Mark Francois MP: written questions
604 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Boeing E-7: EquipmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70333More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any structural modifications carried out on WT001 post-delivery revealed unforeseen integration challenges with (a) the MESA radar and (b) other mission systems.
Answer: There have been no integration challenges with the MESA radar or other mission systems to date as a result of the structural modifications undertaken.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: StandardsMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70332More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 67826 on Boeing E-7: Standards, what enforcement measures are available for his Department to use if the incentivisation milestones are missed; and whether any o
Answer: Contractual arrangements remain commercially sensitive information and cannot be disclosed publicly.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023Northern Ireland OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70331More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 65212 on Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, whether his Department plans to lay the draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy
Answer: I have laid a proposal for a draft remedial order in Parliament, representing the first step in fulfilling the Government’s commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act. The Order seeks to remedy a number of human rights deficiencies identified by the ...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Written QuestionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70330More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to Question 62175 on Ajax Vehicles: Journalism, tabled by the hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford on 24 June 2025.
Answer: I responded to the right hon. Member on 1 September 2025.
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordTerrorism: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what information his Department holds on the number of people who had previously received an on-the-run letter that have since been (a) charged with and (b) prosecuted for terrorist offences.
Answer: This is a matter which falls within the devolved competence of policing and justice, with the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland being the authority responsible for making determinations on bringing criminal charges against individuals. The N...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAir Force: Boeing E-7Ministry of DefenceTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the special clearance for the Royal Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail applies to the whole fleet; and for what reason that clearance is required.
Answer: The Wedgetail is not flying under any special clearance. The aircraft Test and Evaluation programme is being conducted under a Military Permit To Fly in accordance with Military Aviation Authority regulations. This allows the aircraft to be flown by Boein...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAir Force: Boeing E-7Ministry of DefenceTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the (a) radar and (b) battle management systems were activated during the Royal Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail test flight on 10 July 2025.
Answer: This flight was a post-modification test flight to confirm the aircraft systems function correctly. Mission system testing will commence in autumn 2025 as part of a planned Test and Evaluation schedule.
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAir Force: Boeing E-7Ministry of DefenceTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68356More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the Royal Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail fleet will be supported in the United States; and what the cost is of that support contract.
Answer: The UK E-7 will be supported and maintained in the United Kingdom. Following the approval of the Full Business Case, the sustainment contract is under negotiation.
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSouth Korea: Boeing E-7Ministry of DefenceTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68355More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of South Korea’s decision to explore alternatives for its E-7 Wedgetail replacement.
Answer: Procurement decisions by any other nation are fully a matter for that nation.
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEarly Warning Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68354More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with NATO allies on the potential procurement of Saab’s GlobalEye as a replacement for the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System fleet.
Answer: Procurement decisions by any other NATO nation are fully a matter for that nation and NATO. The MOD will continue with its procurement of Wedgetail to meet national and NATO requirements for Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) which will be i...
Answered 22 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: StandardsMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67828More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's definition of Initial Operational Capability is for the Royal Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail fleet; and what specific criteria must be met.
Answer: I am withholding the definition and specific criteria for achieving Initial Operational Capability as it would harm the security and capability of the Armed Forces. The Initial Operational Capability is clearly defined and the RAF is working to ensure the...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: RadarMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67827More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the special clearance for the Royal Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail is related to challenges in integrating the Northrop Grumman Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array MESA radar with the aircraft.
Answer: The Wedgetail is not flying under any special clearance. The aircraft Test and Evaluation programme is being conducted under a Military Permit To Fly in accordance with Military Aviation Authority regulations. This allows the aircraft to be flown by Boein...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: StandardsMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67826More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contractual penalties will Boeing face if it fails to deliver the Royal Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail aircraft to the agreed capability standards; and how will these penalties be enforced.
Answer: There is no additional cost to the Authority (MOD) due to the late delivery of the aircraft, as Boeing are contracted to deliver a fleet of three Wedgetail under a Firm Price contract. The contract does include incentivisation milestones which are subject...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7Ministry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67825More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the second Royal Air Force E-7 Wedgetail airframe (WT002) did not conduct test flights during the period when WT001 was grounded.
Answer: The three aircraft arrived at the modification facility at STS Aviation Services in Birmingham between January 2021 and October 2022. Given their staggered arrival, the aircraft modification programmes are at varying degrees of completion.
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7Ministry of DefenceTabled 15 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 67824More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the reasons for the nine-month gap between the first flight of the Royal Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail (WT001) in September 2024 and its subsequent test flight.
Answer: Between delivery to STS Aviation and its first flight in September 2024 the aircraft has undergone significant structural modification to support the Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar and mission systems. Since concluding previous fligh...
Answered 21 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Written QuestionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 66124More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to answer Question 62175, tabled on 24 June 2025.
Answer: I will respond to the right hon. Member shortly.
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023Northern Ireland OfficeTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65213More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prevent former IRA members from claiming damages from the Government, in the context of the document entitled A proposal for a Remed
Answer: I refer to the answer given last week to the Honourable Member for Stockton North (UIN 63126). The main issue here is the application of the Carltona principle in the context of ICOs. The previous Government’s attempt to address this following the 2020 Su...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023Northern Ireland OfficeTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65212More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he plans to lay the draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order.
Answer: On 4 December 2024, the Government laid a proposal for a draft Remedial Order to amend the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act.The Government has been carefully considering responses received including from the Joint Committee on Hum...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Written QuestionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64407More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to answer Question 59988, tabled on 16 June 2025.
Answer: I responded to the right hon. Member on 3 July 2025.
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Written QuestionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64406More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 61737, tabled on 23 June 2025.
Answer: I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member's question. I issued a response to the hon. Member on 3 July.
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRoyal MarinesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63532More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the refit of RFA Lyme Bay on the operational capability of the Royal Marines; and what steps he is taking to ensure the Royal Marines’ amphibious capabilitie
Answer: RFA LYME BAY is undergoing routine planned maintenance to ensure continued sustainability for operations. Royal Marines operations continue to be supported by the remainder of the amphibious fleet. These ships will continue to support amphibious capabilit...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Written QuestionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63531More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department plans to answer Question 60828, tabled on 18 June 2025.
Answer: My response to Question 60828 was returned on 02 July.
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63530More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61738 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, which Department will fund costs arising from the function of the Joint Commission; a
Answer: The payments will be split between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence.As is clear from paragraph 2 of Annex 3, both the UK and Mauritius shall appoint one senior representative as co-chair of the Joint Commission ...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterans: Government AssistanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63289More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take ensure that independent oversight is provided for the activities of the VALOUR Team; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of that oversight on tackling regiona
Answer: The structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR are currently being developed and will also be informed by lessons learned during the Northern pilot announced last week. It will not be a service that is a blueprint for everyone, but we will take th...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordVeterans Advisory and Pensions CommitteesMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63288More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons the recruitment of new members to the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees has been paused; and what plans he has to restart that process.
Answer: Ministry of Defence officials are currently working through the latest advice that the Veterans Advisory and Pension Committees have provided, for which I am most grateful. We are currently considering their functions and activity against wider Department...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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