Luke Akehurst MP: written questions
240 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Type 31 Frigates: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of adapting Type 31 frigates for enhanced air defence or strike roles to support carrier operations.
Answer: The Type 31 frigate has been designed as a capable, flexible and affordable general-purpose platform that will undertake a wide range of global tasks. The Department routinely assesses the potential merits of adapting Royal Navy (RN) platforms, including ...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFrigates: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the levels of demand among allied navies for specialised anti-submarine warfare frigates.
Answer: The Government continues to review trends in allied demand for specialised anti‑submarine warfare capabilities as part of its assessment of the evolving and growing undersea threat.
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordWarships: ShipbuildingMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119019More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the capacity of the UK shipbuilding industry to sustain the production of complex warships.
Answer: The UK has a strong sovereign shipbuilding industry with a long history of delivering complex vessels for the Royal Navy. This expertise is also recognised by our allies and partners, including the £10 billion strategic partnership deal to export the Type...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordWarships: ExportsMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119018More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the total value of recent UK warship exports, including those of the Type 26 and Type 31 frigate programmes.
Answer: The UK continues to support defence exports through the provision of design expertise, government‑to‑government engagement, and industrial collaboration. Recent successes include an agreement worth £10 billion to supply Norway with Type 26 frigates, and t...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordArmy: DeploymentMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117989More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the equipment that would be required to enable a UK Army division to operate as a war-fighting formation.
Answer: The Army has undertaken a broad assessment of the capabilities and enablers required for a UK Strategic Reserve Corps (SRC), inclusive of a division, to operate as a credible war‑fighting formation. This assessment is aligned with Defence planning assumpt...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of cancelling the Ajax programme on planned British Army equipment numbers.
Answer: As advised within my Written Ministerial Statement dated 22 January 2026, the future of the Ajax platform is being considered as part of the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP). The DIP will set out investment priorities across Defence, to ensure we...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordArmy: Defence EquipmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of war stocks held by the British Army to replace damaged or destroyed equipment in a high-intensity conflict.
Answer: The Army has undertaken a broad assessment of the capabilities and enablers required for a UK Strategic Reserve Corps (SRC), inclusive of a division, to operate as a credible war‑fighting formation. This assessment is aligned with Defence planning assumpt...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordArmoured Fighting VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117986More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for this policies of the absence of a mechanised infantry combat vehicle in British Army equipment plans.
Answer: Boxer is set to become the new British Mechanised Infantry Vehicle, an eight-by-eight-wheeled, all-terrain, armoured transport vehicle, designed for rapid deployment, high mobility, and modularity.
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordApprentices: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117985More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of reducing Level 7 apprenticeship funding on the delivery of the (a) NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and (b) Fit for the Future 10 Year Health Pl
Answer: While funding arrangements for level 7 apprenticeships are changing, NHS England and the Department are funding ongoing provision of level 7 apprenticeships in five professions to support the delivery of our 10-Year Health Plan and the upcoming 10 Year Wo...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordApprentices: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117984More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what alternative progression routes he plans to put in place for experienced staff affected by the cut to Level 7 apprenticeship funding who cannot afford postgraduate study but are expected to operate
Answer: This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity and is determined to tackle the 40% fall in apprenticeship starts by young people aged under 25 that we’ve seen over the last decade. Since January 2026, the government no longer ...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordApprentices: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117983More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what evidence his Department used to inform its decision to amend eligibility to funding for Level 7 apprenticeships from 1 January 2026; and if she will publish that evidence.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for North Durham to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57823.
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordApprentices: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with employers on the level of support for retention, succession planning and productivity for jobs affected by the potential impact of changes to eligibility to funding for
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for North Durham to the answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 88252.
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordApprentices: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117981More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to eligibility to funding for Level 7 apprenticeships from 1 January 2026 on regional inequality (a) in County Durham and (b) England.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for North Durham to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57823.
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordApprentices: Public SectorDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117980More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to eligibility to funding for Level 7 apprenticeships from 1 January 2026 on workforce development in public services, including the NHS.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for North Durham to the answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 88252.
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordApprentices: FinanceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117979More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to eligibility to funding for Level 7 apprenticeships from 1 January 2026 on trends in the level of social mobility for people from low-in
Answer: I refer the hon. Member for North Durham to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57823.
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordForeign Influence Registration SchemeHome OfficeTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117978More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many registrations have been made under the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme; and how many of those registrations have included the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Answer: As of the 5th of March, there are 11 registrations on the FIRS public register. We will not provide details of registrations beyond that which is on the public register as to do so could identify information not intended to be published and undermine the ...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCanada and Norway: Type 26 FrigatesMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117516More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps is his Department is taking to ensure interoperability of Type 26 frigates across UK, Canadian, and Norwegian fleets.
Answer: The UK works closely with Canada and Norway to ensure interoperability across frigates based on the Type 26 design through regular engagements covering shipbuilding, training, supply chain management, through life sustainability and aligned standard opera...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: North Atlantic OceanMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117515More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role general-purpose frigates within the Royal Navy will have following the development of the Atlantic Bastion concept.
Answer: Within the Atlantic Bastion concept, Royal Navy general‑purpose frigates will continue to play an important role in providing maritime presence, patrol, escort and reassurance tasks, while also acting as flexible platforms able to integrate with uncrewed ...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordUSA: PacificMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117514More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for UK maritime security of the United States Navy placing increased strategic emphasis on the Pacific region.
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review 25 clearly sets out how the UK will maintain its Defence and Security, including maritime security. This includes the Defence Secretary’s foreword to the review highlighting investment in the hybrid navy as a priority, and in ...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Antisubmarine WarfareMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117513More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether anti-submarine warfare is the primary operational focus of the Royal Navy for the foreseeable future.
Answer: Anti-submarine warfare remains a central and enduring operational priority for the Royal Navy due to the need to protect the UK’s Continuous at Sea Deterrent and to counter the growing undersea threat in the North Atlantic through the Atlantic Bastion con...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: North Atlantic OceanMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117512More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with Canada, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands on cooperation in the North Atlantic in connection with the Atlantic Bastion concept.
Answer: Within the Atlantic Bastion concept, Royal Navy general‑purpose frigates will continue to play an important role in providing maritime presence, patrol, escort and reassurance tasks, while also acting as flexible platforms able to integrate with uncrewed ...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordType 26 Frigates: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates are expected to be available for operations in the North Atlantic in support of the Atlantic Bastion concept.
Answer: The Type 26 programme will deliver eight anti-submarine warfare frigates for the Royal Navy, which are designed primarily for operations in the North Atlantic and will form a core component of the Atlantic Bastion concept.
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordArmoured Fighting Vehicles: Intellectual PropertyMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117130More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure future armoured vehicle programmes secure intellectual property rights to avoid sole-source support contracts.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has an established Intellectual Property (IP) acquisition policy which applies to all procurement contracts including those for equipment and armoured fighting vehicles. Unless special circumstances apply, the MOD’s policy is...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117129More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department expects to incur any cost of safety trials for Ajax vehicles.
Answer: As with procurement of any military equipment, it is normal for the Department to pay for trials required to validate compliance with requirements. This includes safety aspects, which we take extremely seriously for Ajax, as with any other capability.
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117128More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the timetable expected for a full safety report into Ajax family vehicles.
Answer: As the hon. Member will be aware, investigations into Ajax remain ongoing, and time must be given to ensure all information and evidence is considered. I will continue to keep the house informed of developments, as I have done since the issue arose n Exer...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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