Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2026 to question 111934 on Armed Forces: Parachuting, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the focus on a single battalion group on the number of All Arms Pre-Parachute Selection courses run each year.

The Strategic Defence Review position on military parachuting capabilities represents no change to the current Defence parachuting provision. Therefore, there is no anticipated change to the number of All Arms Pre-Parachute Selection courses or the Basic Parachute Course.

Pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2026 to question 111934 on Armed Forces: Parachuting, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the focus on a single battalion group on the number of Basic Parachute Courses available to Parachute Regiment soldiers.

The Strategic Defence Review position on military parachuting capabilities represents no change to the current Defence parachuting provision. Therefore, there is no anticipated change to the number of All Arms Pre-Parachute Selection courses or the Basic Parachute Course.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the approval of Italy’s €8.77 billion in initial funding on the progress of the Global Combat Air Programme.

All three trilateral partners are making significant investments in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), with the partnership itself designed to enhance affordability through shared development and delivery. The precise investment profiles of our international partners are matters for their respective Governments to comment on.

What progress has he made in reducing the time taken by Veterans UK in case handling for medically discharged personnel.

The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Armed Forces and Veterans Services (AFVS), known as Veterans UK, administer the War Pension Scheme and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. Medical discharge cases are prioritised following the claims consideration process. This involves establishing Service-related factors linked to the discharge, often requiring information from third parties. Awaiting the return of these records does take time and, regrettably, this is something the MOD cannot influence. Where additional information is required, requests are sent with a specified timeframe for response, and follow-up action is taken if responses are not received within this period. Once all necessary evidence is received, the case is assessed, and the decision is communicated to the Service person.

What assessment has he made of the potential impact of the medical discharge process on (a) financial, (b) housing and (c) wellbeing outcomes for Service families.

Tri-Service Medical Policy (Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950) sets out the standards and guidance for assessing medical conditions across the Armed Forces. Whilst JSP 950 provides consistency across the Services in terms of procedures and governance, each Service applies these standards according to its own operational demands given that personnel may find themselves subject to significantly different environments and roles. This includes medical boards which have the authority to recommend medical categories that may result in a Service Person’s discharge from the Armed Forces. Defence recognises that discharge for medical reasons can have implications for financial stability, housing, and wellbeing. The discharge process is therefore designed to mitigate these risks through coordinated case management, warm handovers to civilian services, and the provision of compensation where eligible, based on a structured timeline of actions commencing nine months prior. Actions include final medical and dental reviews, resettlement interviews, pension and administrative preparation, and tailored support for those who are wounded, injured, or sick. All personnel discharged for medical reasons are automatically referred to Veterans Services to ensure that they and their families can continue to access tailored support with health, housing, employment, and welfare as they transition into civilian life. Feeback is collected from those using Veterans Services, as well as the Career Transition Partnership, both of which routinely capture insight on the challenges encountered during discharge and subsequent transition to civilian life. This feedback informs continuous improvement work within both Defence medical pathways and transition policy. We recognise the need to develop a cohered Occupational Health Service to simplify policy and processes, improve patient experience, and better support the retention of Armed Forces personnel. The new Joint Defence Termination check list, being created in conjunction with the single Services aims, in particular, to protect those leaving Service earlier than they expected by ensuring all safeguarding steps are completed.

How many Basic Parachute Courses a) took place in 2024, b) took place in 2025 and c) are due to take place in 2026 at No 1 Parachute Training School, Brize Norton.

The number of Basic Parachute Courses (BPCs) by year at Brize Norton are as follows: 2024: 9 2025: 5 2026: 7 forecast

When was the last end-to-end review of the medical discharge process undertaken.

Tri-Service Medical Policy (Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950) sets out the standards and guidance for assessing medical conditions across the Armed Forces. Whilst JSP 950 provides consistency across the Services in terms of procedures and governance, each Service applies these standards according to its own operational demands given that personnel may find themselves subject to significantly different environments and roles. This includes medical boards which have the authority to recommend medical categories that may result in a Service Person’s discharge from the Armed Forces. Defence recognises that discharge for medical reasons can have implications for financial stability, housing, and wellbeing. The discharge process is therefore designed to mitigate these risks through coordinated case management, warm handovers to civilian services, and the provision of compensation where eligible, based on a structured timeline of actions commencing nine months prior. Actions include final medical and dental reviews, resettlement interviews, pension and administrative preparation, and tailored support for those who are wounded, injured, or sick. All personnel discharged for medical reasons are automatically referred to Veterans Services to ensure that they and their families can continue to access tailored support with health, housing, employment, and welfare as they transition into civilian life. Feeback is collected from those using Veterans Services, as well as the Career Transition Partnership, both of which routinely capture insight on the challenges encountered during discharge and subsequent transition to civilian life. This feedback informs continuous improvement work within both Defence medical pathways and transition policy. We recognise the need to develop a cohered Occupational Health Service to simplify policy and processes, improve patient experience, and better support the retention of Armed Forces personnel. The new Joint Defence Termination check list, being created in conjunction with the single Services aims, in particular, to protect those leaving Service earlier than they expected by ensuring all safeguarding steps are completed.

What assessment has he made of the potential impact of the medical discharge process on (a) recruitment and (b) retention across all three services.

Tri-Service Medical Policy (Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950) sets out the standards and guidance for assessing medical conditions across the Armed Forces. Whilst JSP 950 provides consistency across the Services in terms of procedures and governance, each Service applies these standards according to its own operational demands given that personnel may find themselves subject to significantly different environments and roles. This includes medical boards which have the authority to recommend medical categories that may result in a Service Person’s discharge from the Armed Forces. Defence recognises that discharge for medical reasons can have implications for financial stability, housing, and wellbeing. The discharge process is therefore designed to mitigate these risks through coordinated case management, warm handovers to civilian services, and the provision of compensation where eligible, based on a structured timeline of actions commencing nine months prior. Actions include final medical and dental reviews, resettlement interviews, pension and administrative preparation, and tailored support for those who are wounded, injured, or sick. All personnel discharged for medical reasons are automatically referred to Veterans Services to ensure that they and their families can continue to access tailored support with health, housing, employment, and welfare as they transition into civilian life. Feeback is collected from those using Veterans Services, as well as the Career Transition Partnership, both of which routinely capture insight on the challenges encountered during discharge and subsequent transition to civilian life. This feedback informs continuous improvement work within both Defence medical pathways and transition policy. We recognise the need to develop a cohered Occupational Health Service to simplify policy and processes, improve patient experience, and better support the retention of Armed Forces personnel. The new Joint Defence Termination check list, being created in conjunction with the single Services aims, in particular, to protect those leaving Service earlier than they expected by ensuring all safeguarding steps are completed.

What procedures are in place to enable effective handover of medical records from Defence Medical Services to the NHS for medically discharged personnel.

When an individual leaves the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the importance of facilitating the transfer of healthcare information to their civilian healthcare provider(s). On leaving Defence Medical Services (DMS) care, Service personnel are provided with a medical care summary, known as an FMed133, and advised to register with an NHS GP and provide them a copy of their FMED 133. If a patient’s full DMS health record is required, this is provided on request to their NHS GP. To improve the transfer of healthcare information, DMS is working towards the greater interoperability with NHS systems and the electronic transfer of medical records from DMS to NHS GPs. Under Programme CORTISONE, the MOD has awarded a £7.8 million contract to Leeds software company, The Phoenix Partnership, to provide a modern electronic healthcare records system for the Armed Forces. Scheduled for roll out in 2027, this will digitalise military medical records and integrate MOD systems with the NHS.

What the UK contribution is to Operation Firecrest.

Operation FIRECREST will be delivered by the United Kingdom's Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales. I am unable to provide further detail of Operation FIRECREST in order to maintain the Operational Security of His Majesty's Armed Forces.

Pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2026 to question 111934 on Armed Forces: Parachuting, whether parachute regiment soldiers will continue to complete a) Pegasus Company and b) the Basic Parachute Course.

Parachute Regiment soldiers will continue to complete both Pegasus Company and the Basic Parachute Course.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of a ceasefire in Ukraine on the UK’s ability to sustain commitments to a) Operation Firecrest, b) Operation Cabrit and c) the JEF commitment to Arctic Sentry.

Defence conducts continuous review of all current and planned commitments in accordance with established protocols, ensuring that each task can be fully and appropriately resourced by the single Services. This process incorporates dynamic, ongoing assessment and the allocation of resources as new requirements arise. Defence’s commitments relating to Ukraine have been appropriately resourced and deconflicted, with no identified concurrency risks affecting the Department’s ability to sustain planned outputs for Operation FIRECREST, Operation CABRIT, or the Joint Expeditionary Force contribution to ARCTIC SENTRY. As operational planning for the Ministry of Defence’s contribution to a ceasefire in Ukraine progresses, any additional requirements will be assessed, deconflicted, and resourced through established mechanisms to ensure Defence continues to deliver the highest standards of operational output.

Pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2026 to question 111934 on Armed Forces: Parachuting, which Parachute Regiment battalion the single battalion group will be based upon.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his Question 79685 on 17 October 2025.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) operational, (b) logistical and (c) legal constraints on the the ability of the Royal Navy to conduct (i) deterrence or (ii) interdiction operations against small boat migrant people-smuggling activities within UK territorial waters in the English Channel.

The Home Office, through the Border Security Command, is the lead Government Department responsible for tackling illegal migration and people‑smuggling in the English Channel. His Majesty’s Coastguard is responsible for search and rescue at sea. Their responses to the issue of small boat migration are underpinned by the UK’s legal obligations as a responsible maritime nation.

How many intercept scrambles of Russian military aircraft by USAF aircraft have taken place from a) RAF Lakenheath and b) RAF Mildenhall since 2020.

For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information in relation to foreign nations’ military operations.

With reference to the speech by the Prime Minister at the Munich Security Conference on 14 February 2026, on which US capabilities he plans to decrease dependence.

The forthcoming Defence Investment Plan will set out how the UK will deliver the ambition of the Strategic Defence Review, ensuring we are integrated into NATO force structures by design but capable of acting as an integrated sovereign force when needed. This includes consideration of enabling capabilities such as munitions stockpiles, cyber resilience, space assets, and critical industrial capacity. While the UK-US defence relationship remains foundational to our defence and national security, and the UK derives great benefit from it, it is right that the UK continues to invest in a balanced mix of sovereign, bilateral and multilateral programmes. This ensures our Armed Forces can operate effectively with allies, lead when necessary, and maintain freedom of action in any future strategic environment.

When Operation Firecrest will a) commence and b) end.

Operation FIRECREST will be delivered by the United Kingdom's Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales. I am unable to provide further detail of Operation FIRECREST in order to maintain the Operational Security of His Majesty's Armed Forces.

What role the Callen-Lenz Nyan One-Way Effector will play in the Army’s deep fires capability.

The Army intends to field an initial One-Way Effector capability, including the Callen Lenz NYAN effector, as part of the UK Forces’ deep fires contribution on Operation CABRIT.

What feedback is collected by his Department from medically discharged personnel following the completion of the process.

Tri-Service Medical Policy (Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950) sets out the standards and guidance for assessing medical conditions across the Armed Forces. Whilst JSP 950 provides consistency across the Services in terms of procedures and governance, each Service applies these standards according to its own operational demands given that personnel may find themselves subject to significantly different environments and roles. This includes medical boards which have the authority to recommend medical categories that may result in a Service Person’s discharge from the Armed Forces. Defence recognises that discharge for medical reasons can have implications for financial stability, housing, and wellbeing. The discharge process is therefore designed to mitigate these risks through coordinated case management, warm handovers to civilian services, and the provision of compensation where eligible, based on a structured timeline of actions commencing nine months prior. Actions include final medical and dental reviews, resettlement interviews, pension and administrative preparation, and tailored support for those who are wounded, injured, or sick. All personnel discharged for medical reasons are automatically referred to Veterans Services to ensure that they and their families can continue to access tailored support with health, housing, employment, and welfare as they transition into civilian life. Feeback is collected from those using Veterans Services, as well as the Career Transition Partnership, both of which routinely capture insight on the challenges encountered during discharge and subsequent transition to civilian life. This feedback informs continuous improvement work within both Defence medical pathways and transition policy. We recognise the need to develop a cohered Occupational Health Service to simplify policy and processes, improve patient experience, and better support the retention of Armed Forces personnel. The new Joint Defence Termination check list, being created in conjunction with the single Services aims, in particular, to protect those leaving Service earlier than they expected by ensuring all safeguarding steps are completed.

What United States Marine Corps aviation assets will operate from HMS Prince of Wales during Operation Firecrest.

Operation FIRECREST will be delivered by the United Kingdom's Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales. I am unable to provide further detail of Operation FIRECREST in order to maintain the Operational Security of His Majesty's Armed Forces.