Mark Francois MP: written questions
604 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Artillery: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16467More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timeline is for the delivery of the Mobile Fires Platform; and what the potential impact is of delays to the programme on the Army’s long-range artillery capabilities.
Answer: The Mobile Fires Platform will deliver the Army's Close Support Fires capability. The project aims to achieve Minimum Deployable Capability (MDC) within this decade and will deliver the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) Calibre Wheeled Artillery ...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordCapita: ContractsMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16461More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of Capita’s performance on delivering defence related contacts; and what assessment he has made of the value for money of these contracts.
Answer: The performance of all the Ministry of Defence's suppliers is continually assessed on a project by project basis as part of the Department's contract management activities. As a strategic supplier to the UK Government, Capita participates in the Cabinet O...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHawk AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16460More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of maintaining sovereign capability in the (a) production and (b) sustainment of the Hawk aircraft; and what the estimate he has made of the economi
Answer: The Hawk T1 aircraft is scheduled to remain in service until 2030 and the Hawk T2 aircraft out-of-service date is in 2040. A decision on the production, sustainment and replacement of the aircraft will not be taken until after the Strategic Defence Review...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordUK Military Flying Training SystemMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16459More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost has been of delivering the Military Flying Training System since its inception; and whether the programme is on track to meet its operational target.
Answer: The cost of delivering the UKMFTS since its inception has been £2.2 billion, with the programme continuing to deliver trained UK military pilots to meet the requirements of the Front Line Operational Conversion Unit. Incremental growth is planned in line ...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHMS Albion and HMS Bulwark: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost is of refits to HMS (a) Albion and (b) Bulwark since 2010.
Answer: The total cost of refits to HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark since 2010 is £132.7 million. This excludes HMS Bulwark's 2022-2025 refit which was estimated to cost £72.1 million. As HMS Bulwark was retired before her refit was completed, the refit costs are unde...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPuma HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16457More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the early retirement of Puma Helicopters on capability gaps.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence takes a rigorous approach in assessing the risk of any capability gaps. The Department is exploring options to fulfil some short-term capability gaps in Cyprus and Brunei before the H-145 platform enters services from 2026. Defence...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordReserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations ReviewMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16456More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to conclude his Department's review into cadets and reserves; and whether he plans to publish that review.
Answer: The review of Reserves and Cadets is underway and is closely aligned with the Ministry of Defence’s wider Strategic Defence Review which will report in the first half of 2025. Once Ministers have considered the findings of the Reserves and Cadets review, ...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNuclear-free Zones: TreatiesMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16455More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the (a) applicability of the Treaty of Pelindaba to the Chagos Archipelago and (b) potential impact of that Treaty on the UK's Defence arrangements.
Answer: The agreement with Mauritius has been negotiated based on international law, and with regards to both parties' obligations under international law. The UK is not a Party to the Pelindaba Treaty, although it is a Party to Protocols I and II to that Treaty....
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmed ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16454More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will provide a table detailing the most recent data on UK Regular Forces by (a) Service and (b) Medical Deployability Standards.
Answer: The following table provides the Medical Deployability Standards for UK Armed Forces personnel, broken down by service as of the 1 October 2024: Medically Fully Deployable (MFD)Medically Limited Deployable (MLD)Medically Not Deployable (MND)Total99,56014...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces Compensation Scheme: Widowed PeopleMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16450More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 5.52 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, what guidance his Department issues on whether nominees of deceased Armed Forces Pension Scheme members other than spouses and civil partners wi
Answer: Inheritance Tax on pensions is subject to a technical consultation which runs between 30 October 2024 and 22 January 2025. The Ministry of Defence will follow legislation as per Government proposals.
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmyMinistry of DefenceTabled 31 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12029More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the keynote recording of the Chief of the General Staff at the RUSI Land Warfare Conference 2024, published on 23 June 2024, whether his Department has taken recent steps to double the lethality
Answer: The Chief of the General Staff is working hard to fulfil the ambition outlined at the RUSI Land Warfare conference. The British Army continues to work to these goals, in tandem with the ongoing Strategic Defence Review.
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBoxer Vehicles: AmmunitionMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11840More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated minimum deployable capability date is for the Boxer (a) 120mm self-propelled mortar system and (b) 155mm self-propelled artillery system.
