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 561–580 of 2,619 · Ministry of Defence
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
With reference to his Department's joint press notice entitled Shadow fleet set to be interdicted in UK waters in latest blow to Russia, published on 25 March 2026, how many Russian shadow fleet vessels under UK sanctions and transiting UK waters have been assessed for boarding since the US operation to seize tanker Bella 1.
We will not go into specifics on our assessments as this could compromise our ability to successfully take action against these ships, only benefitting our adversaries.
With reference to his press conference of 9 April 2026, what is the £100m allocated to the Poseidon P-8 fleet for.
This allocation refers to a two-year contract extension awarded to Boeing Defence UK to provide training and support services to the RAF’s Poseidon P-8 fleet. This will run to March 2028 and covers aircraft support, maintenance, supply chain management, and training for the Poseidon fleet based at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray.
What progress he has made on developing co-operation between the UK and France under the 2025 Northwood Declaration.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 February 2026 to Question 113496 to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mr Pritchard).
What assessment has he made of the potential impact of the adoption of the (a) 6.02mm x 41mm round and (b) AK22 rifle in Russian military service on British Army body armour.
The Ministry of Defence routinely assesses emerging and evolving small‑arms threats as part of its ongoing responsibility to protect Service personnel. The specific threats against which UK body armour is designed to provide protection are held at a higher security classification and therefore it would be inappropriate for me to provide specific details. However, I can confirm that UK body armour requirements are kept under constant review to ensure they continue to reflect the most dangerous and prevalent threats our personnel are likely to face while conducting their duties.
With reference to his Department's Pre-Procurement Notice entitled Strategic Defence Review - Energetics Investment Information Notice, published on 2 April 2026, by what date does he plan to confirm the (a) value for money and (b) affordability criteria.
We plan to confirm value for money and affordability criteria by no later than the beginning of quarter 3 2026. Feasibility studies are planned to be contracted in April 2026, and to conclude in August 2026.
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the adoption of the EREBUS system on the speed of defensive aid suite integration.
EREBUS is a UK‑developed flight test capability enabling realistic testing of Defensive Aid Systems before installation on frontline aircraft. Developed by Dstl with UK Industry, it reduces integration risk and cost, supports rapid upgrades, strengthens international collaboration, and helps maintain world‑leading air‑protection capabilities. EREBUS has the potential to significantly accelerate the adoption of Defensive Aid Suites by de‑risking system integration and performance at every stage of the development cycle.
What progress the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has made in developing AI triage decision-making in battlefield military medicine in conjunction with the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
As reported in the press, experts from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) are collaborating with the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) using hardware and methodologies developed under DARPA's In the Moment (ITM) fundamental research programme. AI systems do not naturally align with humans and the ITM programme aims to develop technologies to enable such alignment. Battlefield medical triage is a research use case within this wider programme. In October 2025 Scientists from Dstl and their US counterparts at DARPA ran pioneering UK trials to understand whether medical staff would trust and delegate triage decisions to AI systems aligned with their own priorities.The trials showed that having an aligned AI increased the likelihood of delegation, potentially allowing triage to be carried out more quickly and ultimately helping medical staff treat more casualties with the integration of trusted AI. Further trials will take place later this year.
By what date will he establish the joint road map with France to develop the successor to the Meteor missile.
The United Kingdom and France have agreed to undertake a joint study for the development of next‑generation air‑to‑air weapon concepts. The content and precise timing for any future roadmap to replace Meteor will be informed by the outcomes of this analysis.
With reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and Belgium sign multi-million pound Mission Data partnership, published on 31 March 2026, by what date does he plan to establish a sovereign Joint Electromagnetic Warfare Support Centre in Belgium.
Further to the Department’s press release entitled “UK and Belgium sign multi‑million pound Mission Data partnership”, published on 31 March 2026, the Programme is expected to deliver a fully functional and sustainably supported Belgian Joint Electromagnetic Warfare Support Centre by the end of 2028.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 56964 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, on what dates did the Royal Air Force receive the remaining F-35B Lightning II aircraft.
On 13 March 2026, the UK accepted its 48th F-35B aircraft.
With reference to his Department's announcement entitled UK and France sign agreement to develop next-generation air-to-air missile, published on 1 April 2026, by what date when will he establish the new joint Complex Weapons Portfolio Office.
As set out in the Department's announcement of 1 April 2026, the United Kingdom and France have agreed to establish a joint Complex Weapons Portfolio Office. Work is now actively underway with the French Government to establish the office and agree a commissioning date at the earliest opportunity.
When was the last meeting of the Advisory Military Sub-Committee.
The Advisory Military Sub-Committee last met on 21 November 2025.