Mark Francois MP: written questions 2025
453 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Diego Garcia: Military BasesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28472More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy that the proposed leaseback for Diego Garcia is renewable.
Answer: The existing policy is, and will remain, that the agreement will have a duration of 99 years from entry into force, extendable with the agreement of both parties and the first right of refusal.
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Chagos IslandsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28471More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February to Question 25990 on Cabinet Office: British Indian Ocean Territory, if the will make it his policy to publish costs of the Prime Ministe
Answer: The publication of the costs of the Prime Minister's Envoy are part of wider policy on Ministerial Appointments and the decision is not contingent on the conclusion of the agreement. The timing of the decision will not therefore be linked to that of the a...
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28470More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he made an assessment of the potential merits of conducting a national security impact assessment on the negotiated agreement with Mauritius on the Chagos Islands.
Answer: It has been our consistent priority to protect UK/US national security interests by ensuring the long-term effective and secure operation of the base on Diego Garcia. This agreement protects and secures those interests.
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28469More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the projected financial commitments within the revised agreement with Mauritius on the Chagos Islands including adjustments for (a) inflation a
Answer: Once the treaty is signed it will be put before both Houses for scrutiny before ratification in the usual way.
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Bank ServicesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27513More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has received representations from small and medium-sized defence companies on difficulties in securing bank accounts.
Answer: The difficulties that smaller defence suppliers can have in accessing finance, including opening a bank account, have been raised with the Department and were recognised in the Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent published in December 2024. Ta...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: InsuranceMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27512More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has received representations from small and medium-sized defence companies on challenges in obtaining insurance liability coverage.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence has been working closely with small and medium-sized defence companies to understand the difficulties they face. The Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, which was published in December 2024, recognised issues with rega...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is for when the Ajax armoured vehicle will achieve initial operating capability.
Answer: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 438 on 22 July 2024.
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Financial ServicesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27126More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions financial institutions on the potential impact of environmental, social and governance policies on the provision of banking services to defence (a) manufacturers and (b)
Answer: The Secretary of State for Business and Trade met representatives of the defence and financial services industries on 12 December 2024, to discuss how environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles are being applied to companies in defence and the ...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Financial ServicesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27125More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will introduce financial (a) incentives and (b) guarantees to encourage (i) banks and (ii) investment firms to support the defence sector; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact
Answer: The Secretary of State for Business and Trade met representatives of the defence and financial services industries on 12 December 2024, to discuss how environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles are being applied to companies in defence and the ...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Financial ServicesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27124More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to (a) encourage (i) banks and (ii) investors to provide financial (A) services and (B) investment to defence firms and (b) monitor the effectiveness of such steps.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Business and Trade met representatives of the defence and financial services industries on 12 December 2024, to discuss how environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles are being applied to companies in defence and the ...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Financial ServicesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27123More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of environmental, social, and governance criteria on the financing of (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) other defence companies.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Business and Trade met representatives of the defence and financial services industries on 12 December 2024, to discuss how environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles are being applied to companies in defence and the ...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBrunei: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27122More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential strategic risks to the UK's military base in Brunei of increasing Chinese influence in the region; and what steps his Department is taking to help mitigate
Answer: His Majesty, the Sultan of Brunei, and the Prime Minister recently signed the five-yearly renewal of the Garrison Agreement in December 2024, which signals His Majesty the Sultan's wish to maintain the British presence in Brunei.This Government will take ...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Vocational GuidanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27121More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) educational institutions to help ensure the safety of defence industry representatives at university recruitment events.
Answer: This Government fully supports defence companies and their personnel attending events in the higher education sector to demonstrate the benefits and opportunities of careers in the defence sector. They should be able to do so confident they will be safe a...
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: SemaglutideMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27120More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on Semaglutide since 1 January 2024.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence has spent £49,900 on the drug semaglutide since the 1 Janurary 2024. Semaglutide is a diabetic medication used for the treatment of type two diabetes in military patients.
Answered 5 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust: PayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27119More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any directors of the Mid and South Essex Hospitals NHS Trust were paid any form of bonuses in financial years (a) 2022-23, (b) 2023-24 and (c) 2024-25.
Answer: Information on the renumeration, including bonuses, of senior staff is published by hospital trusts as part of their annual report and accounts. It is for the local Remuneration Committee of each National Health Service trust to approve bonuses for direct...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS England: PayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27118More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any senior directors of NHS England were paid performance bonuses in financial years (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25.
Answer: NHS England publishes the performance bonus information for its national directors in their annual accounts. No national directors were paid a bonus in 2023/24, and bonuses will not be paid for 2024/25. NHS England’s latest annual report and accounts has ...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27117More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the operating deficit for the Mid and South Essex Hospitals NHS Trust for financial years (a) 2023-24, (b) 2024-25 and (c) 2025-26.
Answer: Trusts report their deficit position in their board reports, which are published on their websites. In 2023/24, the Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust reported an operating deficit of £29.7 million, resulting in the organisation being placed into the Na...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS England: Annual ReportsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27116More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when NHS East of England plans to publish an annual report for 2024-25.
Answer: National Health Service East of England is a regional team within NHS England, and as such they do not publish an annual report. The NHS England’s annual report and accounts includes the regional teams, other NHS England operations, and group bodies.
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS England: CommunicationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27115More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) communications and (b) media staff are employed by NHS East of England.
Answer: NHS England publishes the performance bonus information for its national directors in their annual accounts. No national directors were paid a bonus in 2023/24, and bonuses will not be paid for 2024/25. NHS England’s latest annual report and accounts has ...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordNHS England: PayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many employees of NHS East of England are in salary bands above (a) £250,000, (b) £200,000, (c) £150,000 and (d) £100,000.
Answer: NHS England publishes the performance bonus information for its national directors in their annual accounts. No national directors were paid a bonus in 2023/24, and bonuses will not be paid for 2024/25. NHS England’s latest annual report and accounts has ...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS AchillesMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26799More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department received representations on the potential merits of renaming HMS Achilles.
Answer: Potential ship names are proposed by the Royal Navy's Ships Names and Badges Committee who make suggestions based on historical information and civic affiliations. The seventh boat in the Astute class is to be called “Achilles”. The name was proposed by t...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS AchillesMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26798More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to rename Royal Navy ships, in the context of the renaming of HMS Agincourt.
Answer: Potential ship names are proposed by the Royal Navy's Ships Names and Badges Committee who make suggestions based on historical information and civic affiliations. The seventh boat in the Astute class is to be called “Achilles”. The name was proposed by t...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS AchillesMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2025WithdrawnUIN 26437More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department received representations on the potential merits of renaming HMS Achilles.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordHMS AchillesMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26436More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department held consultations with (a) navy stakeholders and (b) Royal Navy representatives on the decision to rename the new attack submarine HMS Achilles.
Answer: Potential ship names are proposed by the Royal Navy's Ships Names and Badges Committee who make suggestions based on historical information and civic affiliations. The seventh boat in the Astute class is to be called “Achilles”. The name was proposed by t...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHMS AchillesMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26435More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department were involved in discussions to rename HMS Agincourt.
Answer: Potential ship names are proposed by the Royal Navy's Ships Names and Badges Committee who make suggestions based on historical information and civic affiliations. The seventh boat in the Astute class is to be called “Achilles”. The name was proposed by t...
Answered 7 Feb 2025
Original Parliament record
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