Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 181–200 of 2,250 · Ministry of Defence
Whether the Defence Investment Plan will be a ten year plan from the 2025-26 financial year.
The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is the next step in turning the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) into action. It is a 10-year plan, and the first zero-based review of Defence’s budgets in eighteen years and goes significantly further than the last Government’s Equipment Plan by looking across every budget line, including people and infrastructure.
Pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026 to question 122290 on Ajax Vehicles, what recent assessment he has made of the suitability of SPz Puma to replace Ajax.
Work on Ajax is ongoing. As I have previously updated the House, we have commissioned a number of safety reports. These have now been received, and we are working through their findings. I will update the House shortly on progress, as I have done since Exercise Titan Storm.
With reference to the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, Keeping Britain Safe: secure at home and strong abroad, page 30, what are the complementary International Security Fund programmes.
All of Defence's international security programmes are deliberately designed to be complementary, mutually supportive, and burden sharing, whether funded by the Ministry of Defence or cross-government funding, such as the Integrated Security Fund. The Cabinet Office publishes the Integrated Security Fund's Annual Reports on the Government's website in which further details can be found.
What progress he has made in implementing the Maritime Aviation Transformation Strategy.
The Maritime Aviation Transformation Strategy will ensure aviation remains capable and sustainable as the Royal Navy transitions to a Hybrid Navy of crewed, uncrewed, and autonomous platforms that will redefine maritime military power. Progress is being made across force generation, operating models and capability development.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Crest Nicholson’s option on the surplus land at RAF Wyton from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on Project Fairfax.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold an option agreement with Crest Nicholson in relation to the surplus land at RAF Wyton. Instead, the MOD has a development management agreement with Crest Nicholson. This agreement supports the MOD’s promotion of the site for redevelopment by managing town planning, funding, and scheme implementation on behalf of the MOD. The MOD will continue to hold discussions with Crest Nicholson as work on the project develops.
What progress he has made on waiving dependent visa fees for foreign and commonwealth veterans.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 January 2026, to Question 101187.
Pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 52038 on F-35 Aircraft: Cruise Missiles, what the outcome was of the re-baselining conducted in 2025.
The re-baselining conducted throughout 2025 will be formalised on approval of the associated Review Note. Fielding this critical F-35 warfighting capability is targeted within the joint programme from financial year 2028-29; spiral capability upgrades across the programme life cycle will occur thereafter.
Pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 52038 on F-35 Aircraft: Cruise Missiles, when the review note was (a) submitted and (b) approved.
The Review Note has been subject to an extended consultation phase which has now been finalised; Submission is expected imminently.
Pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2026 to Question 122321 on Ajax Vehicles: Health and Safety, whether he has considered publishing the membership of the expert panel.
An Independent Expert Panel Review of the programme is ongoing. This panel was established to identify human, environmental and technical factors affecting the users of Armoured vehicles. While this review is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to provide any further details.
Whether Polly Miller-Perkins CBE is the interim or permanent Armed Forces Commissioner.
Former Air Commodore Polly Miller-Perkins CBE took up the post of Armed Forces Commissioner on 30 March 2026, serving in the role on an interim basis for a term of one year. An open competition to recruit a permanent appointee will commence later this year.
With reference to the press release entitled Independent champion for Armed Forces appointed as new team stands up, published on 5 April 2026, when he plans to commence the open competition for the permanent appointment.
Former Air Commodore Polly Miller-Perkins CBE took up the post of Armed Forces Commissioner on 30 March 2026, serving in the role on an interim basis for a term of one year. An open competition to recruit a permanent appointee will commence later this year.
With reference to page 30 of the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, published on 24 March 2026, by when he plans to have introduced a new Defence Security and Diplomacy Portfolio.
Defence Security and Diplomacy Portfolio officially launched this financial year.
With reference to Heading 9 entitled Court Martial Results for Indecent Images of Children in the Official Statistics entitled Murder, manslaughter, sexual offences and domestic abuse in the Service Justice System: 2025, published on 26 March 2026, what sentence was handed down in response to each of the 26 guilty verdicts.
The information the hon. Member has requested has been grouped together by defendant, as follows: Sentence of Defendant 1Charge 1: Dismissed from His Majesty's Service, 14 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years with a requirement to undertake 240 hours unpaid work and up to 30 Rehabilitation and Activity Requirement days.Charge 2: No separate penalty. Overall sentence: Dismissed from His Majesty's Service and sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a requirement to undertake 240 hours unpaid work and up to 30 Rehabilitation and Activity Requirement days. Subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Sex Offenders Register for five years. Sentence of Defendant 2On charges 1 to 3: Eight Months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months’ and subject to a Suspended Sentence Order with a requirement to undertake 210 hours unpaid work within 12 months and up to 40 Rehabilitation and Activity Requirement days. Sentences to run concurrently to each other. Dismissed from His Majesty's Service and reduced to the ranks.Subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Sex Offenders Register for seven years. Overall sentence: Dismissed from His Majesty’s Service and reduced to the ranks. Sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months, and subject to a Suspended Sentence Order with a requirement to undertake 210 hours unpaid work within 12 months and up to 40 Rehabilitation and Activity Requirement days. Subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Sex Offenders Register for seven years. Sentence of Defendant 3Charges 1 to 9: 18 Months’ imprisonment, suspended for two yearsCharges 10 and 11: Six month’s imprisonment, suspended for two years. To run concurrently with charges 1 to 9.Required to attend up to 25 Rehabilitation and Activity Requirement days. To attend up to 30 days of an accredited programme and undertake 140 hours unpaid work within the community.Dismissed from His Majesty's Service.Subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Sex Offenders Register for ten years. Overall sentence: Dismissed from His Majesty’s Service and sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years with a requirement to attend up to 25 Rehabilitation and Activity Requirement days and undertake 140 hours unpaid work within the community. Subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Sex Offenders Register for ten years Sentence of Defendant 4Charges 1 to 5: 12 Months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years with a requirement to undertake 240 hours unpaid work to be completed within 12 months, up to 20 Rehabilitation and Activity Requirement days, programme requirement up to 42 sessions. Sentence for charges 1 to 5 run concurrently with each other.Subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Sex Offenders Register for ten years.Overall sentence: Sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a requirement to undertake 240 hours unpaid work to be completed within 12 months, undertake up to 20 Rehabilitation and Activity Requirement days and comply with a programme requirement of up to 42 sessions. Subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Sex Offenders Register for ten years.The defendant was no longer serving at the time of their Court Martial – therefore dismissal was not required as part of their sentence. Sentence of Defendant 5Charge 1: 122 Days’ Service detention, dismissed from His Majesty's Service and subject to the Sexual Harm Prevention Register and Sex Offenders Register for five yearsCharge 2: Same as charge 1 to run concurrentlyCharge 3: Same as charge 1 to run concurrently. Overall sentence: Dismissed from His Majesty’s Service and sentenced to 122 days’ Service detention and subject to the Sexual Harm Prevention Register and Sex Offenders Register for five years. Sentence of Defendant 6Charge 1: Six months' Service detentionCharge 2: No separate penaltyDismissed from His Majesty's Service Subject to the Sexual Harm Prevention Register and Sex Offenders Register for five years.Overall sentence: Dismissed from His Majesty’s Service and sentenced to six months’ Service detention. Subject to the Sexual Harm Prevention Register and Sex Offenders Register for five years.
With reference to Heading 8 entitled Service Prosecuting Authority – Indecent Images of Children in the Official Statistics entitled Murder, manslaughter, sexual offences and domestic abuse in the Service Justice System: 2025, published on 26 March 2026, under what circumstances would a case involving indecent images of children be referred to the Commanding Officer.
The offences related to Indecent Images of Children (s1 of the Protection of Children Act 1978) are listed as Schedule 2 offences within the Armed Forces Act 2006 and therefore cannot be referred to a Commanding Officer (CO) to be dealt with via summary hearing. Investigations into serious offences, including Indecent Images of Children (IIOC) are investigated by the Defence Serious Crime Command independently of the Chain of Command. In the 2025 Murder, Manslaughter, Sexual Offences and Domestic Abuse in the Service Justice System, within the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) tab, one IIOC case is recorded as referred to CO. Cases are shown on the SPA statistics against the most serious charge, but cases may also contain less serious charges. A case that is shown under the “Indecent Images of Children” heading may be referred to the CO by the SPA, where the decision was taken that the “Indecent Images of Children” charge did not pass the Full Code Test (and therefore could not be charged), but other charges in the case are appropriate for the CO to deal with.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of procuring ammunition for HMS Glasgow’s Vertical Launching System prior to its first operational patrol in 2028.
Ammunition procurement is considered through routine Defence equipment planning processes, which takes account of operational requirements, platform readiness and value for money.
Which number ships from the Type 26 production run will go to the Royal Norwegian Navy.
I refer the hon. Member to the response to Question 108598 provided on 4 February 2026. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-01-27/108598
With reference to the Official Statistics: Murder, manslaughter, sexual offences and domestic abuse in the Service Justice System: 2025, published on 26 March 2026, and with reference to the investigations into 12 suspects regarding indecent images of children, how many of the 12 suspects were subsequently charged.
At the time the data on police investigations was extracted, six investigations had not been referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority, and as at 16 April 2026 none of the other six have been referred. Therefore, none of the 12 suspects have been charged. The separate data from the Service Prosecuting Authority within the Official Statistics reports how many referrals are received after investigation each year for the relevant offence, and then how many cases for the relevant offence are completed in total in that year. A case completed by the Service Prosecuting Authority in the year may have been referred in a previous year; referrals and completed cases reported in a specific year do not necessarily match. For Indecent Images of Children cases in 2025 the Service Prosecuting Authority received nine referrals after investigation and charged six cases. The referred cases and charged cases may not be the same cases, as charged cases may have been referred in the previous year.
Whether, during the meeting between the Chief of the Defence Staff and President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria on 31 March 2026, he discussed a potential end date for Operation Shader.
In the meeting between the Chief of the Defence Staff President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria on 31 March 2026, a potential end date for Operation Shader was not discussed.
With reference to Heading 10 entitled Domestic Abuse in the Official Statistics entitled Murder, manslaughter, sexual offences and domestic abuse in the Service Justice System: 2025, published on 26 March 2026, how many of the 27 male reported victims were serving military personnel.
In the interest of protecting the anonymity of victims of domestic abuse (which may constitute victims of sexual offences) and to ensure that victims of domestic abuse (which may include sexual offences) are not deterred from coming forward, I do not intend to release information confirming whether any of the male victims of domestic abuse were serving military personnel.The published figures for victims of sexual offences and domestic abuse are based on investigations opened, and the most serious offence initially reported, not convictions. Not all investigations result in an arrest or a charge, and anyone accused is innocent until proved guilty. The official statistics into Murder, Manslaughter, Sexual Offences and Domestic Abuse in the Service Justice System does not breakdown the data to that level of detail. The data is broken down to one demographic at a time, but not by two simultaneously. By breaking the data down further this could contribute to disclosure of individuals’ identities.
If he will set out which current operations have been endorsed by the National Security Council.
Decisions to undertake military operations are taken in accordance with established constitutional and governance arrangements. The National Security Council considers the strategic approach to national security, foreign policy, resilience, international relations, economic security, trade, development, defence and global issues. It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not shared publicly.