Graeme Downie MP: written questions
199 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Air Force: Recruitment and TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82160More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many new pilots completed training and entered front-line service with the RAF in each of the last five years by (a) aircraft and (b) service type.
Answer: For each training year, the number of pilots that undertake training and commence Operational Conversion Units is based upon the front-line demand for qualified pilots. The Royal Air Force (RAF) actively manage the pilot training pipelines to ensure that ...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAir Force: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82159More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average cost is of training a new fast jet pilot for the RAF.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the former Minister for Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP, gave to Question 36613 on 13 March 2025 to the right hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mark Francois MP).
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAir Force: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82158More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many fast jet pilots are expected to complete training and enter front-line service with the RAF in each of the next five years.
Answer: The number of Royal Air Force (RAF) fast jet pilots that are expected to complete training and commence Operational Conversion Units is based upon the front-line demand for qualified pilots in future years. The RAF actively manage the pilot training pipel...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAir Force: TrainingMinistry of DefenceTabled 14 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82157More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many fast jet pilots completed training and entered front-line service with the RAF in each of the last five years.
Answer: This information is not released into the public domain for operational and personnel security reasons.
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: ApplicationsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81653More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to stop learner drivers from using third parties to book their driving tests.
Answer: To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country, including in the Dunfermline and Dol...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: ApplicationsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81652More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) warnings, ( b) suspensions and (c) business account closures the DVSA has issued for misuse of its booking service in 2025.
Answer: To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country, including in the Dunfermline and Dol...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: Dunfermline and DollarDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 81651More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department has taken to prevent the (a) block booking and (b) reselling of driving tests in Dunfermline and Dollar constituency.
Answer: To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country, including in the Dunfermline and Dol...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: DeploymentMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 80561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many quick reaction alert launches there have been from RAF (a) Coningsby and (b) Lossiemouth in each month of 2025.
Answer: The table below details the number of quick reaction alert launches, in each month of 2025: 2025RAF Lossiemouth RAF ConingsbyJanuary10February00March00April20May00June00July00August01September*11* To 30 September 2025
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving Tests: DunfermlineDepartment for TransportTabled 1 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 73800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the waiting list for a car driving test was at the DVLA test centre in Dunfermline for each of the last 12 months.
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.The table below shows the waiting time in weeks for a car driving test at Dunfermline ...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: RussiaMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times RAF Poseidon P8 aircraft have been intercepted by Russian jets in international airspace in each of the last 24 months.
Answer: I am withholding the information requested as the disclosure of information regarding interactions between RAF Poseidon P8 aircraft and foreign military assets could, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing P-8: DeploymentMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many hours have been flown by each of the P8-Poseidon fleet in the last 12 months.
Answer: For reasons of operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not release detailed information regarding the flight hours of individual aircraft within the P-8 Poseidon fleet. Disclosing such data could compromise operational effectiveness and nationa...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing P-8: DeploymentMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73421More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown of flight time of the RAF P8-Poseidon fleet in hours, by (a) training, (b) specific exercises and (c) operational in each of the last two years.
Answer: I am withholding the information requested as the disclosure of information regarding a breakdown of flight time of the RAF P8-Poseidon fleet could, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness, or security of the Armed Forces.
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing P-8: DeploymentMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73420More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times RAF P8-Poseidon aircraft have been launched from RAF Lossiemouth on operational mission in each of the last 12 months.
Answer: RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft are routinely deployed from RAF Lossiemouth on operational missions in support of the UK's defence and security objectives. Over the past 12 months, an average of 17 operational missions per month have been conducted. For reasons...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing P-8Ministry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73419More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the RAF fleet of P8 Poseidon aircraft.
Answer: The RAF has conducted three series of trials to evaluate the P-8A Poseidon aircraft and its systems against the Maritime Patrol Aircraft Programme's capability requirements. These assessments confirmed that the P-8A Poseidon is an effective platform for i...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: SubversionScotland OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73265More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on tackling social media interventions by foreign actors spreading misinformation on Scotland's constitutional position.
Answer: As you will be aware, I speak regularly with the Deputy First Minister, and my officials frequently engage with their Scottish Government counterparts. National security is the responsibility of the UK Government and protecting our democracy is one of our...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: SubversionScotland OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73264More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he last met with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to discuss social media intervention by foreign actors seeking to spread misinformation on Scotland's constitutional
Answer: I have not recently met with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to discuss these matters. However, the Home Office’s taskforce to protect the democratic integrity, called the Defending Democracy Taskforce, was set up ...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: SubversionScotland OfficeTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 73263More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he is taking to help tackle social media intervention by foreign states seeking to influence the debate on Scotland's constitutional status.
Answer: Protecting our democracy is one of the Government’s highest priorities. The Defending Democracy Taskforce was set up to tackle threats including, but not limited to, election security. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect the UK agai...
Answered 5 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordTransgender People: ViolenceWomen and EqualitiesTabled 28 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 905468More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against the transgender community.
Answer: This Government is determined to tackle all forms of hate crime, including transphobic hate crime. Via the Crime and Policing Bill, we are delivering our manifesto commitment to treat such crimes as aggravated offences and ensure that perpetrators who car...
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordSatellites: RegulationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68699More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions (a) his Department and (b) Ofcom have had with international counterparts on international satellite regulations to increase the availability of satellite broadband in
Answer: As set out in the Industrial Strategy, which closely aligns to the objectives of the UK Space Strategy and C-LEO programme, DSIT is committed to ensuring appropriate spectrum availability to support Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT), including sate...
Answered 25 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSatellites: RegulationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68698More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on improvements to international satellite regulations to support the objectives of the (a) UK Space Strategy and
Answer: As set out in the Industrial Strategy, which closely aligns to the objectives of the UK Space Strategy and C-LEO programme, DSIT is committed to ensuring appropriate spectrum availability to support Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT), including sate...
Answered 25 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSatellites: RegulationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68697More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on satellite regulations, in the context of the forthcoming World Radiocommunication Conference 2027.
Answer: In preparation for WRC-2027, Government officials are working with Ofcom and spectrum users to develop UK positions that reflect our national priorities, including enhancing rural connectivity, ensuring a resilient telecommunications sector, and supportin...
Answered 25 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSatellites: ScotlandDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68696More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of amending regulations on international satellites on (a) Scottish rural communities and (b) digital resilience.
Answer: In preparation for WRC-2027, Government officials are working with Ofcom and spectrum users to develop UK positions that reflect our national priorities, including enhancing rural connectivity, ensuring a resilient telecommunications sector, and supportin...
Answered 25 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordBroadband: Competition and Rural AreasDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 16 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 68695More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of equivalent power flux-density regulations on (a) rural connectivity and (b) the competitiveness of UK satellite broadb
Answer: In preparation for WRC-2027, Government officials are working with Ofcom and spectrum users to develop UK positions that reflect our national priorities, including enhancing rural connectivity, ensuring a resilient telecommunications sector, and supportin...
Answered 25 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: IndustryMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 905255More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, published in June 2025, what progress he has made with Cabinet colleagues on the development of Defence Growth Deals.
Answer: At the Spending Review, the Chancellor announced that there will be Defence Growth Deals launched across the UK. Further details will be provided in the forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy.
Answered 17 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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