Mark Francois MP: written questions
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Written questions
Defence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99718More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what legal actions his Department has sought to initiate for liquidated damages from contractors in the last five years, broken down by a) project name, b) original contract value and c) sums recovered by his Dep
Answer: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99717More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's definition is of liquidated damages.
Answer: The Department's definition of liquidated damages is a pre-agreed sum to compensate for the financial loss that arises from the contractor’s failure to perform their contractual obligations.
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99716More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will name the officers or officials in the current DE&S Ajax Reporting chain at (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3 and (d) 4 star level.
Answer: The key officials in the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Ajax Reporting Chain are as follows: 1* - Head Combat Vehicles, Simon Pearson2* - Director Land Environment, Major General Lizzie Faithfull-Davies3* - Director General Core, Lieutenant Gene...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCadets: CrowboroughMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which official, team, or directorate within his Department is responsible for identifying a new training location for the Crowborough cadets, now that Crowborough Training Camp has been earmarked to accommodate a
Answer: An alternative temporary venue in Crowborough to deliver weeknight training has been identified by the Army Cadet Force. Its suitability is being reviewed by the Royal Navy Cadet Force and Royal Air Force Air Cadets. The Ministry of Defence continues to w...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCadets: CrowboroughMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Department or organisation will be responsible for meeting the costs associated with securing and preparing a new site for the Crowborough cadets, now that Crowborough Training Camp has ben earmarked to acc
Answer: An alternative temporary venue in Crowborough to deliver weeknight training has been identified by the Army Cadet Force. Its suitability is being reviewed by the Royal Navy Cadet Force and Royal Air Force Air Cadets. The Ministry of Defence continues to w...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCadets: CrowboroughMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many alternative sites are currently being assessed by his Department to accommodate the Crowborough cadets, following their proposed displacement from Crowborough Training Camp, to accommodate asylum seekers
Answer: An alternative temporary venue in Crowborough to deliver weeknight training has been identified by the Army Cadet Force. Its suitability is being reviewed by the Royal Navy Cadet Force and Royal Air Force Air Cadets. The Ministry of Defence continues to w...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBOWMAN Combat Radio SystemMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98378More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has paid to General Dynamics on the Bowman Evolve to Operate programme in the last five years.
Answer: The total contract value for the MORPHEUS Evolve to Open Transition Partner contract was £395 million. Due to the confidentiality provisions in the contract protecting commercial interests, we are unable to provide further detail.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: General DynamicsMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98377More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last met the a) Corporate Chief Executive Officer of General Dynamics and b) Head of General Dynamics UK.
Answer: I met with representatives from General Dynamics on 9 December. The current Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon John Healey MP, has not met with the Corporate Chief Officer or the Head of General Dynamics.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98376More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has received a request from the Defence Select Committee to provide information relating to the Ajax programme over the last twelve months.
Answer: During the most recent oral evidence session on the AUKUS inquiry, held on 2 December 2025, the Chair of the Defence Committee asked the Department to share with them the advice given by the Chief of the General Staff and the National Armaments Director r...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment & Support: PayMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98375More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the salary bill was for Defence Equipment and Support in 2024-25.
Answer: Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) salary information is detailed in the DE&S Annual Report and Accounts (ARAC), which is published annually on the GOV.UK website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-equipment-support-annual-report-and-ac...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSubmarine Delivery Agency: PayMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98374More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the salary bill was for the Submarine Delivery Agency in 2024-25.
Answer: The Submarine Delivery Agency's Annual Report and Accounts for financial year 2024-25 are expected to be published in the New Year. For financial year 2023-24, the total staff salary and wage costs were £128 million.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Cost EffectivenessMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98373More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total target for efficiency savings in his Department for a) Financial Year 2025-26 b) Financial Year 2026-27 and c) Financial Year 2027-28.
Answer: Following the Spending Review in June all Departments, including the Ministry of Defence (MOD), are required to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028‑29. Further details can be found in the Spending Review, published on 11 June.The Autumn B...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98372More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he now intends to publish the Defence Investment Plan.
Answer: We are working flat out between now and the end of the year to finalise the Defence Investment Plan. I am sure the Hon. Gentleman will appreciate the scale of the decisions that we need to make. He will also appreciate the scale of the problems that we fa...
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98371More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the latest estimated date is for achieving Full Operating Capability on Ajax.
Answer: Safety investigations and a Ministerial Review into the Armoured Cavalry Programme (commonly known as Ajax) remain ongoing. However, on current plans, Full Operating Capability for the Armoured Cavalry Programme is still expected to be achieved by the end...
Answered 19 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98370More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any performance bonuses relating to the Ajax programme have been paid to officials in his Department over the last three years.
Answer: This information is not held centrally and therefore can not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: Legal OpinionMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98369More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who the most senior legal official is in his Department.
Answer: There are four senior legal officials in Defence. The highest-ranking legal advisers are: Director Army Legal Services (Major General) Director Legal Services, Royal Air Force (Air Vice Marshal) Director Legal for the Royal Navy (Commodore)Director MOD ...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98368More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ajax armoured vehicles had been delivered by General Dynamics to a) his Department and b) the Army as of 1 November 2025.
Answer: As of 1 November 2025: 166 Capability Drop 3 platforms were accepted by the Ministry of Defence and 156 of these were delivered to the Army.
Answered 3 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordArmoured Fighting Vehicles: DecommissioningMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98367More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Scimitar reconnaissance vehicle was retired from Army service.
Answer: All Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) variants, including the FV107 Scimitar, were officially retired from Army service under the last Government on 31 March 2023.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBoxer Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated IOC date is for the Boxer RCH155mm self-propelled artillery system; and how many such vehicles his Department plans to buy.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 November to Question 88294, which remains extant. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-11-05/88294
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBoxer Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98365More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated IOC date is for the Boxer armoured vehicle.
Answer: The updated Mechanised Infantry Boxer Programme Initial Operating Capability date will be published shortly.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordArmoured Fighting Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has carried out an evaluation of the potential merits of purchasing the CV-90 infantry fighting vehicle.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence continually assesses its current and planned capabilities to ensure that it is appropriately equipped to face any adversary. The CV90 was one of the vehicles considered during the competition for the Scout Specialist Vehicle. An ev...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWarrior VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98363More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Warrior armoured fighting vehicles are a) in active service with the Army and b) in storage by variant.
Answer: I hope the right hon. Member will understand that we do not routinely disclose figures relating to vehicles in the active fleet or storage in the interests of security and operational effectiveness. I can, however, confirm that as at 12 January 2026, ther...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: Health and SafetyMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98362More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has considered inviting the Institute of Naval Medicine to investigate the reasons why medical issues arose during the Ajax-related exercise on Salisbury Plain on 22 November 2025.
Answer: As I mentioned in my answer to the Shadow Defence Secretary during the Urgent Question on 8 December 2025, the Department is assembling a group of industry experts to provide external advice to its lines of investigation.
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the National Armaments Director was consulted prior to the decision to declare IOC for Ajax.
Answer: As safety is the top priority of the Ministerial Team, prior to Initial Operating Capability, I asked for and was given assurances in writing by senior Ministry of Defence personnel that the system was safe, including the National Armaments Director.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98360More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with General Dynamics on suing that company for liquidated damages relating to the Ajax programme.
Answer: It would not be appropriate to pre-empt the outcome of the ongoing investigations or to comment further at this stage. The investigations must be given adequate time to identify the root cause of the issue.
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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