Mark Francois MP: written questions 2025
453 published records · newest first.
Written questions
British Nationals Abroad: DetaineesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34789More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to provide consular assistance for British nationals who are arbitrarily detained abroad.
Answer: The Government takes allegations concerning the arbitrary detention of British nationals - including journalists - very seriously. We examine the circumstances of each case individually and develop tailored strategies based on careful judgements on what i...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordJournalism: DetaineesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34788More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to protect British journalists who have been arbitrarily detained abroad.
Answer: The Government takes allegations concerning the arbitrary detention of British nationals - including journalists - very seriously. We examine the circumstances of each case individually and develop tailored strategies based on careful judgements on what i...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Radio FrequenciesMinistry of DefenceTabled 3 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 34787More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the proposed agreement with Mauritius on the Chagos Islands contains a clause allowing other States to use the allocated electromagnetic spectrum in the British Indian Ocean Territory; and what steps his
Answer: Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. We routinely assess the range of potential threats to the operation of the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia.
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: British Indian Ocean TerritoryHome OfficeTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34232More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who claimed asylum in the British Indian Ocean Territory and subsequently transferred to the UK (a) has been or (b) are the subject of an investigation into foreign espionage activitie
Answer: All migrants who have arrived in the UK have undergone the required security checks in line with the appropriate immigration rules.
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential threat to Naval Support Facility, Diego Garcia from saboteurs.
Answer: We routinely assess the range of potential threats to the operation of the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia.
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: EspionageForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many and what proportion of all people (a) intercepted and (b) detained in the British Indian Ocean Territory were (i) questioned and (ii) charged on espionage-related of
Answer: We do not comment on espionage-related activity. No migrants have arrived on BIOT since 2022.
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34229More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government of Mauritius will assume responsibility for asylum seekers arriving in the Chagos Islands once the agreement has been ratified by Parliament.
Answer: Once the UK's agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago comes into force, Mauritius will take responsibility for any migrants who may arrive on the islands in the future. The deal will close a dangerous, illegal migration route. Up until ...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFleet Solid Support Ships: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost increase has been for the Fleet Solid Support Ship contract since initial agreement.
Answer: On the current schedule, the first ship is expected to enter service by 2031 following extended first of class trials and equipment fits, however extensive work is being undertaken to understand the full impact on the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme f...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFleet Solid Support Ships: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 34227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his timeline is for the delivery of the first Fleet Solid Support Ship.
Answer: On the current schedule, the first ship is expected to enter service by 2031 following extended first of class trials and equipment fits, however extensive work is being undertaken to understand the full impact on the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme f...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordType 83 Destroyers: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33410More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current estimated IOC date is for the first Type 83 destroyer.
Answer: The Type 83 Destroyer will be the core of the Future Air Dominance System (FADS) programme, which has commenced its concept phase. FADS will replace the UK's present Maritime Air Defence Capability vested in the Type 45 Destroyer Programme.
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS AchillesMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33409More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the latest estimated IOC date is for what is now HMS Achilles .
Answer: Achilles, the final vessel, is at an advanced stage of build at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness. The planned in-service dates for Royal Navy submarines are withheld as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effect...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordType 31 Frigates: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33408More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Type 31 frigates his Department plans to order from Babcock; and whether this number is still subject to the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review.
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review will consider all Defence capability requirements in the context of current and future threats. The T26 programme remains on track to meet all user requirements and deliver eight world-class anti-submarine warfare frigates. Al...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordType 26 Frigates: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33407More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Type 26 frigates the his Department plans to order from BAE Systems; and whether this number is still subject to the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review.
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review will consider all Defence capability requirements in the context of current and future threats. The T26 programme remains on track to meet all user requirements and deliver eight world-class anti-submarine warfare frigates. Al...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS GlasgowMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33406More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the IOC for the new Type 26 frigate, HMS Glasgow, remains October 2028.
Answer: On current plans the construction of all eight Type 26 frigates is expected to be complete by the mid-2030s. HMS Glasgow's Initial Operating Capability date remains October 2028.
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordType 26 Frigates: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33405More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the latest estimated IOC date is for the last of class of the Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy.
Answer: On current plans the construction of all eight Type 26 frigates is expected to be complete by the mid-2030s. HMS Glasgow's Initial Operating Capability date remains October 2028.
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordType 26 Frigates: NorwayMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33404More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to sell any of the Type 26 frigates currently on order for the Royal Navy, to Norway.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence and the Department for Business and Trade are actively supporting the promotion of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship design to other navies around the world with similar requirements.
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordRFA Fort VictoriaMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33403More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is for when RFA Fort Victoria will rejoin the active fleet.
Answer: RFA Fort Victoria is in a period of planned maintenance, which was delayed to prioritise higher priority outputs. We do not disclose the details of forward availability forecasts to preserve the operational security of the fleet, however I can confirm tha...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordFleet Solid Support Ships: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33402More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the agreement for Navantia UK to acquire Harland and Wolf will result in (a) delays and (b) cost increases for the Fleet Solid Support Ship contract.
Answer: The Government has worked closely with Navantia UK on the future of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme and agreed with them the minimum changes to the contract necessary - on commercial terms - to ensure the programme's continued delivery, with a min...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMerlin Helicopters: Early Warning SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33401More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is for when the Crowsnest airbone early warning system will achieve Full Operating Capability.
Answer: The Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk2 Airborne Surveillance and Control helicopter, as delivered by the CROWSNEST programme, has been in service since March 2021. The Programme is in the final stages of delivery for Full Operating Capability - expected by 28 March ...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordStrategic Defence ReviewMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33400More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is to publish the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review.
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) is well underway, and the Reviewers are reporting regularly on progress to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Secretary of State for Defence. The Reviewers will make their final report in the Sp...
Answered 5 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33399More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with (a) the Chief Executive and (b) senior executives of Boeing on the E-7 Wedgetail programme.
Answer: Engagement with Boeing senior leadership continues with Ministers and wider Ministry of Defence leadership. The Secretary of State for Defence and I have held several engagements with senior Boeing representatives. In addition, the Chief Executive Officer...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33398More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason has the signature of the full business case for the E-7 Wedgetail programme been delayed.
Answer: The E7 Full Business Case is undergoing due consideration within the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) approvals process. The MOD operates a robust approvals process in accordance with HM Treasury's approvals control framework.
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33397More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to purchase additional E-7 Wedgetail aircrafts.
Answer: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 25 July 2024 to Question UIN 432 to the hon. Member for North Durham (Luke Akehurst).
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: RadarMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33396More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost to the public purse is of the five multi-role electronically scanned array radars as part of the E-7 Wedgetail programme.
Answer: The cost of procurement for the Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar is approximately £60 million each, therefore approximately £300 million in total. In March 2021, a decision was taken to reduce the numbers of E-7 Wedgetail platforms fro...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33395More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, what the total cost to the public purse will be of the UK defence budget in financial year (a) 2
Answer: This commitment will be funded by reductions in Overseas Development Aid to 0.3% of GNI and does not require the Government to change the spending envelope.HMT is currently undertaking the second phase of the Spending Review. This will set Departmental bu...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →