Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
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Written questions
Norway: Type 26 FrigatesMinistry of DefenceTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Type 26 frigates are scheduled to be allocated to the Royal Norwegian Navy.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the response to Question 108598 provided on 4 February 2026. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-27/108598
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordChallenger Tanks: ExportsMinistry of DefenceTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2026 to Question 107227 on Challenger Tanks: Exports, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Main Ground Combat System project on Challenger 3 exports.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 January 2026 to Question 107227 which remains extant. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-20/107227
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordQuantum TechnologyMinistry of DefenceTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112708More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made in developing a quantum illumination capability.
Answer: Defence quantum experts within Defence Science and Technology (DST), the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), and Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) work closely with our international allies and partners in wider Government, industry and aca...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordArtillery: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2026 to question 110161 on Artillery: Procurement, how the a) common design baseline and b) technical specification for the UK and Germany differs from the version of RCH155
Answer: Both Germany and the UK have agreed to a minor baseline modification to ensure the platform meets a common standard that satisfies each nation’s requirements. Following this, each nation will integrate its own national communications systems and secondary...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMarinesMinistry of DefenceTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the trained strength is of the Royal Marines.
Answer: The latest statistics concerning UK Service personnel, including the trained strength of the Royal Marines, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2025
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026 to question 109314 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, with reference to the Answer of 26 January 2010 to Question HL1306, what the resp
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to Question 109314 on 09 February 2026.
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHMS VenturerMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112352More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the in-service date of HMS Venturer.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 February 2026 to the hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mark Francois) to Question 108597.
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: Manufacturing IndustriesMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112351More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions has he held with his cabinet colleagues on retaining sovereign military helicopter manufacturing capability.
Answer: Cabinet colleagues engage in discussions about defence capabilities, which are supported by the Defence Industrial Strategy. This strategy highlights the Government's commitment to preserving sovereign capabilities, playing a crucial role in supporting jo...
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the minimum operationally deployable capability drop standard for the Ajax-family of vehicles.
Answer: Capability Drop 3 is the minimum operationally deployable capability drop, with deployability being subject to decisions based on the safety reviews.
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: ParachutingMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what aircraft do the RAF operate that are capable of deploying airborne parachute infantry at a) company, b) battalion and c) all arms battlegroup scale.
Answer: All twenty-two Atlas C1 aircrafts can be fitted with the Static Line delivery system for deploying parachute infantry at scale in a low-level static line configuration. They can also employ specialist military freefall parachuting and air dispatch of asso...
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112348More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2026 to question 109313 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, how many of the first 100 vehicles have had their hulls inspected to ensure there are no faults since being withdrawn fr
Answer: Inspection of hulls takes place as part of the upgrade of all Ajax vehicles to Capability Drop 3 (CD3). To date, 17 vehicles from the first 100 hulls have been upgraded to CD3 and therefore inspected as part of that process.
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: UK Border ForceMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112347More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department currently has operational command of Border Force vessels in the English Channel.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence does not have operational command of Border Force vessels in the English Channel.
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112346More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026 to question 109314 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, what were the objections expressed by Mauritius regarding the creation of the Mar
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to Question 109314 on 09 February 2026.
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSyria: Islamic StateForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112344More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2026 to question 108357 on Syria: Islamic State, how many Islamic State-linked individuals have been repatriated to the United Kingdom fr
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 February 2025 in response to Question 27530.
Answered 24 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Border ForceHome OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112343More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what policing powers Border Force personnel hold.
Answer: Border Force immigration officers and designated customs officials in England and Wales may utilise some powers set out in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 as applied by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to immigration office...
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Border ForceHome OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112341More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Border Force personnel are qualified to conduct Visit, Board, Search, Seizure operations.
Answer: Border Force officers operate using a range of powers from the Immigration Act 1971, The Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, The Criminal Justic...
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112332More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026, to question 110946 on Navy: Artificial Intelligence, what is the full scope of the Maritime Fighting Web.
Answer: The Maritime Fighting Web (MFW) is not a single system or platform but a long‑term programme of digital modernisation. Subject to the Defence Investment Plan, the MFW will deliver the maritime component of the Digital Targeting Web, enabling the Royal Nav...
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: PalantirMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112331More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, within which Ministry of Defence a) projects and b) programmes are Palantir currently involved.
Answer: Palantir is used across a range of Defence data‑analytics and integration activities, with deployment decided by individual Delivery Teams rather than tied to a single defined list of projects or programmes. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not routinel...
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: PalantirMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112328More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he had with Peter Mandelson, whilst he was the UK Ambassador to the United States, on Palantir, prior to the awarding of the contract with the Ministry of Defence.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, and the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, which set out an update on the Government's pr...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRAF Akrotiri: Military AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112310More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many a) RAF Typhoons and b) RAF F-35Bs are stationed at RAF Akrotiri, as at 6 February 2026.
Answer: It is longstanding policy that we do not publicly comment on exact details around operational deployments (including figures), as it would harm the capability, security and operational effectiveness of UK forces.
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112309More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026, to question 110946 on Navy: Artificial Intelligence, what progress has he made in establishing a Royal Navy Targeting organisation to represent the maritime component of
Answer: The Maritime Fighting Web and the Digital Targeting Web are both elements of Defence’s broader programme to improve data‑driven decision making and effects delivery across the Integrated Force. The initiatives are designed for seamless integration to enab...
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026, to question 110946 on Navy: Artificial Intelligence, what assessment has he made of the potential level of need for integration between the Maritime Fighting Web and the
Answer: The Maritime Fighting Web and the Digital Targeting Web are both elements of Defence’s broader programme to improve data‑driven decision making and effects delivery across the Integrated Force. The initiatives are designed for seamless integration to enab...
Answered 18 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordChris WormaldCabinet OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112306More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what role Chris Wormald played in the (a) selection and (b) appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK Ambassador to the United States.
Answer: I refer you to the former Cabinet Secretary’s oral evidence before the Foreign Affairs Committee on 3 November 2025, and the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address.
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordLord MandelsonCabinet OfficeTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112305More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral contribution of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister in response to the question from the hon. Member for Huntingdon of 9 February 2026, Official Report, column 583, if he will se
Answer: I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, and the Written Ministerial Statement, and the Oral Statement on the 23rd February, in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, which set ...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111945More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2026 to Question 109313 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, whether the first 100 Ajax vehicles will be upgraded to (a) Capability Drop 3 and (b) Capability Drop 4 standard.
Answer: All 589 vehicles, including the first 100, will be retrofitted to Capability Drop 4. Some of the first 100 vehicles will move to the Capability Drop 3 standard before Capability Drop 4, others will be retrofitted directly to Capability Drop 4.
Answered 5 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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