Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
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Written questions
NavyMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105587More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the scope of the Royal Navy’s NavyX division.
Answer: In early 2025, the Royal Navy’s NavyX was amalgamated with the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) and the Navy Artificial Intelligence Cell (NAIC) to form the Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office (DCTO). The new Disruptive Capabiliti...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: ShippingMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105586More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many non-commissioned ships are in service with the Royal Navy.
Answer: All ships in service with the Royal Navy are commissioned warships.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordDockyards: ConstructionMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105585More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the delivery timeline of (a) Programme Euston and (b) the Royal Navy’s Additional Fleet Time Docking Capability.
Answer: Programme Euston is the Royal Navy’s solution to Additional Fleet Time Docking Capability. The programme aims to deliver a resilient out of water engineering capability at HMNB Clyde by the early 2030s. The next key milestone will be the submission of a P...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces Foundation SchemeMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105584More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many places in the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme will be available in each of the services during the first three years.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge) on 16 January 2026, to Question 104233.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-08/104233
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRussia: UkraineMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105583More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the sinking of the Ursa Major in December 2024 on the conflict in Ukraine.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence are aware of the open-source reports on the sinking of the Ursa Major, however we judge that such an incident would be unlikely to have had a significant impact on the conflict in Ukraine.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordArmoured Fighting Vehicles: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105582More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the out-of-service date of Pinzgauer.
Answer: The current planned out of service date for Pinzgauer is 2030. Out of service dates are continuously reviewed to ensure that the British Army has the capabilities it requires to deliver against Defence commitments.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGuided WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105581More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Gravehawk air defence systems have been purchased by (a) his Department and (b) Denmark.
Answer: The UK solely funded the development and production of the first two prototype GRAVEHAWK air-defence systems. The additional 15 GRAVEHAWK systems, of which the first batch will be delivered shortly, are each equally funded by the UK and Denmark.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: Military ExercisesMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105580More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2925, to Question 103528 on Ajax Vehicles: Military Exercises, how many instances of noise and vibration sickness occurred during each of the three exercises.
Answer: There were no incidents of noise or vibration symptoms reported on Health and Safety systems by personnel using Ajax on any of the three exercises.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary Intelligence: Artificial IntelligenceMinistry of DefenceTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105579More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the addition of the Grok chatbot alongside Google’s generative AI engine on every unclassified and classified network throughout the US Department of War on
Answer: The US and UK remain steadfast allies and will continue to closely cooperate on a range of defence and security issues. But how the US Department of War manages the use of technology in their systems is a matter for them. The UK’s Defence AI Strategy reco...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRiver Great OuseDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105111More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason was the lock structure at St Ives on the River Great Ouse closed in 2024.
Answer: St Ives lock was not subject to closure during 2024.
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEels: River Great OuseDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105110More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been spent on maintaining the eel pass at St Ives sluice in each year since 2015.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) is the asset owner for the St Ives eel pass. Historically, the EA’s maintenance work has also been combined with routine operational checks to ensure the sluice gates at St Ives function correctly, rather than issuing a separat...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAircraft Carriers: F-35 AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105109More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current status of the shipborne rolling vertical landing programme.
Answer: Equipment to enable UK F-35Bs to undertake Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landings (SRVL) is fitted to HMS Prince Of Wales (PWLS) and underwent initial trials in 2023; the results of those trials continue to be analysed by a commercial partner. When complete,...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces Foundation SchemeMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105108More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Royal Marines will be included within the scope of the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme.
Answer: At the present time, there are no plans to include the Royal Marines in Tranche 1 of the Gap Year. However, Tranche 1 will help to understand the impact and measure success, informing the future shape of the scheme. The Royal Navy is developing a one-year...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordArtilleryMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105107More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the planed timeline for replacing the L118 105mm Light Gun.
Answer: An assessment of the future capability requirements remains ongoing. No decisions on a potential replacement have yet been taken.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: NoiseMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105106More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2026 to Question 98880 on Ajax Vehicles: Noise, whether concerns were raised by the (a) Defence Science and Technology Lab and (b) Defence Equipment & Support on the accuracy o
Answer: There have been no concerns on the accuracy of the calculator since 2021.Work was undertaken to address concerns raised about the accuracy of the findings of the calculator from both DSTL and Defence Equipment and Support staff prior to 2021. Recent evide...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105105More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when is the assembly of Ajax-family vehicles due to be completed at Merthyr Tydfil.
Answer: Assembly of all 589 Ajax platforms is forecast to be completed by December 2028.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105104More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ajax vehicles with identified faults were (a) manufactured and assembled in Spain and (b) manufactured in Spain and assembled in Wales.
Answer: No Ajax vehicles have been manufactured and assembled in Spain.No Ajax vehicles have been manufactured in Spain and assembled in Wales.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105103More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contractual payments to General Dynamics for the Ajax programme have been made since 1 January 2025; and on which dates were they made.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence paid General Dynamics Land Systems UK £330 million in line with contractual obligations for the Ajax programme between 1 January 2025 and 12 January 2026. I am unable to publish details of the milestones and payment schedule as thi...
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105102More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ajax-family vehicles have completed factory acceptance testing.
Answer: The Ajax programme utilises a Joint Acceptance Group to undertake acceptance testing. All 185 capability drop 3 vehicles have been through this process.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105101More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what were the 11 limitations of use on Ajax vehicles in September 2021 that were critical to achieving initial operating capability.
Answer: While it would be inappropriate to release details of the 11 limitations of use identified in the NAO report for security reasons, as a complete list of criteria could, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability of our Armed Forces, those limitations...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105100More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the order of 589 Ajax hulls have now been built by General Dynamics.
Answer: All 589 Ajax hulls have been produced.
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNuclear WeaponsCabinet OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105099More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who is next in the Nuclear Firing Chain after the Prime Minister; and under what circumstances is the Prime Ministerial Directive superseded.
Answer: As the honourable Member should know and in line with the policy under successive governments, the most sensitive operational details of our continuous at sea deterrent are obviously not disclosed publicly.
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: NoiseMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105098More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2025 to Question 95908 on Ajax Vehicles: Noise, how many Ajax users have had their hearing (a) decline and (b) be downgraded following audiometer protocols after crewing an Aj
Answer: To obtain the information required to answer the hon. Member’s question in full would incur disproportionate costs due to the amount of data that would need to be obtained.
Answered 15 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordShipbuilding: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential risk of new vessels, intended to support operations at HM Naval Base Clyde, procured by Serco as part of the Royal Navy harbour and support craft element of the Defenc
Answer: Vessels being procured as part of the Defence Marine Services-Next Generation In-Port Services will not be built in China and future maintenance of the vessels will take place in the UK. This Government is stepping up our support for UK shipbuilders. We a...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRiver Great Ouse: Flood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104943More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the feasibility of using the Water Environment Improvement Fund to maintain the sluice gates at (a) Brownshill and (b) St Ives.
Answer: The Water Environment Investment Fund (WEIF) is designed to improve the health and resilience of water environments through a partnership-led, catchment-based approach. Its focus is on delivering environmental enhancements, supporting biodiversity, and se...
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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