Mark Francois MP: written questions
604 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Military Aircraft: In-flight RefuellingMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118154More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of air-to-air refuelling capability on future force development planning.
Answer: Air to air refuelling remains a key capability within the Air Mobility Force and increases the endurance, range, payload and flexibility of all capable receiver aircraft. This capability remains important to not only the RAF, but also for our NATO allies....
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBoxer Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108601More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the latest estimated in service date for the RCH 155 artillery system with the British Army.
Answer: The Mobile Fires Platform Project, which will deliver the Remote‑Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) wheeled artillery system, remains in its assessment phase and is subject to contract. It is therefore too early to confirm expected in‑service dates. Good...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordTyphoon AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108600More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the status of the proposed P4E electronic upgrade for the RAF's Typhoon fleet.
Answer: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 November 2025 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge) to Question 92198.
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordType 26 Frigates: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108599More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will give the latest estimated in-service date for HMS Belfast.
Answer: The T26 programme remains on track to meet all user requirements and deliver eight world-class anti-submarine warfare frigates to replace the anti-submarine warfare T23s. All ships are expected to enter service from the late 2020s with the added advantage...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordNorway: Type 26 FrigatesMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108598More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to allocate one of the eight Type 26 frigates currently intended for the Royal Navy to Norway.
Answer: Working together with our Norwegian Partners we are assessing options for offering Type 26 build slots currently allocated to the Royal Navy to the Royal Norwegian Navy.The Royal Navy will receive all eight Type 26 ships during the late 2020s and 2030s as...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHMS VenturerMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108597More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the latest estimated in-service date for HMS Venturer.
Answer: The first Type 31 frigate, HMS Venturer is scheduled to be ready for operations by the end of the decade.
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Unmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108596More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has considered gifting Watchkeeper to Ukraine.
Answer: The UK and partners will continue to ensure we equip Ukraine as best we can to defend its sovereign territory and ensure it is in a position of strength for any peace negotiations. Since Watchkeeper Mk1 entered service in 2010, drone technology has evolve...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108595More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total budget now allocated for the Watchkeeper RPV, between November 2024 (the previously announced cancellation date) and March 2027.
Answer: With the retirement of Watchkeeper Mk 1, the Army will transition rapidly to a new, advanced system that draws on the latest operational lessons and technological innovations. The total budget allocated over the period November 2024 to March 2027 for the ...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air SystemsMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108594More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the latest estimated in-service date for Project Corvus, the planned replacement for the Watchkeeper RPV.
Answer: With the retirement of Watchkeeper Mk 1, the Army will transition rapidly to a new, advanced system that draws on the latest operational lessons and technological innovations. On current plans, Project CORVUS is scheduled to be delivered in November 2026,...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: Health and SafetyMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108593More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his recent WMS on Ajax of 22 January 2026, whether the current or former National Armament Director advised him that Ajax was safe to enter operational service.
Answer: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 December 2025 to Question 98361 which remains extant.
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordChris BowbrickMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108592More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what Chris Bowbrick's current role is.
Answer: It is usual Ministry of Defence policy not to comment on the individual HR status of individual employees. I provided an update to the House saying that the Ajax SRO was no longer in his current role. Given the situation it would not be appropriate for me...
Answered 25 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108591More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the latest out of service date for the Watchkeeper RPV system.
Answer: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 October 2025 to Question 77261 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty) which remains extant. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-09-15/77261
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 27 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 108590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to withdraw the Watchkeeper RPV from operational service with the Army.
Answer: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 October 2025 to Question 77261 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty) which remains extant. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-09-15/77261
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99730More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last met his US counterpart to discuss the progress of the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail programme.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Defence regularly speaks with his US counterpart to discuss critical bilateral topics. Defence ministers, service chiefs, and officials frequently engage with their US counterparts on the E-7 programme. Most recently, the Chief ...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBoeing E-7: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99729More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who manufactures the command system for the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.
Answer: The command system onboard Boeing E-7 Wedgetail aircraft, referred to as the Mission System, is primarily manufactured and integrated by Boeing and Northrop Grumman.
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordLE TacCIS ProgrammeMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99728More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who is the current SRO for the Le TACSIS programme.
Answer: The current Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) of the Land Environment Tactical Communications and Information Systems (LETacCIS) Programme is Major General Mark Purves.
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBoxer Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99727More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who is the current SRO for the Boxer programme.
Answer: The Senior Responsible Officer for the Mechanised Infantry Boxer Programme is Martyn Williams, as published in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Government Major Projects Portfolio transparency data. https://www.gov.uk/gover...
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99726More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the salary band of the current Ajax SRO; and whether this has been supplemented by a performance or other bonus within the part three years.
Answer: Information regarding paybands for Army Command Senior Civil Servants can be found at the following link: Army staff roles and salaries
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Armaments DirectorMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99725More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's outgoing National Armaments Director was paid a bonus or departure payment on leaving his post.
Answer: The previous National Armaments Director (NAD) was the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) CEO Andy Start, now Deputy NAD. All previous remuneration for Mr Start since joining the Department in September 2022 is declared in the DE&S Annual Report...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Armaments DirectorMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99724More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the previous National Armaments Director was paid any performance or other bonuses within the last five years.
Answer: The previous National Armaments Director (NAD) was the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) CEO Andy Start, now Deputy NAD. All previous remuneration for Mr Start since joining the Department in September 2022 is declared in the DE&S Annual Report...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Armaments DirectorMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99723More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the salary band for his Department's new National Armaments Director.
Answer: The National Armaments Director role is a Senior Civil Service (SCS) 4 role, the advertised range for the role was up to £400,000 base salary and an annual performance related payment of up to 60% of base salary.
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBoxer Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99722More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total estimated a) acquisition cost and b) through life cost is of the Boxer programme.
Answer: As published in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25 data. The initial acquisition cost for the contracted Mechanised Infantry Boxer vehicles is £3.1 billion. The forecast whole life cost for the Mechanise...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99721More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he next expects to provide either an Oral or Written statement to Parliament on the progress of the Ajax programme.
Answer: I released a second written ministerial statement (WMS) regarding the Ajax programme on 18 December 2025. In a line with this WMS, I confirm that I will provide further updates to the House in due course.
Answered 19 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99720More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has ever sought legal advice from the Treasury Solicitor's Department on Ajax.
Answer: I can confirm that legal advice has been sought from the Government Legal Department on Ajax.
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99719More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the largest sum ever recovered by his Department is following a successful legal action for liquidated damages against a contractor; and for which programme this applied.
Answer: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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