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 1,821–1,840 of 2,264 · Ministry of Defence
What the additional cost is to the purchase of the 12 F-35A aircraft of specifying their air-to-air refuelling capability as probe-and-drogue.
The procurement of 12 F-35A rather than 12 F-35B as part of the next procurement package is expected to deliver a saving of up to 25% per aircraft for the taxpayer.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the US cancellation of orders for the Boeing E7 Wedgetail on (a) UK and (b) NATO intelligence-gathering capability.
The Ministry of Defence is continuing with its procurement of E-7 Wedgetail in order to meet the national and NATO requirements for an Airborne Early Warning and Control capability which is interoperable with its allies.
Whether the US government is required to seek permission from the UK in order to launch offensive military action from Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia under the UK-Mauritius Treaty.
Annex 1, paragraph 1(b)(i) of the treaty sets out that the United Kingdom will have unrestricted ability to control the conduct and deployment of armed operations. No permission is required as a result of this treaty, as US operations from Diego Garcia are governed by a separate Exchange of Notes between the UK and US.
Whether she is taking steps to procure an icebreaker ship to complement HMS Protector for future operations in the Atlantic Bastion.
As highlighted in the Strategic Defence Review, Atlantic Bastion is the Royal Navy’s plan to secure the North Atlantic for the UK and NATO against the persistent and growing underwater threat from a modernising Russian submarine force. While an icebreaking capability does not form part of the Atlantic Bastion plan, the UK recognises the increasing strategic importance of the Arctic and High North. As such, future icebreaker capabilities are being considered to deliver the Strategic Defence Review vision, with all capability requirements considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan, which will be completed in autumn 2025.
What assessment he has made of the level of damage inflicted on the Iranian nuclear programme following the US strikes on (a) Fordow, (b) Natanz and (c) Isfahan.
It is long standing policy of this and the previous Government that we do not comment on intelligence matters.
How many of the RAF Voyager fleet are airworthy.
All Voyager aircraft are certified as airworthy. However, the serviceability of the fleet varies daily due to routine maintenance schedules. For reasons of operational security, specific details about the serviceability of Voyager aircraft are not publicly disclosed.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the procurement by the United States Air Force of the E2D Hawkeye aircraft on the intelligence-gathering capability of the (a) US and (b) NATO.
Procurement decisions by any other NATO nation are fully a matter for that nation. NATO standardisation ensures interoperability of other nations equipment with our own sovereign military capabilities.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the incompatibility of F-35A fighters with Royal Air Force air-to-air refuelling capability on the intention to purchase F-35A fighters.
We have longstanding reciprocal arrangements to use allies Air-to-Air refuelling support when required, just as our Voyagers also support refuelling of other allies’ jets.
How many locations in the Defence Estate are currently guarded by the Military Provost Guard Service.
The Military Provost Guard Service brings a professional and permanent armed guarding presence that offers a cost-effective and mission-ready solution, while maintaining the integrity and security of Defence estates without overstretching operational forces. While I am unable to comment on specific security arrangements, I can assure the hon. Member that we take the safety and security of our sites extremely seriously and ensure we have robust measures in place.
With reference to the policy paper entitled UK-France Joint Leaders' Declaration, published on 23rd March 2023, whether he has taken steps to increase the interoperability of (a) communication, (b) armament systems and (c) other future Combat Air systems.
The UK remains committed to exploring interoperability between the Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS) of the UK and France, which will form part of the wider combat air and multi-domain capabilities across Europe and NATO. The UK maintains a NATO-first approach to addressing interoperability. At the same time, the UK and France are working together to explore areas in which interoperability can be increased, such as communication and armaments systems. The UK and France are doing so through our military and industrial relationships, mutual sharing of technical roadmaps for missiles, and the FCAS Technology Development Cooperation mechanism, the second phase of which will focus on interoperability.
How many personnel are eligible for service in the strategic reserve in each of the armed forces.
The Strategic Reserve comprises two distinct elements: those former Service personnel with an ongoing legal liability to train and to be called out if needed (the Regular Reserve) and those with a legal liability to be recalled in the direst of situations (the Recall Reserve). Numbers within the Regular Reserve are routinely published within the Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-index). In table 8a of the Excel spreadsheet with the latest April 2025 figures, the Tri-Service UK Regular Reserve forces totalled 36,398 of which: Reserve Naval and Marine Forces Regular Reserve: 6,774Reserve Land Forces Regular Reserve: 22,897Reserve Air Forces Regular Reserve: 6,727 Defence does not currently publish Recall Reserve statistics but as part of the Strategic Defence Review, we are working to step up engagement with the Strategic Reserve and establish a digitised approach to Reserves management. We will reinvigorate our relationship with the Strategic Reserve to ensure the UK is ready to respond at scale to global insecurity. It is also a chance to renew the bond between society and those who’ve served, and to unlock the unique expertise gained through military Service and deploying it when it matters most.
When did the Armed Forces cease to offer gap year commissions.
I refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 3 April 2025 to Question 41496 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).
What the full scope of Project Cairns is; and what the (a) specific technical requirements and (b) core characteristics of the project are as laid out to the defence industry.
Project CAIRNS is not a project of record at this time, however, it will seek to replace the L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) upon reaching its Out of Service Date. The Project envisages replacing the GPMG’s roles across both Light and Medium Machine Gun areas. The current GPMG remains a world leading, highly effective and lethal machine gun, operated across Defence.
Pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 58340 on Land Rover: Armed Forces, whether all 5,674 Land Rovers in service across Defence are due to be withdrawn from service by 2030.
Yes, all in-service Land Rovers have a current out of service date of 2030.
Pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 55079 on Armed Forces: Firearms, whether the provision of a replacement rifle-mounted grenade launcher is within the scope of Project Grayburn.
The L123A3 Underslung Grenade Launcher (UGL) remains in-service and compatible with the L85 rifle family. There is currently not a programme of record to replace the UGL, and it is outside the boundaries for Project GRAYBURN. Analysis into optimum levels of lethality in small teams is being conducted, ensuring we continue to deliver highly lethal effects across Defence.
How many new cadet detachments in (a) schools and (b) communities he plans to create through the Cadet Expansion Programme in the 2025-26 financial year.
The Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) is a joint Department for Education and Ministry of Defence initiative, underway since 2012, which aims to increase the number of cadet units in schools, and the number of cadets within those units. The CEP does not cover cadet units in the community. Given the fantastic benefits which can be gained from the cadet experience the Government wants more young people to be able to become cadets. Our recently published Strategic Defence Review recommended an expansion of Cadet Forces across the country by 30% by 2030 – both in-school and community-based. We will bring forward more detail in due course.
What the scope is of Project Grayburn; and what requirements were laid out to the defence industry on the core characteristics of the next-generation individual weapon to replace the SA80 family of rifles.
Project GRAYBURN is currently in the concept phase with the aim of identifying and understanding the capability requirements. As part of this phase, performance, interoperability and complexity are some of the characteristics under consideration. Due to the current phase of the project and commercial sensitivities I am unable to provide further detail. The Strategic Defence Review sets out a clear path for transformation across Defence. The Defence Investment Plan will set out in more detail the Department’s capability plan in the Autumn, replacing the Defence Equipment Plan.
What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that community and school cadet expansion plans (a) do not conflict and (b) maximise (i) coverage and (ii) the use of resources.
The recently published Strategic Defence Review recommended an expansion of in-school and community-based Cadet Forces across the country by 30% by 2030. Planning for this is underway with further detail to follow and as we move forward, we will ensure that our activities yield maximum gain. This Government is firmly convinced of the fantastic benefits of the cadet experience, and we are keen to make these available to more young people. We know from independent research that each year, participation in the Cadet Forces produces a return on investment in the region of £120 million in terms of health and wellbeing, and an estimated lifetime value of the vocational qualifications gained by the most disadvantaged cadets of well over £130 million.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) the Strategic Defence Review 2025 and (b) Project Grayburn on the infantry’s (a) manning establishment, (b) battalion structures and (c) doctrine.
Project GRAYBURN is currently in the concept phase with the aim of identifying and understanding the capability requirements. As part of this phase, performance, interoperability and complexity are some of the characteristics under consideration. Due to the current phase of the project and commercial sensitivities I am unable to provide further detail. The Strategic Defence Review sets out a clear path for transformation across Defence. The Defence Investment Plan will set out in more detail the Department’s capability plan in the Autumn, replacing the Defence Equipment Plan.
How many new cadet detachments will the Cadet Expansion Programme create in (a) schools and (b) communities in 2025/26.
The Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) is a joint Department for Education and Ministry of Defence initiative, underway since 2012, which aims to increase the number of cadet units in schools, and the number of cadets within those units. The CEP does not cover cadet units in the community. Given the fantastic benefits which can be gained from the cadet experience the Government wants more young people to be able to become cadets. Our recently published Strategic Defence Review recommended an expansion of Cadet Forces across the country by 30% by 2030 – both in-school and community-based. We will bring forward more detail in due course.