Answer: The Mechanised Infantry (BOXER) programme uses the terms Initial Operating Capability (IOC) and Full Operating Capability. The Armoured Mortar Vehicle is a project within this programme and therefore uses those terms. The Mobile Fires Platform project is ...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11835More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assumed increase in the UK's defence budget his Department is using for the purposes of estimating its 10-year Equipment Plan, calculated (a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product.
Answer: On 30 October His Majesty's Treasury published the Autumn Budget which confirmed the Ministry of Defence's Departmental Expenditure Limit for financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. The longer-term budget will be confirmed through phase two of the Spending R...
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Public ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11834More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will outline the UK's defence budget for (a) this and (b) the next two financial years expressed as a (i) total cash amount and (ii) percentage of gross domestic product, excluding expenditure related to Uk
Answer: Total Defence spending, in line with NATO definitions, is expected to be £64.4 billion in 2024-25 and £67.7 billion in 2025-26. This equates to 2.29% of GDP in 2024-25 and 2.30% in 2025-26. Excluding expenditure on support to Ukraine, Defence spending in ...
Answered 13 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordBAE Systems: Barrow in FurnessMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11833More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the extent of the damage caused by the fire at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness on 30 October 2024.
Answer: I refer the right hon. Member to the written statement I laid in the House on 30 October 2024, HCWS176.
Answered 11 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordWatchkeeper WK450Ministry of DefenceTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 5892More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Watchkeeper Remotely Piloted Vehicles have been lost during (a) trials and (b) initial service with (i) DE&S and (ii) the Army.
Answer: The Army have lost three Watchkeeper Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) during trials, and five Watchkeeper UAS in service. DE&S do not operate Watchkeeper UAS.
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSubmarinesMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 5891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what he expects the Initial Operating Capability date for the new SSNR class of attack submarines in Royal Navy service to be.
Answer: The Royal Navy’s submersible ship nuclear AUKUS submarines will be operational from the late 2030s, replacing the current Astute Class.
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAstute Class SubmarinesMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 5890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the (a) sixth and (b) seventh of the Astute Class submarines are due to enter operational service with the Royal Navy.
Answer: The planned in-service and out-of-service dates for Royal Navy submarines are withheld as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces. Five of seven Astute Class submarines have been del...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordWatchkeeper WK450Ministry of DefenceTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 5889More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the estimated lifetime cost of the Watchkeeper Remotely Piloted Vehicle; and when that vehicle will achieve Full Operational Capability.
Answer: The through life costs of the Watchkeeper Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) until the end of the current in-service contract will be £1.548 billion. The Watchkeeper UAS reached Full Operational Capability in 2018.
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHarland and Wolff: BelfastMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 5888More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the (a) future of the Harland and Wolf shipyard in Belfast and (b) contract for three Fleet Solid Support Ships.
Answer: Ministry of Defence Ministers and officials have regular meetings with counterparts in other Government Departments, including with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on a range of matters, including the future of Harland & Wolff's shipyards. The succes...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHMS LancasterMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 5887More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when HMS Lancaster is due to retire from the active surface fleet.
Answer: On current plans, the last Type 23 frigate will transition out of service in 2035.To avoid compromising operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not routinely disclose individual out of service dates or specific in-service dates for warships to ...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordClyde Naval BaseMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 5886More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the repair to the submarine lift at HMNB Clyde is due for completion; and what the estimated cost was of that repair.
Answer: The shiplift at HMNB Clyde is undergoing scheduled routine maintenance and upgrade work.Costs for key assets in the naval base are included in the routine maintenance contract with Babcock. It would not be appropriate to provide detailed availability of c...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDevonport DockyardMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 5885More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the estimated cost of the upgrade of submarine docking facilities at Devonport Dockyard; and when that work is due for completion.
Answer: The cost of the current endorsed programme for upgrading submarine docking facilities at Devonport Dockyard is approximately £3 billion. The opening of 9 Dock in September 2024 is the latest of a number of significant investments in Devonport. A range of ...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordBlood Cancer: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2035More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the evaluation of non-specific pathways will include granular blood cancer data.
Answer: Raising awareness, delivering more research, including into new treatments, and improving early diagnosis of cancers, which includes blood related cancers such as leukaemia, are crucial for improving cancer survival.NHS England has implemented non-symptom...
Answered 2 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordCancerDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 Jul 2024AnsweredUIN 2034More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to implement a cancer strategy over the course of this Parliament.
Answer: Professor Lord Darzi is currently undertaking an independent investigation into the state of the National Health Service, the findings of which will feed into the Government’s 10-year plan to build a health service that is fit for the future. The Governme...
Answered 2 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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