Mark Francois MP: written questions 2025
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Written questions
Defence: FinanceTreasuryTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33394More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, what proportion of additional defence spending will be funded by transfers from the overseas aid bu
Answer: Tuesday’s announcement is fully funded - we are reducing ODA to the equivalent of 0.3% of GNI to fund the additional spend required to ensure we spend 2.5% of GDP on defence spending in 2027-28.
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceTreasuryTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33393More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, on what percentage of economic growth in the economy is the increase in Defence spending based.
Answer: The increase in defence spending is based on OBR forecasts of GDP growth. Further detail will be made available on 26 March alongside the OBR’s next forecast in the usual way.
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceTreasuryTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33392More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Prime Minister's statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, what steps the Government plans to take to fund the £13.4 billion annual uplift in defence funding beyon
Answer: £13.4bn represents the forecast increase in total NATO qualifying defence spending from 2024-25 to 2027-28. This increase comprises the reallocated ODA funding, as well as forecast increases to existing NATO qualifying spend over that timeframe.
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyMinistry of DefenceTabled 25 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 33391More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any payments related to a Chagos Islands agreement will be funded from his Department's budget; and whether such payments will be front-loaded in the context of the Government’s commitment to spend 2.5% o
Answer: The terms of the treaty are still being finalised, once the treaty is finalised it will be put before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual way.
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: EqualityMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on diversity and inclusion programmes relating to (a) employment, (b) pensions, (c) recruitment and (d) other matters since 4 July 2024.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) remains committed to making the step changes required to create a more inclusive Defence environment. We continue to work hard to broaden the diversity of our workforce through actively engaging with employees to attract the ...
Answered 10 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS Albion and HMS Bulwark: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total expenditure was on the refit of HMS Bulwark prior to its decommissioning; and what specific refit work remained incomplete at the time of HMS Albion’s decommissioning in July 2023.
Answer: The decision to decommission both HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark was announced in November 2024. As of that date, a considerable amount of refit work was still outstanding to materially prepare HMS Bulwark for her return to sea. In the period from 2022 to 202...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUN Convention on the Law of the SeaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the UK’s declaration on Article 298 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the jurisd
Answer: By Declaration dated 12 January 1998, the UK chose the International Court of Justice for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of UNCLOS. By Declaration dated 7 April 2003 the UK exercised the right to exclude from compu...
Answered 6 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS Albion and HMS Bulwark: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of decommissioning HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark on the UK’s amphibious warfare capability; and whether a replacement capability will be procured before their di
Answer: HMS Albion and Bulwark have been alongside since 2023 and 2017 respectively with no plans for them to return to sea before their out of service dates. Amphibious operations will continue to delivered by the Bay Class and RFA Argus until the introduction o...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS Bulwark: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what outstanding refit work remained on HMS Bulwark at the time of HMS Albion’s decommissioning in July 2023; and whether this work was completed before the decision to decommission Bulwark was taken.
Answer: The decision to decommission both HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark was announced in November 2024. As of that date, a considerable amount of refit work was still outstanding to materially prepare HMS Bulwark for her return to sea. In the period from 2022 to 202...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMulti-role Support ShipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32949More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it remains his policy to implement the Multi-Role Support Ship programme; and what the timeline is for (a) its development and (b) the procurement of vessels.
Answer: The Multi-Role Support Ship programme is progressing through the Concept Phase. The Royal Navy and Defence Equipment & Support are conducting detailed work on key user requirements, conceptual designs, affordability, and exportability assessments. Alo...
Answered 4 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS Albion and HMS Bulwark: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32948More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the sale of (a) HMS Albion and (b) HMS Bulwark; and what the estimated market value of each vessel was at the time of decommissioning.
Answer: Due to commercial sensitivities, we are unable to disclose progress regarding the sale of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark.
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: HealthMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32947More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of UK Regular Forces personnel were classified as (a) Medically Fully Deployable, (b) Medically Limited Deployable and (c) Medically Not Deployable as of 1 January 2025.
Answer: The table below presents the Medical Deployability Standard of UK Armed Forces personnel, broken down by Service, as at 1 January 2025. Medically Fully Deployable (MFD)Medically Limited Deployable (MLD)Medically Not Deployable (MND) n%n%n%All99,16278.1%...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAir Force: HealthMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32946More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of Royal Air Force personnel were classified as (a) Medically Fully Deployable, (b) Medically Limited Deployable and (c) Medically Not Deployable as of 1 January 2025.
