Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
1495 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Defence: CybersecurityMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58344More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a CyberEM Command.
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommended the establishment of a Cyber and Electromagnetic (Cyber & EM) Command, this was after careful consideration of proposals for the Cyber & EM domain and the related evidence gathering process for the SD...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNavy: North Atlantic OceanMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58343More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Bastion concept on the security of the North Atlantic.
Answer: Atlantic Bastion is the Royal Navy's plan to secure the North Atlantic for the UK and NATO. It will exploit advances in autonomy and artificial intelligence to deter the growing underwater threat in light of a modernising Russian submarine force. It will ...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Uncrewed SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58342More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre.
Answer: With rapid technological advances, the Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre will centralise work within the Ministry of Defence and accelerate the shift towards greater use of uncrewed and autonomous capabilities. It will: fast-track our exploitation and integ...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58341More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a Defence AI Investment Fund.
Answer: As set out when the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was published, the Government accepts the vision and recommendations of the SDR, including the recommendation to create a protected Defence AI investment Fund. The SDR recommends an immediate priority for...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Motor VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58340More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Land Rovers of all variants are in use by the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force, (c) Royal Navy and (d) Royal Marines.
Answer: We do not routinely break down equipment capability figures and therefore I am withholding this information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces. However, I can advise that ...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what metric he plans to use to assess success against increasing lethality ten-fold.
Answer: Ultimately, lethality will be judged by our ability to deter, fight, and win-through innovation, integration, and readiness.Defence already maintains internal models to track and assess combat power, including classified simulations and operational effect...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordStrategic Defence ReviewMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take in order to implement Recommendation 1 of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review.
Answer: This Government is endorsing the vision and accepting all 62 recommendations in the SDR, which will be implemented. We are developing a new Defence Investment Plan to deliver the SDR's new vision. We will ensure the Plan is deliverable and affordable, con...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArmy: Military OperationsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57779More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the British Army’s new Recce-Strike approach will come into effect.
Answer: In line with the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review, the Army will become ten times more lethal – Recce-Strike is a key element of this transformation, and sees a significant shift in how the Army prepares for and conducts warfare. Fighting by Recce-...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordReserve ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57778More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take to increase the Army Active Reserve numbers by 20 per cent.
Answer: As the SDR has recommended, it is our intention to increase the UK's Active Reserve forces by at least 20 per cent. We recognise the need to adopt a whole of society approach to defence and the requirement for defence in depth. We are committed to growing...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Public ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57777More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the statement by the NATO secretary-general that NATO members should commit to spending (a) 3.5 per cent of GDP on hard defence and (b
Answer: This will form part of discussions ahead of the NATO Summit at the end of June. As these proposals are subject to agreement of all NATO Allies, including the UK, I hope the hon. Gentleman will know it would not be appropriate to comment at this time.
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: Council Tax and Income TaxTreasuryTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57474More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing the requirement for armed forces personnel to pay (a) Income Tax and (b) Council Tax when deployed on overseas operations.
Answer: Whilst there is no income tax exemption for the salaries of armed forces personnel serving overseas, there are a number of exemptions for specific payments or expenses including for UK accommodation, uniform laundering, and some travel expenses and profes...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSkynetMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57473More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when (a) SKYNET 6A and (b) SKYNET 6EC satellite communications programmes will come into service.
Answer: The Skynet 6 Programme continues to progress to meet Defence’s satellite communication needs. The build of the Skynet 6A satellite has transitioned into the testing and validation phase. The contracted in-service date is August 2026. Negotiations for the ...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57472More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a next-generation, overhead, persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability with the ability to (a) sense, (b) warn of and (
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review recommended the Ministry of Defence (MOD) should seek partners to develop a next-generation, overhead, persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability to sense, warn and track threats in the Euro-Atlantic ...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Space CouncilMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57471More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential merits of reconstituting the National Space Council.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence along with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and other Departments, remains committed to ensuring that space activities are effectively coordinated across government. Ministers from across Government met on the ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSupply Teachers: HuntingdonDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57470More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much the Government has spent on contracts with temporary teaching agencies for staff at schools in Huntingdon constituency since 5 July 2024.
Answer: Supply teachers make an important contribution to the smooth running of schools across the country by filling posts on a temporary basis and covering teacher absences.Schools and local authorities are responsible for the recruitment of their supply teache...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFarms: Domestic VisitsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57469More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 53292 on Farms: Domestic Visits, if he will list (a) the 14 farms he has visited, (b) the size of each farm in acres, (c) the type
Answer: We respect the privacy of those hosting visits to farms and so are unable to share this information.
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordTrade Agreements: USADepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57468More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 53718 on Trade Agreements: USA, whether the sugar beet farming industry will be impacted by the UK-US trade deal on ethanol.
Answer: The landmark economic deal with the United States announced on 8 May protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. For the first time ever, this deal will a...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: CadetsDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57467More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing Cadet Forces into secondary schools within the state sector.
Answer: Cadets can be an excellent opportunity for enrichment and welcomes the Ministry of Defence (MoD)-commissioned University of Northampton report which explores the benefits of a cadet unit in schools, which is available here: https://www.northampton.ac.uk/w...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: SchoolsDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57466More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to develop understanding of the armed forces among young people in schools.
Answer: Cadets can be an excellent opportunity for enrichment and welcomes the Ministry of Defence (MoD)-commissioned University of Northampton report which explores the benefits of a cadet unit in schools, which is available here: https://www.northampton.ac.uk/w...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPrisons: ConstructionMinistry of JusticeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57465More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 53712 on Prisons: Construction, how many Category A prison places she plans to be built as part of the Prison Capacity Strategy.
Answer: This Government will get the prison places built that the previous Government failed to deliver or fund. We are delivering 14,000 additional prison places and aim to do so by 2031, as set out in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy. This consists of the c...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: PayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57464More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is for establishing a fair pay agreement process in the adult social care sector.
Answer: The Government is committed to consulting on the design of the Fair Pay Agreement process and aims to begin the public consultation after the bill receives Royal Assent later this year. Secondary legislation and the establishing of the Negotiating Body wi...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: BusinessHome OfficeTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57463More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Restoring control over the immigration system white paper, published on 13 May 2025, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of doubling the number of workers that
Answer: The Immigration White paper, published 12 May, set out proposed reforms in a number of areas.Over recent years, proper control and management of the immigration system has been lost. Levels of net migration have risen to a record high of 906,000 in the ye...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDefenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57462More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the global posture review undertaken by the US government on (a) the UK's defence policy, (b) NATO deployments and (c) use of RAF bases by USAFE in the UK.
Answer: The US Administration is currently undertaking its Global Posture Review. Decisions on the deployment and posture of US forces are for the US Administration. We welcome the continued presence of United States forces in the UK, their engagement with the lo...
Answered 12 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNuclear Power: SecurityMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57461More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the scope of the National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills published on 15 May 2024, in the context of trends in the level of global security.
Answer: Renewing and maintaining the nuclear deterrent is truly a national endeavour, providing highly skilled jobs across the United Kingdom. The National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills is vital to that endeavour. Delivery of the plan is underway, cultivating...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Policy StatementsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57460More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress she has made in updating all relevant National Policy Statements by this summer.
Answer: Consultation on proposed amendments to the Energy National Policy Statements (NPSs) 1, 3 and 5 closed on 29 May, with the relevant period for parliamentary scrutiny of these NPSs closing on 22 July 2025.Consultation on a draft revised Ports NPS began on 4...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →