Mark Francois MP: written questions 2024
113 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Typhoon Aircraft: ExportsMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18505More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned the timeline is for delivering 12 additional Typhoon jets to Qatar; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of this timeline on ongoing production commitments for other customer
Answer: Following the Amir of Qatar’s State Visit to the UK, we have agreed to deepen cooperation in support of regional security while supporting growth and prosperity in both nations. This includes undertaking opportunities to strengthen our respective defence ...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18504More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16457 on Puma Helicopters, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of fulfilling the short-term capability gaps in (a) Cyprus and (b) Brunei prior t
Answer: The Department is scoping a variety of options to fulfil the short-term capability gaps before H-145 enters service from 2026. A final decision is yet to be made on the specific capability solution; thus we are not yet able to disclose our proposed capabi...
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLE TacCIS ProgrammeMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18120More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has imposed (a) financial penalties and (b) adjustments to contract terms with General Dynamics in relation to the delay of the MORPHEUS project within the Land Environment Tactical Communi
Answer: The MORPHEUS Evolve to Open Transition Partner (EvO TP) contract with General Dynamics Missions Systems (UK) (GDMS(UK)), which was focused on evolving the proprietary Bowman system, was concluded in December 2023. Commercial confidentiality precludes prov...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLE TacCIS ProgrammeMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18119More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 16468 on LE TacCIS programme, what the cost is of the Morpheus communications programme as of 5 December 2024.
Answer: As of 5 December 2024, total expenditure for the MORPHEUS project is c£828 million.
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLE TacCIS ProgrammeMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18118More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 16468 on LE TacCIS programme, what the reasons are for the delay in the Morpheus communications project.
Answer: The MORPHEUS project is delayed following contract delays in 2021.
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNuclear-free Zones: TreatiesMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18117More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16455 on Nuclear-free Zones: Treaties, whether talks between the UK and Mauritius covered the obligations of Mauritius under the Treaty of Pelindaba.
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 recordDefence: InnovationMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18116More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) mentors and (b) experts support projects backed through the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic European Regional Office; and at what cost.
Answer: The UK is committed to supporting the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) programme to find and accelerate dual-use innovation capacity across the Alliance. Mentors and experts are engaged by HQ DIANA and not the Ministry of Defe...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordEU Defence PolicyMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18115More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on legacy UK obligations arising from the triggering by an EU country of Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union.
Answer: Since leaving the EU, there are no legacy UK obligations to respond to a trigger of Article 42 (7). NATO is the cornerstone of European defence. NATO Article 5 is the ultimate guarantor of all Allies’ ability to live freely and build a secure, more prospe...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordEU Defence PolicyMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18114More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on engagement with the (a) EU Single Intelligence and Analysis Capacity, (b) projected EU Rapid Deployment Capacity and (c) planned EU Military Planning and Conduct Capability.
Answer: We want a new geopolitical partnership with the EU that drives closer coordination and that complements our unshakable commitment to NATO, which will remain the foremost vehicle for European security. We want this new partnership to formalise our exchange...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordEU 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 record
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