Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
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Written questions
Boxer VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11052More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2026 to Question 9058 on Army, in what supporting capability role is Boxer being fielded to Armoured Units.
Answer: Under current plans, Boxer is being fielded in supporting roles to Armoured, Armoured Cavalry and Armoured Infantry units within 3rd (UK) Division. These roles include Command and Control, Specialist Troop Carrier, and Medical functions. The 1st Battalion...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11035More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2026 to question 8248 on F-35 Aircraft, how many F-35B aircraft are based with the Operational Conversion Unit, 207 Squadron.
Answer: The F-35B Fleet based at RAF Marham is pooled for use by all based Squadrons on a daily basis, according to unit requirements.
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11034More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2026 to question 8711 on Military Aircraft: Training, how many trainee pilots have quit UKMFTS prior to completion of their training in a) 2024, b) 2025 and c) 2026 (year-to-date
Answer: From 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, two trainees voluntarily withdrew from the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) Fast Jet Training. In 2025, no trainees voluntarily withdrew from UKMFTS Fast Jet Training. From 1 January 2026 to 18 June 2026...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordGeoengineering: ExpenditureDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10991More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2026 to Question 8818 on Geoengineering: Expenditure, by when are the 3 projects scheduled to (a) start and (b) finish.
Answer: The start and end dates of the 3 projects are as below: ‘Marine Cloud Brightening In a Complex World’ commenced on 25 August 2025 and will end on 30 September 2027. ‘A REsponsible innovation Framework for assessing noveL spray tEChnology research To exami...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigration: VeteransHome OfficeTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10902More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2026 to question 9067, when cross-Government decisions will be finalised.
Answer: I have previously provided this information, and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 June 2026, to Questions 9067 and 9069.
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10787More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the F-35 Joint Program Office Global Support Solution (GSS) Reset on the UK Lightning Force.
Answer: The Global Support Solution reset is intended to improve aircraft availability and readiness performance across the F-35 enterprise.
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: RussiaDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10784More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to the public purse is per day of detaining the SMYRTOS at Weymouth anchorage.
Answer: The Department for Transport is lead department for the detention of the vessel. However, we are clear that the ship owner continues to be responsible for the upkeep of the vessel, and provisions for crew members.
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHMP Liverpool: Prison AccommodationMinistry of JusticeTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, who is the new contractor for the construction of additional places at HMP Liverpool.
Answer: The new contractor is Wates Construction Limited and they are currently undertaking pre-construction activities to deliver 306 places.
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: National SecurityDepartment for TransportTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10782More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of updating the National Maritime Security Strategy 2022.
Answer: The government has already set out its approach to security challenges, including those faced in maritime, in the National Security Strategy of June 2025.
Answered 25 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordArmy Reserve: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10781More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2026, to question 8857 on Army Reserve: Finance, what the budget allocation for funding the British Army’s strategic reserve is for this reporting period.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 16 June 2026, to Question 8857. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-06-10/8857
Answered 25 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAir Ambulance Services: FuelsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2026 to Question 4882 on Air Ambulance Services: Fuels, has he held discussions with (a) Magpas and (b) East Anglia Air Ambulance.
Answer: We have primarily engaged with air ambulance charities on fuel resilience through Air Ambulances UK. Air Ambulance UK are the national umbrella charity which supports the 21 air ambulance charities in the United Kingdom including Magpas and East Anglia Ai...
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: ChinaDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10779More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2026, to question 3444 on Animal Experiments, what recent discussions has she had with her Chinese counterparts on collaboration on the (a) development,
Answer: The Government is strengthening international collaboration on the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods. This has included officials-level engagement with senior counterparts from the Chinese National Institutes for Food and Drug Cont...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMerlin HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10778More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current flight status of the Royal Navy’s Merlin Mk.4 fleet following the crash in Sourton, Devon on 3 June 2025.
Answer: Following the loss of a Merlin Mk4 (Me4) (ZJ131) on 3 June 2026, Me4 flying was paused and an investigation was directed. A return to flying of the Me4 fleet was authorised on 10 June 2026 post analysis of the initial evidence. The safety investigation is...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10777More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact on future F-35 procurement of the availability of low rate initial production material within the production chain.
