Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
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Written questions
HMS Dragon: CyprusMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118992More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the preparation to deploy HMS Dragon for deployment to the eastern Mediterranean is funded from the Special Reserve.
Answer: In her statement to the House on 9 March, the Chancellor confirmed that she had approved access for the Ministry of Defence to the special reserve to deploy additional capabilities in the middle east.
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCyprus: F-35 AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118991More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, elements of which F-35B squadron is currently deployed to Cyprus.
Answer: We cannot release any further information on this matter due to operational security reasons.
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordUSA: Uncrewed SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118990More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions has he had with a) his US counterparts or b) Spektreworks, regarding the Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS).
Answer: The Department has no records of formal engagement with US counterparts or SpektreWorks regarding the Low‑Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS).
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: RAF AkrotiriMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118989More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions has he had with (a) his United States counterparts and (b) the United States military on the drone attack at RAF Akrotiri.
Answer: Both the Defence Secretary and Defence Officials remain in regular contact with US counterparts on a range of topics to ensure coherence and alignment between our two nations including operational matters.
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: RAF AkrotiriMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which building at RAF Akrotiri was struck by the attack drone on 2 March 2026.
Answer: The device struck a hangar.
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: RAF AkrotiriMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the reasons UK military assets failed to intercept the attack drone that struck RAF Akrotiri on 2 March 2026.
Answer: We have deployed significant air defence assets to the region since January. This includes extra jets, radars, HMS Dragon, counter drones systems and over 500 additional British personnel as part of our significant air defence team. This is a comprehensiv...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: RAF AkrotiriMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118986More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what warning RAF Akrotiri was given by (a) the United States, (b) Israel or (c) other allies of the approach of the four attack drones on Sunday 1 March.
Answer: It is a longstanding position that the Ministry of Defence does not comment on specific intelligence, or information from third party nations, for security reasons.
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: RAF AkrotiriMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118985More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the attack drone that struck RAF Akrotiri on Monday 2 March (local time) was initially reported to have struck the runway by the Foreign Secretary, rather than the building that it did strike.
Answer: In any situation that is developing as rapidly as the situation in the Middle East, new information will become available at short notice to update initial impressions. As we have said consistently, assessment of incidents will always be an ongoing proces...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordIran: RAF AkrotiriMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118984More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what protection RAF Akrotiri has against Iranian Medium Range Ballistic Missiles, in the context of the move of the US Navy USS Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Red Sea on 5 March.
Answer: In addition to the equipment and capabilities stationed at RAF Akrotiri, the Ministry of Defence have added 400 additional personnel, increased air defence radar and missiles since January. We have deployed F-35 and Typhoon aircraft, three Wildcat helicop...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHMS Middleton: Strait of HormuzMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118983More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential impact on minehunting and disposal capability in the a) Strait of Hormuz and b) wider Gulf region of withdrawing HMS Middleton on 25th January.
Answer: The UK is committed to supporting our interests and the interests of our allies in the Gulf region. We collaborate closely with allies and partners to maintain an Expeditionary Mine Warfare capability – this includes the introduction of the latest autonom...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Arctic and North Atlantic OceanMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what ships from NATO allies will deploy as escorts to HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group on Operation Firecrest.
Answer: Operation Firecrest is intended to include key allies, including the US, Canada and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) nations. We are continuing to refine with our allies the specific capabilities these will contribute to the deployment, although this infor...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEstonia: Armed ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118981More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the establishment of the Baltic Military Mobility Area on UK armed forces operations in Estonia.
Answer: The United Kingdom remains firmly committed to Estonia as the framework nation for NATO’s forward land forces. The purpose of the Baltic Military Mobility Area (MMA) is to harmonise procedures for the movement of military personnel and equipment across Es...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRoyal Marines: Arctic and North Atlantic OceanMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118980More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Royal Marines will deploy any sub-units on Operation Firecrest.
Answer: Detail on Operation Firecrest can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-carrier-strike-group-to-deploy-to-north-atlantic-to-keep-uk-s… I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of ou...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPride in Place Programme: HuntingdonMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118979More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding from the Pride in Place programme will be allocated to Huntingdon constituency.
Answer: The Pride in Place programme specifically targets funding to communities with the poorest social and economic outcomes, identified using a composite measure of deprivation (Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)) and community need (Community Needs Index (CN...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO Response ForceMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118329More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2026 to question 116103 on NATO Response Force, will UK contributions to the ARF Special Operations Forces element be exclusively under NATO Command or still available for UK ope
Answer: As with all UK contributions to NATO, the UK retains the ultimate authority over their use, including the option to employ them for national operations if necessary. Any such decision would be taken in close consultation and coordination with NATO. The UK...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAllied Reaction Force: Armed ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2026 to question 116103 on NATO Response Force, what size of sub-unit from the a) Royal Marines Commando Force, b) Ranger Regiment and c) RAF Regiment will be committed to the NA
Answer: As with all UK contributions to NATO, the UK retains the ultimate authority over their use, including the option to employ them for national operations if necessary. Any such decision would be taken in close consultation and coordination with NATO. The UK...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordChina: Nuclear WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118327More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2026 to question 115862 on China: Nuclear Weapons, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the a) diversification and b) modernisation of it
Answer: The UK’s nuclear policy, most recently outlined in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, remains unchanged. China is undertaking a significant programme of nuclear expansion and modernisation. The pace and scale of these developments, coupled with limited tr...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVeterans: Mental Health ServicesMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118326More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2026 to question 114218 on Veterans: Mental Health Services, by when will he establish a) a VALOUR HQ and b) a network of VALOUR Field Officers.
Answer: VALOUR will give veterans across the UK easier access to the essential care and support available to them. VALOUR Recognised Centres (VRC) will enable veterans, and in due course the wider Armed Forces Community, to access in-person guidance and support. ...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordVeterans: Mental Health ServicesMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118325More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2026 to question 114218 on Veterans: Mental Health Services, how will services become a VALOUR Recognised Centre and what will the eligibility criteria be.
Answer: VALOUR will give veterans across the UK easier access to the essential care and support available to them. VALOUR Recognised Centres (VRC) will enable veterans, and in due course the wider Armed Forces Community, to access in-person guidance and support. ...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDaniel BoakyeMinistry of JusticeTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118324More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2026 to question 115637 on Daniel Boakye, what additional management checks are being undertaken in relation to operational staff who may be called upon to undertake escort duty.
Answer: We have introduced a period of enhanced management assurance for all external escorts. Under these strengthened measures, a manager of the same grade or a more senior grade is required to check the application of restraints prior to an escort and ensure a...
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDaniel BoakyeMinistry of JusticeTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118323More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the outcome of the formal investigation into the abscondment of Daniel Boakye.
Answer: The formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape from custody is due to be completed by 20 March.Reports of internal investigations of this nature are not normally published.
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDaniel BoakyeMinistry of JusticeTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118322More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, by what date will the formal investigation into the abscondment of Daniel Boakye be completed.
Answer: The formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape from custody is due to be completed by 20 March.Reports of internal investigations of this nature are not normally published.
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118321More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps has he taken to revise the Army fielding plan for the Ajax family of vehicles in order to reflect delays caused by the ministerial-led review.
Answer: Investigations into Ajax remain ongoing, and time must be given to ensure that all information and evidence is considered. The fielding plan will be updated once these investigations conclude. I will continue to keep the house informed of developments as ...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118320More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2026, to question 111945 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, for what reason will some Ajax vehicles move to Capability Drop 3 before Capability Drop 4 and others will be upgraded to
Answer: Capability Drop 3 is the current approved standard for the Ajax fleet. Vehicles which are scheduled to be upgraded before the Capability Drop 4 standard is approved will move to Capability Drop 3. Vehicles which are later in the upgrade schedule will move...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordExtradition: BangladeshHome OfficeTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118319More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2026 to question 114022 on Extradition, how many of the requests received were from Bangladesh.
Answer: Further to our response to question 114022, which requested the number of Category 2 Type B requests we had received between 5th July 2024 and the date of that request 23rd February 2026.In accordance with our policies and after careful consideration we h...
Answered 1 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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