Mark Francois MP: written questions 2025
453 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Ajax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81265More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when (a) he, (b) the Minister for Defence Procurement, (c) the Chief of the General Staff and (d) the National Armoured Director last received an update on progress of the Ajax vehicle trials.
Answer: Delivery of Ajax remains a high priority for defence. Senior stakeholders continue to receive regular updates regarding the Armoured Cavalry Programme through standard reporting processes, and all have been updated within the last four weeks.
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordChallenger TanksMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81264More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Challenger 3 in battlefield configuration has exceeded its maximum weight limit.
Answer: The Challenger 3 tank is being designed to meet its weight requirement.
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordWarrior VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77477More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has for the future of the Warrior armoured vehicle fleet.
Answer: I can confirm that the Army has recently established a Disposals team which is working on next steps for all in-service equipment, including the Warrior fleet of vehicles. Options planning is ongoing, which includes programming against the expected drawdo...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBoxer Vehicles: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77476More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which organisation will be responsible for the maintenance and support of Boxer vehicles within 3 (UK) Division.
Answer: The approved Initial Operating Capability of the Mechanised Infantry (Boxer) programme is currently Q4 2025. It is under review and an update will be provided shortly. The programme has faced some delays that have primarily resulted from global supply cha...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBoxer Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77475More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Boxer armoured vehicle programme is expected to achieve Initial Operating Capability.
Answer: The approved Initial Operating Capability of the Mechanised Infantry (Boxer) programme is currently Q4 2025. It is under review and an update will be provided shortly. The programme has faced some delays that have primarily resulted from global supply cha...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBoxer Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the Boxer armoured vehicle programme has been further delayed in reaching its Initial Operating Capability.
Answer: The approved Initial Operating Capability of the Mechanised Infantry (Boxer) programme is currently Q4 2025. It is under review and an update will be provided shortly. The programme has faced some delays that have primarily resulted from global supply cha...
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy: Ajax VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77473More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether dismounted infantry companies in 3 (UK) Division are now planned to transition from Warrior vehicles to ARES rather than to Boxer.
Answer: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on 21 July 2025 to Question 68120 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty). The statement remains extant and explains that the Army intends to equip the Regular Infantry Units withi...
Answered 14 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordUSA: Defence EquipmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77472More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of Lord Peter Mandelson’s involvement in discussions on the procurement of American defence systems.
Answer: As former Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson met regularly with senior Defence officials to discuss a range of issues across the UK-US relationship, including opportunities for closer collaboration on our technology partnership, defence capab...
Answered 14 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordUSA: Defence EquipmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77471More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) officials and (b) Ministers in his Department have corresponded with Lord Mandelson on the acquisition of US-manufactured defence equipment.
Answer: As former Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson met regularly with senior Defence officials to discuss a range of issues across the UK-US relationship, including opportunities for closer collaboration on our technology partnership, defence capab...
Answered 14 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordUSA: Defence EquipmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77470More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department held any meetings with Lord Peter Mandelson on the (a) procurement and (b) purchasing of American military equipment.
Answer: As former Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson met regularly with senior Defence officials to discuss a range of issues across the UK-US relationship, including opportunities for closer collaboration on our technology partnership, defence capab...
Answered 14 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordUSA: Defence EquipmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77469More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to lay before Parliament (a) communications and (b) records of the former UK Ambassador to the United States' discussions with his Department on the (i) purchasing and (ii) procurement of America
Answer: As former Ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson met regularly with senior Defence officials to discuss a range of issues across the UK-US relationship, including opportunities for closer collaboration on our technology partnership, defence capab...
Answered 14 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Written QuestionsCabinet OfficeTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77019More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Questions 75061 and 75064 on National Armaments Director: Recruitment.
Answer: A response for both questions has been issued here and here.
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Written QuestionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77018More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to Questions 75477, 75478, 75479 on National Armaments Director Group: Costs.
Answer: I responded to the right hon. Member on 24 September 2025.
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77017More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has introduced procurement control measures for spending levels that require clearance by the Secretary of State.
Answer: In year controls are used across the Department to manage its performance against the Defence budget as part of good financial management. The Secretary of State for Defence continues to have oversight of this process.
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77016More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Defence Investment Plan will consist of a single document.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan will be a single document that sets out how the Ministry of Defence will deliver the vision of the Strategic Defence Review over the next 10 years.
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAndy StartMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77015More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Andy Start will remain the Acting National Armaments Director for the whole length of his contract.
Answer: Andy Start was appointed acting National Armaments Director (NAD) as part of the establishment of the wider NAD Group in March 2025. Recruitment of a permanent NAD is ongoing and an appointment will be made in due course.
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department received legal advice on the imminence of legal rulings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Chagos Islands.
Answer: The Government's position in relation to the UK-Mauritius treaty has been informed by legal advice throughout. The Government's legal position was set out on 22 May when the treaty was signed, and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-s...
Answered 22 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLE TacCIS Programme: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75483More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact the pause in Project MORPHEUS on warfighter effectiveness; and what interim measures are in place to extend the service life of the BOWMAN system.
Answer: It will take time to collate and review the information required to answer the hon. Member’s question. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLE TacCIS Programme: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75482More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the total costs incurred on Project MORPHEUS up to the decision to pause its original plans including a breakdown of expenditure on (a) development, (b) industry partnerships, (c) ext
Answer: It will take time to collate and review the information required to answer the hon. Member’s question. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLE TacCIS Programme: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75481More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the factors which contributed to the delivery confidence assessment rating for the LETacCIS programme decreasing from amber to red between financial year 2023-24-Q4 and 2024-25-Q4;
Answer: It will take time to collate and review the information required to answer the hon. Member’s question. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Armaments Director Group: CostsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75479More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the costs of the design phase of the National Armaments Director Group; and when that phase is will conclude.
Answer: This Government is delivering the deepest defence reforms in over 50 years. On 31 March 2025 the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group was stood up – creating a new export to end acquisition system design to cut waste and fix the broken procurement syst...
Answered 24 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Armaments Director Group: CostsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75478More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has incurred additional costs as a result of operating the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group under an acting director rather than a permanent one.
Answer: This Government is delivering the deepest defence reforms in over 50 years. On 31 March 2025 the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group was stood up – creating a new export to end acquisition system design to cut waste and fix the broken procurement syst...
Answered 24 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Armaments Director Group: CostsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75477More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the total cost to the public purse of establishing the National Armaments Director Group since March 2025; and what the breakdown of those costs are.
Answer: This Government is delivering the deepest defence reforms in over 50 years. On 31 March 2025 the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group was stood up – creating a new export to end acquisition system design to cut waste and fix the broken procurement syst...
Answered 24 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: JournalismMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75066More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 62175, when his Department plans to hold the next Ajax-specific event at Bovington to which journalists will be invited.
Answer: There are currently no Ajax specific events due to be held at Bovington to which journalists will be invited.
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Armaments Director: RecruitmentCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75064More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the contract awarded by his Department to Korn Ferry for the recruitment of the National Armaments Director has been fulfilled.
Answer: I refer to my answer given on 9 July HC66214. Korn Ferry continue to support the appointment process for the National Armaments Director role.
Answered 15 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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