allies, including Poland. The UK and Poland signed the Northolt Treaty on 27 May, a b...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCanada: Military AlliancesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (CP1338), published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made on improving the defence and security partnership with C
Answer: As set out in the Joint Statement by the Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom and Canada on 15 June 2025, we are working to strengthen cooperation bilaterally, through NATO and the Five Eyes partnership, including to support Ukraine in its self-defence a...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordEuropean Union: Military AlliancesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4923More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (CP1338), published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made on enabling closer cooperation with the EU on maritime s
Answer: The UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) makes provision for UK-EU maritime security cooperation including on the Shadow Fleet. Officials are continuing to explore ways to deepen practical UK-EU maritime-security engagement that complements and re...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordUSA: Military AlliancesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4922More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (CP1338), published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made on a) renewing and b) increasing greater strategic depth
Answer: The US is the UK’s principal defence and security partner. The depth of our defence relationship with the US remains an essential pillar of our security. Our defence cooperation is mutually supportive, and we continue deep cooperation with the US on issue...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordReserve ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4921More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on preparing reserve forces to protect critical national infrastructure.
Answer: On Strategic Defence Review recommendation 27, the MOD is developing options for the protection of critical national infrastructure in the event of crisis or conflict, including exploring the development of a new force that is modelled on the Reserves and...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen ElizabethMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4920More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of the defence budget was taken up by the construction of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales in each year from 2010 until their completion.
Answer: The construction of the two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers was a multi-year capital programme, with costs incurred including design, block construction and equipment installation and trials. The total construction cost for both aircraft carriers ...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAUKUSCabinet OfficeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4919More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing an AUKUS visa across trilateral AUKUS partners.
Answer: The UK remains fully committed to “full steam ahead” on AUKUS, injecting pace, focus and significant investment to drive delivery, alongside the US and Australia. The House of Commons Defence Committee report on AUKUS sets out a recommendation to introduc...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAUKUSCabinet OfficeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4918More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress he has made on removing barriers to workforce mobility across AUKUS partners via mutual recognition of security clearances for AUKUS-related work.
Answer: The UK remains fully committed to “full steam ahead” on AUKUS, injecting pace, focus and significant investment to drive delivery, alongside the US and Australia. AUKUS continues to support growth, deliver workforce and skills development and reinvigorate...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAUKUS: Electronic WarfareMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4917More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on developing the cyber capabilities stream of AUKUS Pillar 2.
Answer: The cyber workstream under AUKUS Pillar 2 aims to safeguard the supply chain with the highest standards of cyber security, ensuring its resilience against evolving threats. We are limited in what more we can say given the classified nature of this work.
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAUKUSCabinet OfficeTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4916More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a joint secretariat to support trilateral AUKUS representatives.
Answer: The UK remains fully committed to “full steam ahead” on AUKUS, injecting pace, focus and significant investment to drive delivery, alongside the US and Australia. The House of Commons Defence Committee report on AUKUS sets out a recommendation to establis...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4915More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to identify SMEs eligible for membership of the Authorised User Community.
Answer: All UK SMEs are eligible to apply for membership of the UK Authorised User Community. Since the AUKUS exemption was formalised, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has conducted significant outreach activities aimed at the whole of the UK defence industry, with...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Force: RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4914More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the letter from his Department's Permanent Secretary to the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee on 30 April 2026, what progress he has made on improving the fill rates of engineering posts ac
Answer: The plans the RAF has put in place continue to deliver positive results for achieving the 2032 target.Air Command has focused efforts on the engineering resourcing needed to maintain the fleet (58% RAF and 42% RN). Current fill rates are approximately 75%...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordArtillery: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4913More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2026 to question 2232 on Artillery: Procurement, how many RCH155 are scheduled to be delivered in each year between 2028 and 2032; and to which Regiments.
Answer: The UK’s RCH 155 platforms are scheduled to be delivered individually between 2028 and 2032. Providing a year-by-year breakdown would risk prejudicing commercial arrangements. Concerning RCH 155 fielding plans, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave...
Answered 5 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: Health and SafetyMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4912More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2026 to question 2304 on Ajax Vehicles: Health and Safety, when the review of the Independent Expert Panel Review report is scheduled to be completed.
Answer: The Independent Expert Panel Review (IEPR) has now concluded, and we are currently reviewing its content. As I have done since Exercise Titan Storm, I will continue to update the House on progress with Ajax and will provide an update on the outcome of the...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAntisubmarine Warfare: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4911More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2026 to question 746 on Antisubmarine Warfare: Procurement, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of an interim measure before the Long-Range Anti-Submarine Warfare
Answer: The Long-Range Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon (ASW) remains in its early concept phase, and the Ministry of Defence continues to mature the requirement. Delivery timelines are subject to the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan. The Royal Navy already fi...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAntisubmarine Warfare: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4910More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2026 to question 746 on Antisubmarine Warfare: Procurement, by when the Long-Range Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon is planned to enter service.
Answer: The Long-Range Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon (ASW) remains in its early concept phase, and the Ministry of Defence continues to mature the requirement. Delivery timelines are subject to the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan. The Royal Navy already fi...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAntisubmarine Warfare: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4909More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2026, to question 746 on Antisubmarine Warfare: Procurement, by when is the Long-Range Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon scheduled to progress from the concept phase.
Answer: The Long-Range Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon (ASW) remains in its early concept phase, and the Ministry of Defence continues to mature the requirement. Delivery timelines are subject to the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan. The Royal Navy already fi...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: Guided WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4908More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, following the test of four inert SPEAR 3 missiles on the F-35B at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, by when will plans to complete a) mission systems integration and b) jettison trials.
Answer: Plans to complete mission system integration and jettison trials for SPEAR 3 are part of a wider weapons integration programme and are subject to prioritisation and test platform availability across the entire programme. The SPEAR 3 integration programme ...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: Military ExercisesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4907More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many RAF/RN F-35B aircraft were deployed on Exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2026.
Answer: The United Kingdom participated in NATO’s anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Mongoose in May of this year, conducted in the Norwegian Sea. This activity fell within the scope of HMS Prince of Wales’ Firecrest deployment. No UK F-35 aircraft were depl...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: Military ExercisesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4906More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether participation in Exercise Dynamic Mongoose 2026 falls within the scope of Operation Firecrest.
Answer: The United Kingdom participated in NATO’s anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Mongoose in May of this year, conducted in the Norwegian Sea. This activity fell within the scope of HMS Prince of Wales’ Firecrest deployment. No UK F-35 aircraft were depl...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament record
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