Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
3453 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Contingency 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 recordArmed Forces: Motor VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14529More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what platform the Future All Terrain Vehicle is based.
Answer: The Future All‑Terrain Vehicle (FATV) is an enhanced variant of the BAE Systems BvS10 armoured all‑terrain vehicle and will replace the Arctic‑capable Viking amphibious vehicles currently in service. Vehicle production has commenced, and trials and testin...
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14528More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 73 of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, by when the programme to develop UK autonomous jets will begin.
Answer: The programme to develop UK autonomous jets leverages years of work in autonomy and remotely piloted aircraft. The £300 million investment represents a programme to develop UK collaborative combat aircraft, working with industry and leveraging technologie...
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14527More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of Project FRONTIER.
Answer: Programme FRONTIER is Defence’s programme to put the most advanced forms of artificial intelligence to work for the UK’s Armed Forces. AI is developing at extraordinary pace, creating new opportunities for operational advantage and new risks if Defence ca...
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: InnovationMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14526More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled High-speed boats and new drones for elite Commando Force under Defence Investment Plan, published on 28 June 2026, what the breakdown is of the £100 million for new tr
Answer: The £100 million announced in the press release is additional investment in the ongoing Commando Force Transformation programme. This will fund, over four years, investments in cutting edge technology. The exact investments to be made will be decided thro...
Answered 6 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence EquipmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14525More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope is of Project PRESAGIUM.
Answer: Project PRESAGIUM forms part of the UK’s layered Integrated Air and Missile Defence system, focusing specifically on the protection of fixed sites. The full scope of the project remains classified to prevent providing any advantage to potential adversarie...
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordHMS ProtectorMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14524More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 52 of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, by when he plans to replace HMS Protector.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan has allocated funding to replace HMS PROTECTOR but the exact timeline for this replacement is subject to further work. This will depend on the method of procurement which is yet to be decided.
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordJonathan PowellForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14523More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date is Jonathan Powell’s role as Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian
Answer: Mr Powell ceased his role as BIOT envoy when he was appointed to his new role as the National Security Adviser (NSA) on 8 November 2024.
Answered 6 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14522More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his foreword in the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, what were the projects that were delayed or over budget; when were they due and how much were they delayed by; and by how
Answer: Information on the status of major programmes within the Government Major Projects Portfolio, including details pertaining to schedule and expenditure, is published each year alongside the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NIST...
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordType 45 DestroyersMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14521More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the out-of-service date for the Type 45 fleet.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided to Question 123464 on 1 April 2026: On current plans, the last Type 45 Destroyer will retire from service by the end of 2038. The Royal Navy does not release out of service dates for individual ships.
Answered 6 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMarines: Amphibious WarshipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14520More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2026 to question 121942 on Navy Procurement, with reference to the Press release High-speed boats and new drones for elite Commando Force under Defence Investment Plan, publishe
Answer: The terms Commando Insertion Craft and Joint Commando Craft refer to the same vessels.
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordUSA: Armed ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14519More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the suitability of the process by which US Military Police or the USAF Office of Special investigations can take charge of an investigation involving British civilian victims and US
Answer: The Visiting Forces Act (1952) sets out the legal basis for how jurisdiction for criminal offences is decided between the UK civil authorities and a Visiting Force’s service court martial. This is implemented in practice by the police, the Crown Prosecuti...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary Bases: OxfordshireMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14042More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many asylum seekers are being housed in Service Families Accommodation at Ambrosden.
Answer: No asylum seekers have been accommodated in Service Family Accommodation at Ambrosden or across the UK as a whole.
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordMarines: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Press release “High-speed boats and new drones for elite Commando Force under Defence Investment Plan” published on 28 June 2026, what is the breakdown of the £500 million across current and
Answer: The transformation of the Commando Force has already made real progress, including the procurement of new weapons, night vision equipment and the creation of EVE, an advanced communications network. As outlined in the press release, the Defence Investment...
Answered 2 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordArmy: Military IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the opening address by the Chief of the General Staff at the RUSI Land Warfare Conference 2026, what is the MVP profile of the Asgard decide system.
Answer: ASGARD DECIDE has been working with leading UK technology firms to transform how the Army leverages artificial intelligence in warfighting, including through the use of agentic artificial intelligence models. The capability is currently being used in its ...
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordCASOM: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14039More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has he made in procuring SCALP.
Answer: The recently-published Defence Investment Plan stated the UK will pivot from the joint French and UK procurement of New Build Storm Shadow and SCALP Mark 2, to next-generation low-cost cruise missiles and the future Complex Weapon programme, Stratus.
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordBoxer VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2026 to question 11054 on Boxer vehicles; which infantry units are currently due to receive the Boxer vehicles between now and 2030.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to Question 11053 answered on the 23 June 2026, which remains extant. However, the Department does not routinely disclose unit level equipment allocations due to operational sensitivities.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/...
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Force: Unmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14037More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the full scope of Project HORNETS NEST.
Answer: Project HORNETS NEST is a Defence experimentation programme exploring the military application of First Person View (FPV) drones. The project forms part of wider Defence efforts to incorporate lessons from contemporary conflicts and ensure the Armed Force...
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14036More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2026 to question 10787 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on UK F-35 Lightning Force of the Global Support Solution reset.
Answer: The Department anticipates that the Global Support Solution reset will lead to improved aircraft availability and readiness for the Lightning Force.
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: IndustryMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14035More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2025 to question 83109 on Defence: Industry, what was the outcome of the consultation on the UK offsets regime launched on 23 October 2025.
Answer: As set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), the Ministry of Defence is exploring a Back British offset policy to support British businesses and deliver the DIS vision to make defence an engine for growth. The process began on 23 October 2025 and ...
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: SatellitesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14034More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2025, to question 79460 on UK Space Command, what is the name of the project for new detection technology to spot lasers that adversaries may use to dazzle satellites and inte
Answer: In order to maintain operational national security and protect our assets I am withholding the name of the project.
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: FirearmsMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14033More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2026, to question 11277 on Armed Forces: Firearms, can he confirm whether the C8 rifles were lost on overseas operations.
Answer: The security of small arms is taken very seriously within the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and we have robust procedures in place to deter, detect and prevent loss and theft which are constantly reviewed. All losses and thefts of small arms are fully and ri...
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14032More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2025 to question 83142 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, what progress has he made in introducing a competition for novel uncrewed aerial systems.
Answer: UK Defence Innovation is leading the competition for Project Nyx, first launched in January 2026. Project NYX is developing an Autonomous Collaborative Platform to serve alongside the British Army and its AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. The programme ha...
Answered 9 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14031More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2025 to question 83119 on Defence: Training, what progress has he made in confirming the launch date for the Apprenticeship and Graduate Clearing System.
Answer: We are working with the 5% Club and industry, including through the Defence Industrial Joint Council, to pilot an approach to retaining talent within the defence sector. We expect the pilot to begin during this financial year.
Answered 9 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordArmy: DatabasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14030More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the opening address by the Chief of the General Staff at the RUSI Land Warfare Conference 2026, what is the British Army data standard adopted by the US military.
Answer: The Chief of the General Staff was referring to the British Army's ASGARD DECIDE ‘Rules of the Game’, which codify the principles, standards and integration requirements for capabilities operating within the Army's decision-support ecosystem. The ‘Rules o...
Answered 7 Jul 2026
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →