Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What recent progress she has made in establishing defence technical excellence colleges.

The department is introducing Technical Excellence Colleges (TECs) to specialise in training skilled workforces which industry needs in growth-driving priority sectors. The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy confirmed that we will establish Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, provide funding for courses for defence related skills, and invest in cutting edge university facilities to increase places for defence skills provision. Delivering this package will be a joint endeavour between government and industry. The department has been working with the Ministry of Defence on this and further detail will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy.

Which elements of the Global Combat air programme are included within the scope of the Industrial Strategy partnership with the Japanese government agreed in March 2025.

The UK and Japan are pioneering an Industrial Strategy Partnership (ISP) focusing on green and digital transformation, economic security and inclusive regional growth. The ISP aims to deepen UK-Japan industrial and technology collaboration through programmes such as GCAP.

Media and Sport, how many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

Sickness absence data for the Civil Service, including departmental breakdowns is published annually, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence.The next update will be for the year ending 31st March 2025.

With reference to page 14 of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what growth spillover benefits he plans to unlock in Huntingdon constituency.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring defence is an engine for growth. However, we have made no assessment of growth spillover effects in the Huntingdon constituency, or any constituency level at this stage. The Defence Industrial Strategy published on 8 September 2025 clearly set out how we are making defence an engine for growth - investing more money in key defence areas and regions across the UK to create good jobs.

What estimate he has made of the contribution of Typhoon jets to GDP.

The biggest contribution of defence to GDP is peace and security. My Department has made no estimate of the contribution to GDP of any individual programmes and capabilities. The Defence Industrial Strategy published on 8 September 2025 clearly set out how we are making defence an engine for growth - Investing more money in key defence areas and regions across the UK to create good jobs. This year my Department has announced further multi-year contracts with UK companies for the support of in-service Typhoon EJ200 engines and the continuing development of the ECRS Mk2 radar upgrade programme that will be embodied on the RAF fleet. A resilient UK industrial base strengthens Britain's defence companies and supply chains to make us more secure and boost our economy, which will support making NATO stronger.

What the lead time is between purchasing and delivery for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile missiles.

I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand but I am withholding this information on the grounds of National Security as disclosure would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Ministry of Defence.

How many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

Sickness absence data for the Civil Service, including departmental breakdowns, is published annually, and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absenceThe next update will be for the year ending 31 March 2025.

How many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

Sickness absence data for the Civil Service, including departmental breakdowns, is published annually, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence.The next update will be for the year ending 31 March 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

Sickness absence data for the Civil Service, including departmental breakdowns is published annually, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence. The next update will be for the year ending 31st March 2025.

How attendees at the College for National Security are selected.

Online training courses provided by the College for National Security are open to all civil servants, public servants and crown servants. Attendance at events held by the College are approved on a first come first served basis. For certain practitioner courses, a short application process is sometimes required. When required, these applications are anonymously evaluated based on the applicant’s experience, interest and ambition in the subject. The College will sometimes curate the learning groups to ensure a good mix of departments. As its learner base grows, the College will keep its systems under review.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49543, how many of the houses reacquired by his Department in January 2025 from Annington Homes have been used to house Afghans brought to the UK via (a) the Afghan Resettlement Programme and (b) separately as a subset of the Afghan Response Route.

Surplus SFA not needed for our personnel have been used in certain circumstances. 795 of the 36,000 properties bought back from Annington Homes in January 2025 have been used to house Afghans who worked alongside out troops in Afghanistan who have been brought to the UK via the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARAP).I refer the honourable member to the answer to PQ 72330 which provides the number of Afghan Response Route (ARR) Eligible Persons (EP) accommodated on the Defence Estate on 4 September 2025. The Department does not hold data on which former Annington Homes properties are occupied by ARR EPs.

How many days were lost to sickness absence by civil servants in their Department (a) in total and (b) on average per employee between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

Sickness absence data for the Civil Service, including departmental breakdowns is published annually, and is available here: Sickness absence in the Civil Service - GOV.UK. The next update will be for the year ending 31st March 2025.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what procurement reforms will his Department introduce to improve the process in order to secure government contracts.