Answer: The F-35 supply chain, including production material, is managed by the F-35 Joint Programme Office via the two F-35 prime contractors; Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney. The production planning process aligns requirements with supply chain capacity...
Answered 26 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordGeorge Cross CommitteeCabinet OfficeTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10776More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2026 to question 7853 on George Cross Committee, was the nomination by the Hon. Member for Huntingdon of 12 December 2024 discussed at any of the three dates listed.
Answer: To ensure the integrity of the honours system and uphold the privacy of nominees, the deliberations of the George Cross Committee must remain strictly confidential. Should the Committee submit a recommendation for an award to the Prime Minister and The So...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordChallenger TanksMinistry of DefenceTabled 17 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10769More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of unresolved turret gearbox issues on the delivery timeline of Challenger 3.
Answer: Challenger 3 remains in the Demonstration phase. The design continues to be refined by the manufacturer to ensure the vehicle meets its required performance standards. As design maturity has improved, the Prime Contractor has refined elements of the desig...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10486More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in upgrading the power and thermal management system (PTMS) of the F-35B Lightning II.
Answer: The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) continue to explore a number of options for F-35B Enhanced Power and Cooling Systems. Once options are fully explored it will be a decision for the F-35 Program Partners on which to adopt.
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10485More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Malloy Aeronautics T-150 heavy lift UAVs have been procured for a) Ukrainian Armed Forces and b) British Armed Forces since 5 July 2024.
Answer: Since 5 July 2024, the Ministry of Defence has procured 175 Malloy Aeronautics T-150 heavy lift uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and 20 for the United Kingdom Armed Forces.
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10475More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps has he taken to use machine learning to train defence AI in targeting based on the current Ukrainian targeting dataset.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence is drawing on lessons from Ukraine’s experience of modern warfare, particularly in the use of data and artificial intelligence. These insights are shaping our capability development, enhancing support for communications infrastruct...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRussia: ShippingMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2026 to question 6167 on Russia: Shipping, whether the maritime interdiction of the Russian Shadow Fleet vessel SMYRTOS was conducted under Article 110 of UNCLOS.
Answer: The interdiction of the vessel SMYRTOS was conducted in accordance with domestic and international law, including under Article 110 of UNCLOS.
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHawk Aircraft: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10473More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2026 to question 6942 on Hawk Aircraft, what was the percentage of Final Fatigue Index used for a) XX159 and b) XX301 at the time they were deregistered and retired from service.
Answer: The final percentage of fatigue index when the airframes were deregistered and retired from service was as follows:XX159 70.81%XX301 68.98%
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordHawk Aircraft: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10472More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2026 to question 6942 on Hawk Aircraft, on what dates were (a) XX159 and (b) XX301 deregistered and retired from service.
Answer: XX159 entered Service in January 1979 and was retired from Service and deregistered in May 2025. XX301 entered Service in February 1980 and was retired from Service and deregistered in September 2025. I can confirm both platforms that have been retired en...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: Cost EffectivenessMinistry of DefenceTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10471More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the £3.5 billion of in-year efficiency savings to be made within his Department is included within the cost envelope for the Defence Investment Plan.
Answer: Work to finalise the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) will continue at pace with the new Defence Secretary, and the Prime Minister has been clear that he is determined to publish the DIP before the NATO summit in July.
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: RussiaDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10470More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date did (a) the SMYRTOS lose its Cameroonian registration and (b) UK authorities become aware of the change in flag status.
Answer: The SMYRTOS was deregistered from the Cameroonian flag registry on 26 May. UK authorities first received reporting that SMYRTOS was flying a false flag on 08 June.
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: RussiaDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 10469More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the number of times the sanctioned Russian Shadow Fleet vessel SMYRTOS transited a) through the English Channel or b) through the wider UK EEZ since 24 March 2026.
Answer: Before the UK Government’s interdiction of the SMYRTOS on 14 June, the SMYRTOS had transited the Channel once since 24 March 2026 while on North-East passage to the Baltic across 24-25 May. This was on the French side of the Traffic Separation Scheme but ...
Answered 24 Jun 2026
Original Parliament record
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