Mark Francois MP: written questions
604 published records · newest first.
Written questions
EU Defence PolicyMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18113More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff at what grades are reviewing engagement with the EU through PESCO.
Answer: As part of the Cabinet Office-led UK-EU reset, teams in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are working closely with teams across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to work collaboratively to build our defence relationship with the EU including co...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18112More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, Pursuant to the Answer of 8 October to Question 5333 on Defence: Procurement, what other projects which align with UK interests his Department is exploring on a project-by-project basis.
Answer: We want a new geopolitical partnership with the EU, that drives closer coordination and that complements our unshakeable commitment to NATO, which will remain the foremost vehicle for European security. We will continue to monitor EU defence initiatives a...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordEU Defence PolicyMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18111More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is holding discussions with (a) European and (b) EU counterparts on changes to binding PESCO commitments.
Answer: We continue to monitor how PESCO rules work in practice, in particular the extent to which they allow meaningful participation of non-EU NATO Allies. We will continue to encourage the EU and EU Member States to ensure that PESCO activity is complementary ...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18110More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, Pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7499 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether the agreement covers the employment of descendants of Chagos islanders on the base on Diego Garci
Answer: Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18109More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, Pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7499 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether the agreement covers the employment of third country nationals on the base on Diego Garcia.
Answer: Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: Foreign InvestmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18108More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, Pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7499 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether he Mauritian government may permit foreign direct investment into the Chagos islands.
Answer: Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: Territorial WatersMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18107More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7499 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, what right of access to BIOT territorial waters will be permitted to third parties.
Answer: Our primary goal throughout negotiations was to protect the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in regional and international security. The operation of the base will continue unchanged with strong protections from malign...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18106More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7499 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether the Mauritian government will have the right to allow (a) basing on, (b) occupancy of and (c) acc
Answer: Our primary goal throughout negotiations was to protect the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in regional and international security. The operation of the base will continue unchanged with strong protections from malign...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18105More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, Pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7499 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, what right of (a) access, (b) inspection and (c) veto the Mauritian Government will have to the Chagos ba
Answer: Our primary goal throughout negotiations was to protect the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in regional and international security.The operation of the base will continue unchanged with strong protections from malign ...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Armed ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18104More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7499 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether (a) assets and (b) staff of the Mauritian armed forces will be (i) proximately and (ii) co- locat
Answer: Our primary goal throughout negotiations was to protect the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in regional and international security.The operation of the base will continue unchanged with strong protections from malign ...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17776More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what performance reviews have been conducted on Capita’s role in the recruitment of military personnel in the last five years.
Answer: The Army reviews Capita’s performance through multiple routine ‘holding-to-account’ forums and reports, as set out in the Recruitment Partnering Programme contract. This includes monthly measurement against key performance indicators. Additional performan...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordStrategic Defence ReviewMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17775More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to publish a Command Paper on implementation of the Strategic Defence Review.
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review will report in the first half of 2025. The Department is preparing for its implementation.
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: CapitaMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17774More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the role Capita's (a) systems and (b) processes played in the security failings that allowed Daniel Khalife to escape; and whether he plans to review Capita's contract with his Depa
Answer: Security measures in relation to the prison estate are a matter for the Ministry of Justice. The Secretary of State commissioned performance reviews of Capita which were completed March and September 2024.
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordThalesMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17773More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is involved in the Serious Fraud Office’s investigation into suspected bribery and corruption at Thales UK.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence expects all its suppliers to comply with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on an ongoing investigation.
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordThales: ContractsMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17772More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps whether he has made an assessment of the potential (a) legal and (b) financial implications for his Department of the Serious Fraud Office investigation into suspected bribery and corruption at Thales
Answer: The Ministry of Defence expects all its suppliers to comply with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on an ongoing investigation.
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordThales: ContractsMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17771More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Thales products used by his Department are directly implicated in the Serious Fraud Office investigation into suspected bribery and corruption at that company.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence expects all its suppliers to comply with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on an ongoing investigation.
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordThales: ContractsMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17770More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Serious Fraud Office investigation into suspected bribery and corruption at Thales UK on defence procurement contracts with that company.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence expects all its suppliers to comply with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on an ongoing investigation.
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: MauritiusForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17769More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) the participation of Mauritius in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and (b) sections on (i) military cooperat
Answer: 53 African countries, including Mauritius, attended the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). China made a range of high-level commitments as part of the Forum's Beijing Action Plan. As with previous FOCAC commitments we will monitor their implementa...
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordStrategic Defence ReviewMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16476More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the Strategic Defence Review.
Answer: As previously announced by the Secretary of State for Defence to the House of Commons, the Reviewers will make their final report to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Defence in the Spring of 2025. The Secretary of...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChina: MauritiusForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16475More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of (a) Mauritius' participation in the Forum on China- Africa Cooperation, (b) the provisions on mi
Answer: 53 African countries, including Mauritius, attended the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). China made a range of high-level commitments as part of the Forum's Beijing Action Plan. As with previous FOCAC commitments we will monitor their implementa...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNavy: VacanciesMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16472More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many vacancies there are for (a) engineers, (b) submariners and (c) other critical roles in the Royal Navy.
Answer: The Royal Navy continues to fill the highest priority roles first in accordance with current and future output requirements. Where demand exceeds supply, the Royal Navy and employers actively prioritise where personnel are assigned. Due to operational sec...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordVeterans: Identity CardsMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16471More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether independent security audits will be conducted on the digital veterans ID system.
Answer: All data associated with the new virtual HM Armed Forces Veteran Card will be stored within the UK. The digitisation project is currently in the Discovery Phase. However, when it moves into development, it will operate under Government Security and Minist...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordVeterans: Identity CardsMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16470More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what security protocols have been implemented to ensure the protection of personal data in the digital veterans ID system.
Answer: All data associated with the new virtual HM Armed Forces Veteran Card will be stored within the UK. The digitisation project is currently in the Discovery Phase. However, when it moves into development, it will operate under Government Security and Minist...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordVeterans: Identity CardsMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16469More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the data associated with the new digital veterans ID will be stored only within the UK.
Answer: All data associated with the new virtual HM Armed Forces Veteran Card will be stored within the UK. The digitisation project is currently in the Discovery Phase. However, when it moves into development, it will operate under Government Security and Minist...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLE TacCIS programmeMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16468More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the status is of the Morpheus communications programme; and whether there are delays.
Answer: MORPHEUS is a project within the Land Environment Tactical Communication and Information Systems (LETacCIS) Programme and is currently delayed. Work to reset the project remains ongoing, and an Independent Project Review, led by the Cabinet Office’s Infra...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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