The UK’s Procurement Act, introduced by the previous administration, came into force on 24 February 2025 alongside a National Procurement Policy Statement aligning procurement to this Government's missions.This Government also announced on 26 June 2025 a new 10-week consultation entitled Public Procurement - Growing British industry, jobs and skills.These reforms aim to go further to strengthen the UK’s economic resilience and support British businesses. Our proposals will protect supply chains, support our businesses, create good local jobs, and deliver greater value for taxpayers.We will set out our response and further measures shortly.

How many Afghans were brought to the UK via the Afghan Response Route in each month the scheme was open.

As the responsible Department, the Home Office produce quarterly statistics for immigration. These statistics are broken down by the route in which the individual entered the UK. The Afghan Response Route (ARR) is included and can be accessed via the link below: safe-legal-routes-summary-tables-jun-2025.ods As of 4 July 2025, the ARR is closed. This Government continues to support the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) and is taking seriously our commitment to deliver on our promise to our Afghan friends and allies – many of whom stood side-by-side with the UK's Armed Forces in Afghanistan. By the end of this Parliament, we aim to have successfully honoured our obligation to complete relocations of eligible persons.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled UK-France treaty targeting illegal crossings comes into force, published on 7 August 2025, whether there is a minimum number of returns that would determine the pilot to have been successful.

The UK-France Treaty sets out the lawful basis for the reciprocal exchange of individuals on a one-to-one basis. We will continuously monitor and evaluate the pilot as it progresses, with a full evaluation to be completed at the end of the pilot period.

How many of the demonstrators arrested in central London on 9 August 2025 were (a) arrested for supporting Palestine Action and (b) subsequently charged for the same offence.

The Metropolitan Police has provided several public updates on the progression of the cases arising from the protest of 9 August on its website, with the most recent update on 1 September: https://news.met.police.uk/news/more-people-charged-with-terrorism-act-offences-linked-to-palestine-action-support-500541.The Metropolitan Police have also released statistics on the arrests made at the central London protests on 9 August 2025. A total of 532 individuals were arrested. 522 of those were arrested for an offence contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT). Section 13 of TACT makes it an offence to wear clothing or display an article in a public place in circumstances that arouse reasonable suspicion that the person is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation. Further information on the arrests on 9 August can be found here: https://news.met.police.uk/news/update-532-arrested-during-protest-policing-operation-499897.The investigation and prosecution of criminal offences, including determining whether an offence has been committed or not, is a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who are operationally independent.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential (a) financial and (b) other impacts of the proposed strike action on 10 September 2025 on the horseracing industry.

The Government is aware of the postponement of racing on 10 September, with the four fixtures rescheduled between 8-15 September. No internal analysis has been conducted of the financial implications of the industry’s decision to postpone racing, however we remain in close contact with the sporting authorities.

How many (a) asylum hotels, (b) houses in multiple occupation used to house asylum seekers, (c) other properties used to house asylum seekers and (d) asylum seekers there were in Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley constituency as of 1 September 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 4 September to Question 71421.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the introduction of CBAM in January 2027 on defence procurement.

The UK Government will introduce a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on 1 January 2027 to address the risk of carbon leakage, and support efforts towards industrial decarbonisation to achieve net zero. Initially, the CBAM will apply only to specific imports from a limited number of sectors at risk of carbon leakage, including aluminium, cement, fertiliser, hydrogen, iron and steel. These sectors collectively account for less than 3% of total UK imports. The government expects the CBAM to have a negligible inflationary impact on consumers in the near term. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) will continue to engage as the policy develops to fully assess the implications for Defence. The MOD is committed to addressing climate and environmental challenges, complying with environmental legislation and standards, while ensuring Defence activities and national security are protected.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of building a bypass on the A1 at Buckden roundabout, in the context of potential levels of traffic caused by (a) Universal Studios, (b) proposed development at Brampton Cross and (c) the proposed logistics parks at Hinchingbrooke and Wavesey.

There are currently no plans to bypass the Buckden Roundabout on the A1 in Cambridgeshire. However, the Department and National Highways recognise the significant emerging development in the region and will consider how to maintain the performance of the strategic road network and how it can support emerging development there. This will be considered as part of ongoing engagement with local authorities and other partners.