Mark Francois MP: written questions 2025
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Written questions
Ajax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98371More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the latest estimated date is for achieving Full Operating Capability on Ajax.
Answer: Safety investigations and a Ministerial Review into the Armoured Cavalry Programme (commonly known as Ajax) remain ongoing. However, on current plans, Full Operating Capability for the Armoured Cavalry Programme is still expected to be achieved by the end...
Answered 19 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any performance bonuses relating to the Ajax programme have been paid to officials in his Department over the last three years.
Answer: This information is not held centrally and therefore can not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Legal OpinionMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who the most senior legal official is in his Department.
Answer: There are four senior legal officials in Defence. The highest-ranking legal advisers are: Director Army Legal Services (Major General) Director Legal Services, Royal Air Force (Air Vice Marshal) Director Legal for the Royal Navy (Commodore)Director MOD ...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ajax armoured vehicles had been delivered by General Dynamics to a) his Department and b) the Army as of 1 November 2025.
Answer: As of 1 November 2025: 166 Capability Drop 3 platforms were accepted by the Ministry of Defence and 156 of these were delivered to the Army.
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordArmoured Fighting Vehicles: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Scimitar reconnaissance vehicle was retired from Army service.
Answer: All Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) variants, including the FV107 Scimitar, were officially retired from Army service under the last Government on 31 March 2023.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBoxer Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated IOC date is for the Boxer RCH155mm self-propelled artillery system; and how many such vehicles his Department plans to buy.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 November to Question 88294, which remains extant. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-11-05/88294
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBoxer Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98365More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated IOC date is for the Boxer armoured vehicle.
Answer: The updated Mechanised Infantry Boxer Programme Initial Operating Capability date will be published shortly.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordArmoured Fighting Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has carried out an evaluation of the potential merits of purchasing the CV-90 infantry fighting vehicle.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence continually assesses its current and planned capabilities to ensure that it is appropriately equipped to face any adversary. The CV90 was one of the vehicles considered during the competition for the Scout Specialist Vehicle. An ev...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWarrior VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98363More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Warrior armoured fighting vehicles are a) in active service with the Army and b) in storage by variant.
Answer: I hope the right hon. Member will understand that we do not routinely disclose figures relating to vehicles in the active fleet or storage in the interests of security and operational effectiveness. I can, however, confirm that as at 12 January 2026, ther...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: Health and SafetyMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98362More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has considered inviting the Institute of Naval Medicine to investigate the reasons why medical issues arose during the Ajax-related exercise on Salisbury Plain on 22 November 2025.
Answer: As I mentioned in my answer to the Shadow Defence Secretary during the Urgent Question on 8 December 2025, the Department is assembling a group of industry experts to provide external advice to its lines of investigation.
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the National Armaments Director was consulted prior to the decision to declare IOC for Ajax.
Answer: As safety is the top priority of the Ministerial Team, prior to Initial Operating Capability, I asked for and was given assurances in writing by senior Ministry of Defence personnel that the system was safe, including the National Armaments Director.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98360More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with General Dynamics on suing that company for liquidated damages relating to the Ajax programme.
Answer: It would not be appropriate to pre-empt the outcome of the ongoing investigations or to comment further at this stage. The investigations must be given adequate time to identify the root cause of the issue.
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98359More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on which date Initial Operating Capability for Ajax was declared; and who signed that declaration.
Answer: Initial Operating Capability for Ajax was declared on 5 November 2025. As safety of our personnel is the top priority of the Ministerial Team, prior to Initial Operating Capability, I asked for and was given assurances in writing by senior Ministry of Def...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95381More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what bonuses were paid to the Ajax team at Defence Equipment and Support over the past 5 years.
Answer: Due to Defence Equipment and Support's flexible resourcing model, performance awards would have been made on an individual basis and as a result of overall organisational performance, rather than solely on the outcomes of a specific programme.
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: SafetyMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95380More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish all documents provided by the current Senior Reporting Office regarding Ajax’s safety.
Answer: The Senior Reporting Officer regularly provides updates to Defence Ministers on the programme. However, this Government, and the last Government, do not routinely release information provided from officials to ministers. But I can assure the Hon Gentleman...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 28 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95379More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the names of those who have held the post of Ajax's Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), or the equivalent position, since 2015.
Answer: The list of individuals who have held the role of Senior Responsible Officer for the Armoured Cavalry Programme (commonly known as Ajax) are listed below. Date in postOccupantNovember 2023 – PresentMr Chris BowbrickOctober 2021 – November 2023Dr David Ma...
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordPalliative CareDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 27 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 95025More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a national strategy for palliative and end of life care.
Answer: The Government is developing a Palliative Care and End of Life Care Modern Service Framework for England. I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement HCWS1087, which I gave to the House on 24 November 2025.
Answered 3 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Civil ProceedingsAttorney GeneralTabled 21 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83743More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 30971 on Armed Forces: Civil Proceedings, whether the Attorney General’s list of conflicts included legacy-related matters under the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and
Answer: 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’ past practice. That process sits against the backdrop of every lawyer’s prof...
Answered 27 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTerrorism: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82648More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to his Oral Statement of 14 October 2025 on Northern Ireland Troubles, Official Report, column 247 and his Department's press release entitled Northern Ireland Troubles Bill to repeal and
Answer: The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill includes new protections and safeguards for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Act, and that respond directly to the views expressed by veterans during engagements that the Government has undertaken. The Governm...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025Northern Ireland OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82647More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department will publish an impact assessment for the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order 2025.
Answer: The Cabinet Office’s Guide to Making Legislation makes clear that “Impact Assessments are generally required for all UK government interventions of a regulatory nature that affect the private sector and/or civil society organisation or public services”. A...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordTerrorism: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82646More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate he has made of the number of potential claims against former UK armed forces personnel that could be eligible for judicial consideration under the proposals in the Northern Ireland Troubles
Answer: Existing civil cases were not barred from proceeding by the Legacy Act. The Government is, by way of a Remedial Order, repealing the retrospective bar on new civil cases and the bar on future civil cases, which has been found to be incompatible with our l...
Answered 21 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBoxer Vehicles: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82645More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77476 on Boxer Vehicles: Repairs and Maintenance, when the review of the Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (Boxer) programme’s Initial Operating Capability will be
Answer: The review of the Mechanised Infantry Boxer Programme’s Initial Operating Capability schedule has been completed and is progressing through the Ministry of Defence Approvals process.
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who holds the role of Senior Safety Responsibility Officer for the delivery of the Ajax Programme.
Answer: The Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the Armoured Cavalry Programme is Mr Chris Bowbrick. The Senior Safety Responsible Officer position within Defece Equipment and Support is filled by a Senior Professional Engineer. As a former Defence Minister he wil...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81267More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who holds the role of Senior Responsible Owner for the delivery of the Ajax Programme.
Answer: The Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the Armoured Cavalry Programme is Mr Chris Bowbrick. The Senior Safety Responsible Officer position within Defece Equipment and Support is filled by a Senior Professional Engineer. As a former Defence Minister he wil...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81266More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any personnel have reported medial issues arising from their involvement with the Ajax programme in the last six months.
Answer: As a former Defence Minister he will know that Army personnel routinely report a range of medical issues from business-as-usual training activity, this includes soldiers operating Ajax. The Ajax Safe System of Work ensures there is a safe working environm...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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