Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
5990 published records · newest first.
Written questions
South China Sea: NavyMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119562More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential threat posed by the Chinese Ocean Star Cluster and its layered defences, to future Royal Navy operations in the northern South China Sea.
Answer: As part of its routine responsibilities, the Ministry of Defence conducts assessments of the military capabilities of other states. To protect operational security and safeguard national defence interests, the results of these assessments are not made pub...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Unmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the full scope of Project Talon.
Answer: Project Talon seeks a maritime Counter-UAS capability able to detect, track, identify and defeat airborne threats. Further information can be found at this link - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/716f2056-c004-45bd-83f0-503ea349b8aa?origi...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHMS Bangor: Repairs and MaintenanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when is HMS Bangor due to complete its refit.
Answer: HMS BANGOR is not in refit; the ship is undergoing structural repairs following the ship's recovery from deployed operations. These are currently scheduled to have been completed by the end of April 2026.
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: NavyMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119559More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, from what date is the Royal Navy due to commence its commitment to NATO Standing Naval Maritime Group 1.
Answer: The Royal Navy routinely contributes to NATO's Standing Naval Forces, including Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), as part of the UK's ongoing commitment to Alliance deterrence and defence. The specific dates of UK deployments are subject to operatio...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119558More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential merits of a) deconflicting and b) combining Project Shrinker with Project Cairns.
Answer: Project CAIRNS is currently a pre-concept project and as such formal consideration of systems and specifications has not yet taken place. Project SHRINKER is a Defence procurement project. For reasons of operational security, I cannot provide any further ...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRAF Wyton: NATOMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119557More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2026 to Question 111272 on RAF Wyton: NATO, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of constructing a new NATO-specific building to facilitate a NATO intelligence
Answer: The UK remains fully committed to NATO and continues to meet its longstanding obligations through close cooperation and collaboration with Allies across the Alliance. This work strengthens collective security and enhances shared situational awareness, fro...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Arctic and North Atlantic OceanMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119556More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which T45 Daring-class ship is scheduled to deploy on Operation Firecrest as part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group.
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-safe I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of ...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAircraft Carriers: Guided WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119555More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the risk the DF-21D missile poses to Royal Navy aircraft carriers.
Answer: As part of its routine responsibilities, the Ministry of Defence conducts assessments of the military capabilities of other states. To protect operational security and safeguard national defence interests, the results of these assessments are not made pub...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Justice: ICTMinistry of JusticeTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119554More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the correction of 10 March 2026 to Question 115634 on Ministry of Justice: ICT, for what reason here was a discrepancy of 510 laptops, mobile phones and electronic devices recorded as lost or stolen b
Answer: When the previous (incorrect) answer was provided, it was the result of a simple search being run against criteria in the service management system and the result published.When the corrected response was provided, it was a result of a manual search throu...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFrigates: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119553More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy frigates were ordered between a) 1980 -1997, b) 1997-2010 ) 2010-2024 and d) since 5th July 2024.
Answer: Royal Navy force structure and procurement plans are kept under continuous review.The number of Royal Navy frigates ordered in each period is as follows:(a) 1980–1997: 24(b) 1997–2010: None(c) 2010–2024: 13 (A number of these slots have been ceded as part...
Answered 22 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNavy: Arctic and North Atlantic OceanMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Royal Navy will contribute an Astute-class attack submarine 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-safe I am unable to comment further at this time to do so would compromise the security of ...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHMS Chiddingfold and HMS MiddletonMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119551More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what are the disposal plans for a) HMS Chiddingford and b) HMS Middleton.
Answer: There are currently no disposal plans for the Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels, HMS Chiddingfold and HMS Middleton. The last Hunt Class ship is due to leave service in 2031.
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119550More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the complete list of current project names being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence undertakes many hundreds of projects and programmes across the organisation. Information about the most strategically important and complex of these is published each year in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation A...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119549More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to procure a Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System to counter incoming a) rockets, b) artillery, c) mortars and d) drones.
Answer: Integrated Air and Missile Defence investments will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force. Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on Integrated Air and Missile Defence, will...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCyprus: HMS DragonMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119548More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how HMS Dragon will be deconflicted with NATO naval assets from a) the United States, b) France, c) Greece, d) Spain, e) Italy, f) the Netherlands and g) other allies once it arrives in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Answer: HMS Dragon is a sovereign UK deployment to protect the interests of the UK, and the interests of our allies in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Royal Navy routinely operates alongside partners and allies, enabling the deconfliction of maritime and aviation ...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCyprus: HMS DragonMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119547More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, under what command structure will HMS Dragon be under upon arrival in the Eastern Mediterranean in order to ensure protection of Cyprus is coordinated with the naval presence of NATO allies in the region.
Answer: HMS Dragon is a sovereign UK deployment to protect the interests of the UK, and the interests of our allies in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Royal Navy routinely operates alongside partners and allies, enabling the deconfliction of maritime and aviation ...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: HMS DragonMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118993More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the additional preparation work to enable another Daring-class Royal Navy ship to replace HMS Dragon in its role as flagship of the NATO Standing Naval Maritime Group 1 will be funded from the Special Res
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 recordHMS 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 record
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →