Mark Francois MP: written questions
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Written questions
Rifles: CostsMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52585More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost is of the L129A1 Sharpshooter Rifle programme for the Royal Marines; and whether additional costs have been incurred due to the adoption of the 6.5mm Creedmoor calibre.
Answer: The L129A1 is provided to the Royal Marines from the Army, via Defence Equipment and Support, as part of the Lead Command Model. The total cost to Defence was £1.5 million. Additional costs have been incurred for Creedmoor as the transition to this calibr...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRifles: CostsMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52584More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total cost of the Royal Marines’ Knights Armament Stoner 1 (KS-1) rifle programme, including (a) optical and thermal sights and suppressors and (b) all associated equipment; and how much of this budge
Answer: The Knight Stoner KS-1 has been procured by Royal Navy as part of the Future Commando Force Transformation. The total cost of this rifle to the Programme is £30.422 million, of which, £22.887 million has been spent to date.
Answered 27 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNavy: ConferencesMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was spent on the First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference 2025.
Answer: The Royal Navy allocated £38,000 of funding for the First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference 2025. This money has not been spent and will be utilised when the conference is re-scheduled.
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 48367, what his Department's timeline is for implementing that robust mechanism review process; what steps his Department
Answer: Once the treaty is signed it will be put before both Houses for scrutiny before ratification in the usual way.
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51112More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 49325 on Boeing E-7, what challenges his Department has encountered in the (a) modification and (b) integration processes for the second and third E-7 Wedgetail ai
Answer: The second and third E-7 Wedgetail aircraft continue their modification process at STS Aviation, Birmingham airport. The build is progressing well with lessons learned from aircraft one having been adopted.
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7Ministry of DefenceTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51111More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 49322 on Boeing E-7, what further test flights are planned for the first E-7 Wedgetail aircraft before it enters its test and evaluation phase.
Answer: The Wedgetail programme has already entered the flight test programme and has completed three flights. There is a comprehensive ground and flight test programme in 2025 prior to the aircraft being handed over to the Royal Air Force, the exact number of wh...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNavy: ConferencesMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51110More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding his Department provided for the First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference 2024.
Answer: Funding for the First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference 2024 was £38,000.
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7Ministry of DefenceTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the previous ownership status was of each of the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.
Answer: The three airframes were previously on the United States civil aircraft register. They were registered to Boeing.
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: CostsMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49326More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) acquisition, (b) modification, (c) training and (d) infrastructure development costs are of each of the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.
Answer: The whole life costs of the E7 programme are subject to approval by His Majesty's Government and cannot be confirmed until this process concludes.
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49325More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the status is of the (a) modification and (b) integration processes for the second and third E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.
Answer: The modification of the second and third E-7 Wedgetail aircraft continues.The second Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar is fitted to aircraft two and the third MESA is on site and scheduled to be fitted in June 2025.
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49324More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any issues have been reported to his Department on the Ajax armoured vehicle’s ability to fire on the move.
Answer: No issues have been reported; the Ajax armoured vehicle’s ability to fire on the move has been successfully demonstrated.
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: SafetyMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49323More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Ajax armoured vehicle programme has completed its full safety case.
Answer: Yes. Full safety cases are in place for all Ajax variants.
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7Ministry of DefenceTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49322More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many test flights the first E-7 Wedgetail aircraft has successfully completed.
Answer: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 January 2025 to Question 25383 to the hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire South (Johanna Baxter).
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAerospace Industry: Small BusinessesDepartment for TransportTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48853More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Civil Aviation Authority is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises to test innovative aerospace technologies that require exemptions from standard Civil Aviation Authority boundarie
Answer: The Department through its Future of Flight programme and support for Jet Zero technology is working with the CAA to enable testing of innovative aerospace technologies by mainly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This includes:Introducing a new “...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48371More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the defence sector with (a) high costs and (b) limited access to suitable facilities for (i) developing and (ii) tes
Answer: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are a vital part of the UK defence supply base, contributing to growth through high-skilled jobs and dual use technology. We are supporting their competitiveness through investment from the National Security Strat...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Aviation Authority: RegulationMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to streamline the permissions process for small and medium-sized enterprises for testing new defence capabilities that fall outside Civil Aviation Authority regulations.
Answer: The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) as the air safety regulator for the Defence Air Environment sets the regulatory framework for Air System Test activity. It continues to support the Ministry of Defence’s ambitions, and has reorganised, upskilled and d...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Firing RangesMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to Ministry of Defence test ranges for (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises without a sponsor from his Department
Answer: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) make a vital contribution to economic growth and are a valuable source of technical innovation in defence. This is recognised in the Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, as well as the Department’s Social Va...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46691 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether he plans to report to Parliament on the programme of resettl
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to his previous Question, 48365.
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46691 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether his Department has conducted a risk assessment on the possib
Answer: There will be robust security provisions to protect the base, including a robust mechanism and review process to ensure no activity in the other islands can impinge upon base operations, as well as a prohibition on the presence of foreign security forces ...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46691 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, what vetting process will be used to determine participation in the
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to his previous Question, 48365.
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48365More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46691 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether resettlement will be limited to the Chagossian diaspora; and
Answer: This agreement will enable Mauritius to develop a programme of resettlement on the islands, other than Diego Garcia. The terms of resettlement will be for Mauritius to determine.
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTerrorism: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47620More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has committed to restoring the Loughall inquest since his meeting with Loughall Truth on 24 March 2025.
Answer: The Government is committed to repeal and replace the almost universally opposed - and in many respects, unlawful - Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023. As part of this commitment, the Government has been consistently clear th...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023Northern Ireland OfficeTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which (a) veterans groups and associations and (b) other stakeholder groups his Department consulted before deciding to not to continue the Supreme Court appeal on the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy a
Answer: In the Dillon and Others case, the Northern Ireland High Court made a number of section 4 Human Rights Act declarations of incompatibility in respect of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The Government takes its human rig...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordTerrorism: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department has made an assessment of the value for money of the cost of public inquires on Troubles-related legacy issues in Northern Ireland in the context of the Northern Ireland Troubles (
Answer: The Northern Ireland Office works closely with His Majesty's Treasury to ensure value for money for the tax payer on all of the policies it delivers, including public inquiries.
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023Northern Ireland OfficeTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he plans to review the decision not to continue the appeal against the Northern Ireland High Court’s declaration of incompatibility regarding sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Ireland Troubles (
Answer: The High Court found sections 46 and 47 of the Legacy Act to be incompatible with the UK’s international human rights commitments. This Government takes such matters extremely seriously, and the provisions therefore need to be repealed. The Government is ...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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