Answer: The table below presents the Medical Deployability Standard of UK Armed Forces personnel, broken down by Service, as at 1 January 2025. Medically Fully Deployable (MFD)Medically Limited Deployable (MLD)Medically Not Deployable (MND) n%n%n%All99,16278.1%...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy: HealthMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32945More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of Army personnel were classified as (a) Medically Fully Deployable, (b) Medically Limited Deployable and (c) Medically Not Deployable as of 1 January 2025.
Answer: The table below presents the Medical Deployability Standard of UK Armed Forces personnel, broken down by Service, as at 1 January 2025. Medically Fully Deployable (MFD)Medically Limited Deployable (MLD)Medically Not Deployable (MND) n%n%n%All99,16278.1%...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMarines and Navy: HealthMinistry of DefenceTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Marines personnel were classified as (i) Medically Fully Deployable, (ii) Medically Limited Deployable and (iii) Medically Not Deployable as of 1 Janua
Answer: The table below presents the Medical Deployability Standard of UK Armed Forces personnel, broken down by Service, as at 1 January 2025. Medically Fully Deployable (MFD)Medically Limited Deployable (MLD)Medically Not Deployable (MND) n%n%n%All99,16278.1%...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordIndo-Pacific Region: WarshipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it remains his Department's policy to deploy the Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific this year.
Answer: Defence is planning to deploy the Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific where it will be the focal point for numerous exercises, operations, and engagements in the region.
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30972More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to revoke the status of the British Indian Ocean Territories as British Overseas Territories.
Answer: The political agreement, reached between the UK and Mauritius in October 2024, will need to be underpinned by a Treaty which, once signed, will be made public and put before both Houses for scrutiny consistent with the obligations under the Constitutional...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Civil ProceedingsAttorney GeneralTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30971More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, whether the Attorney General has recused himself from providing legal advice on matters relating to historical allegations against armed forces personnel.
Answer: By long-standing convention, the fact that the Attorney General may or may not have advised, and the content of his advice, is not disclosed outside government, as is reflected in the Ministerial Code.As I set out to the House on 23 January and 6 February...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Civil ProceedingsAttorney GeneralTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30970More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, what steps she is taking to ensure the impartiality of her Department's legal advice on compensation claims against British soldiers.
Answer: Impartiality of legal advice is vitally important for all government lawyers. The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has an established and rigorous process for identifying and dealing with conflicts, and potential conflicts, that arise from the Law Officers...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30969More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 28893 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether he has made an assessment with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Answer: The treaty is not finalised yet, when the deal is finalised, the Government will put it before the House.
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: ChagossiansHome OfficeTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Chagossians moved to the UK from (a) Mauritius and (b) Seychelles in each year since 2019.
Answer: An individual can apply for British citizenship if they believe they meet the requirements. Those wishing to naturalise will need to meet the statutory requirements set out in the British Nationality Act 1981, including to be of good character. Applicatio...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Bank ServicesMinistry of DefenceTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30588More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 27513 on Defence: Bank Services, how many smaller defence suppliers have raised concerns with his Department on difficulties in (a) opening a bank account and
Answer: The issues that smaller defence suppliers can face in opening a bank account and accessing finance have been raised with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on multiple occasions since 1 January 2020, both directly and via trade associations and higher tier par...
Answered 18 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Financial ServicesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30587More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2025 to Question 27123 on Defence: Financial Services, how many stakeholders his Department has met with since the meeting of 12 December 2024; what issues were ide
Answer: As referred to in my answer of 7 February, I recognise the challenges for both industries in addressing this issue. Since the meeting of 12 December, my officials have been in discussions with counterparts in HMT and MOD, including Defence Equipment &...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMingyang Smart Energy: Wind PowerMinistry of DefenceTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30586More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what security assessment his Department has conducted on the potential risks associated with Mingyang Smart Energy supplying turbines for the Green Volt North Sea wind farm.
Answer: Defence works in close collaboration with other Departments as part of the Government’s process to assess and mitigate national security risks to UK interests at home and abroad. It would be inappropriate to comment on individual cases, but any investment...
Answered 3 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMingyang Smart EnergyTreasuryTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30575More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations her Department has received from the Ministry of Defence on security concerns related to the involvement of Mingyang Smart Energy in the Green Volt North Sea wind farm project; and what consider
Answer: The Government is committed to attracting investment into the UK to support our growth and clean energy missions. The UK is one of the most attractive global investment destinations for renewable energy and significant deployment acceleration to 2030 will...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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