Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
1495 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Queen Elizabeth II: MonumentsCabinet OfficeTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62322More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the (a) proposed start date, (b) proposed completion date and (c) allocated budget is for the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II in St James's Park.
Answer: The final winning design for the National Memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, in St. James’s Park, will be unveiled in 2026, to coincide with what would have been Her late Majesty’s Centenary year. Construction will begin subject to approval of the winning de...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61696More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when did the Armed Forces cease to offer gap year commissions.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 3 April 2025 to Question 41496 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordReserve ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61694More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel are eligible for service in the strategic reserve in each of the armed forces.
Answer: The Strategic Reserve comprises two distinct elements: those former Service personnel with an ongoing legal liability to train and to be called out if needed (the Regular Reserve) and those with a legal liability to be recalled in the direst of situations...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceTreasuryTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61054More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her definition of NATO-qualifying defence expenditure is.
Answer: NATO has a common definition of defence expenditure which is agreed by all NATO Allies. A full definition can be found here: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49198.htm
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: English ChannelHome OfficeTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61052More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 58350 on Undocumented Migrants: English Channel, with reference to the Policy paper published on 23 March 2023 entitled UK-France Joint Leaders' Decl
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer | gave him on 17 June to Question 58350. Further updates will be announced in the normal way in due course.
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: English ChannelHome OfficeTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61050More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 58350 on Undocumented Migrants: English Channel and with reference to the policy paper entitled UK-France Joint Leaders' Declaration, published on 23
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer | gave him on 17 June to Question 58350. Further updates will be announced in the normal way in due course.
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUndocumented Migrants: English ChannelHome OfficeTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61049More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 58350 on Undocumented Migrants: English Channel and with reference to the policy paper entitled UK-France Joint Leaders' Declaration, published on 23
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer | gave him on 17 June to Question 58350. Further updates will be announced in the normal way in due course.
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61044More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 58713 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, what proportion of the annual cost of the deal each year between 2025-2050 will be pa
Answer: The payments to Mauritius will be split between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Ministry of Defence. They will be published in the normal manner alongside other departmental spend in the annual accounts.
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy: RiflesMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61043More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the full scope of Project Cairns is; and what the (a) specific technical requirements and (b) core characteristics of the project are as laid out to the defence industry.
Answer: Project CAIRNS is not a project of record at this time, however, it will seek to replace the L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) upon reaching its Out of Service Date. The Project envisages replacing the GPMG’s roles across both Light and Medium Machi...
Answered 23 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: FirearmsMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61042More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 55079 on Armed Forces: Firearms, whether the provision of a replacement rifle-mounted grenade launcher is within the scope of Project Grayburn.
Answer: The L123A3 Underslung Grenade Launcher (UGL) remains in-service and compatible with the L85 rifle family. There is currently not a programme of record to replace the UGL, and it is outside the boundaries for Project GRAYBURN. Analysis into optimum levels ...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Motor VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 58340 on Land Rover: Armed Forces, whether all 5,674 Land Rovers in service across Defence are due to be withdrawn from service by 2030.
Answer: Yes, all in-service Land Rovers have a current out of service date of 2030.
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate LifeHome OfficeTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60557More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to complete the review of the application of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Answer: This work is being carried out at pace, and we will provide further updates in the normal way in due course.
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCadetsMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60556More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many new cadet detachments in (a) schools and (b) communities he plans to create through the Cadet Expansion Programme in the 2025-26 financial year.
Answer: The Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) is a joint Department for Education and Ministry of Defence initiative, underway since 2012, which aims to increase the number of cadet units in schools, and the number of cadets within those units. The CEP does not cov...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCadetsMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60555More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that community and school cadet expansion plans (a) do not conflict and (b) maximise (i) coverage and (ii) the use of resources.
Answer: The recently published Strategic Defence Review recommended an expansion of in-school and community-based Cadet Forces across the country by 30% by 2030. Planning for this is underway with further detail to follow and as we move forward, we will ensure th...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy: RiflesMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60554More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the scope is of Project Grayburn; and what requirements were laid out to the defence industry on the core characteristics of the next-generation individual weapon to replace the SA80 family of rifles.
Answer: Project GRAYBURN is currently in the concept phase with the aim of identifying and understanding the capability requirements. As part of this phase, performance, interoperability and complexity are some of the characteristics under consideration. Due to t...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCadetsMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60205More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many new cadet detachments will the Cadet Expansion Programme create in (a) schools and (b) communities in 2025/26.
Answer: The Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) is a joint Department for Education and Ministry of Defence initiative, underway since 2012, which aims to increase the number of cadet units in schools, and the number of cadets within those units. The CEP does not cov...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUnitary Councils: CambridgeshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60180More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what consideration she will give to the findings of district councils public consultations in determining the structure of new unitary councils in Cambridgeshire.
Answer: On 5 February 2025 councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government by 28 November 2025. Once a proposal has been submitted it will be for the government to decide on taking a proposal forward and t...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUnitary Councils: CambridgeshireMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60179More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the policy paper entitled English Devolution White Paper?: Power and partnership: Foundations for growth, published on 16 December 2024, what process will be us
Answer: On 5 February 2025 councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government by 28 November 2025. Once a proposal has been submitted it will be for the government to decide on taking a proposal forward and t...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArmyMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60178More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) the Strategic Defence Review 2025 and (b) Project Grayburn on the infantry’s (a) manning establishment, (b) battalion structures and (c) doctrine.
Answer: Project GRAYBURN is currently in the concept phase with the aim of identifying and understanding the capability requirements. As part of this phase, performance, interoperability and complexity are some of the characteristics under consideration. Due to t...
Answered 20 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHawk AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60177More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 23535 on Hawk Aircraft, how many Hawk T1 aircraft are airworthy.
Answer: There are currently thirteen Hawk T1 aircraft that are airworthy with the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, with a further four aircraft being cycled through scheduled routine depth maintenance. Additional aircraft are held in storage in the sustainment fle...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordWarships: Iron and SteelMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60176More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which new Royal Navy vessels will be manufactured with (a) British-made virgin steel, (b) British-made recycled steel and (c) steel sourced overseas.
Answer: Royal Navy vessels use a variety of steel, manufactured and sourced from the UK and overseas. Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, currently under construction, are being manufactured predominantly using steel sourced overseas, as the specification of thin plate...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordOccupied Territories: Official PublicationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60175More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department started using the term Occupied Palestinian Territories in official documentation.
Answer: The UK government has used the term "Occupied Palestinian Territories" regularly since 2007.It has been the position of the UK Government since 1967 that the Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza) are no...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordRailway Stations: Alconbury WealdDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 34050 on Railway Stations: Alconbury Weald, whether Network Rail plan to proceed with the proposed new East Coast Mainline Station at Alconbury Weald.
Answer: The outcomes from the Spending Review for East Coast Main Line investment are still being finalised but will be communicated shortly as part of the government’s commitment to set out its overall infrastructure strategy.
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60116More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with academics on the (a) development, (b) validation and (c) uptake of alternative methods to animal testing.
Answer: The Secretary of State has had no meetings on alternative methods. However, as the Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, Minister Vallance and officials have met with academics including at Alternative Methods to Animals in Science Strat...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: HousingMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60108More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Written Statement of 17 December 2024 on Developments in Military Housing, HCWS323, when his Department commenced negotiations with Annington Homes Ltd. to reacquire 36,000 service family es
Answer: Negotiations with Annington Homes Ltd to reacquire c36,000 Service Family Accommodation properties began in May 2024. These negotiations included direct meetings at a senior level. Continued legal engagement included three legal summits held in November a...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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