Mark Francois MP: written questions
143 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Ajax 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 recordAjax 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 record
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