Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2026 to question 125513 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, by when does he plan to have completed the Block 4 upgrade programme.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 20 April 2026 to Question 125513: We do not routinely comment on detailed delivery schedules. However, the Block 4 upgrade programme continues, it did not impact the declaration of Lightning Full Operating Capability. The Block 4 upgrade programme will further develop our world leading Combat Air capability, the UK Lightning, through improvements in lethality, survivability and supportability.

What assessment has she made of the potential impact of reductions in the Specialist Teaching Team in Cambridgeshire upon schools in the Huntingdon constituency.

Cambridgeshire’s staffing structures are a matter for the local authority, as is the impact assessment of any changes.We are improving schools’ access to expert advice and support through the new Experts at Hand service, a £1.8 billion investment over three years designed to give mainstream schools rapid access to specialist special educational needs and disabilities expertise. The indicative funding for the 2026/27 financial year for Experts At Hand in Cambridgeshire is £4,675,232. Cambridgeshire local authority will work with its integrated care board to deliver this new service, which will support schools in the Huntingdon constituency.

By what year does he plan to deliver the Long-Range Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon.

Awaiting answer.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 125362 on USA:Anniversaries, whether his Department has accepted the invitation by Sail Boston to showcase a Daring Class Destroyer between 11 to 16 July 2026.

HM Government continues to support the USA in the celebration of their 250th anniversary, highlighted through the State Visit of His Majesty the King. The Ministry of Defence does not comment on future ship movements or commitments for reasons of operational security.

With reference to the answer of 27 April 2026, to question 118987 on Iran: RAF Akrotiri, what ballistic missile interception capability was deployed in defence of RAF Akrotiri during HMS Dragon’s maintenance in Crete.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to FOI 2026/03320 for what reason did her department deem it to be a) unlawful and b) unfair with respect to the withholding of the requested information regarding the number of ISIS-linked individuals repatriated to the UK from the Al-Roj camp in Syria.

The Government’s priority is the safety and security of the UK and our citizens. This can, where appropriate, include the exercise of immigration powers, the use of domestic and international watchlists, and law enforcement partners to disrupt the travel to the UK of individuals who are assessed to pose a threat.Individuals who return should expect to be investigated and, where there is evidence that they have committed crimes, to face prosecution. A wide range of criminal and terrorism offences can be used to prosecute returning foreign fighters, carrying the possibility of a sentence up to and including life imprisonment.It is the long-standing policy of successive UK Governments not to comment routinely either on individual cases or intelligence and security matters. On this Freedom of Information request, the Home Office set out the legal basis for withholding the requested information under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Those who are dissatisfied with the Home Office’s response to their Freedom of Information request may request an independent internal review within two months of the response.

What recent assessment he has made of the feasibility of keeping Britannia Royal Naval College open (a) until 2040 and (b) after 2040.

Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) at Dartmouth continues to play a central role in the training of Royal Navy officers. There are no plans to close the establishment.

With reference to the answer of 22 April 2026 to question 908740 on Service Pupil Premium, how additional funding via the mobility factor in the schools national funding formula is allocated.

Awaiting answer.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to question 125523 on Hare Coursing, which policing priority covers hare coursing in the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy 2025-28, published in November 2025.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy 2025-28, published in November 2025, addresses hare coursing within its policing priority to tackle illegal hunting and poaching.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the news story entitled Jonathan Powell appointed as Special Envoy for BIOT negotiations, published on 6 September 2024, whether the phrase He will begin his role immediately means that Jonathan Powell’s role as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the BIOT officially started on 6 September 2024.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 March in response to Question 118787.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when Jonathan Powell was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the BIOT; and what security clearance he had upon that appointment.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 11, 18 and 19 March in response to Questions 117954, 118781 and 119899.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Jonathan Powell was interviewed for the role of the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 11, 18 and 19 March in response to Questions 117954, 118781 and 119899.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2404 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Public Appointments, on what date did her predecessor a) appoint Jonathan Powell, b) did he commence the role and c) was his appointment publicly announced.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 11, 18 and 19 March in response to Questions 117954, 118781 and 119899.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2404 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Public Appointments, on what dates her predecessor met with Jonathan Powell prior to appointing him as the Prime Minister's Envoy for the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)/Chagos Archipelago Sovereignty Negotiation with Mauritius.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 11, 18 and 19 March in response to Questions 117954, 118781 and 119899.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date did Lord Mandelson receive STRAP level access.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 21 April, and his answers to the questions raised in response, including his commitment that the Government would continue to comply with the instructions of Parliament in the Humble Address of 4 February.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 125514 on Armed Forces: Housing, for what reason has the number of void service family properties in Huntingdon constituency increased from 19 to 99 since May 2025.

The figure of 19 void properties in May 2025 given in the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 125514 referred to void properties in the hon. Member's constituency which had been reacquired from Annington and that were not suitable for occupation; it did not reflect the total number of void properties. As of 1 May 2025, there were a total of 108 void Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties in the Huntingdon constituency. As of 22 April 2026, there are a total of 98 void SFA properties in the Huntingdon constituency.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date did Lord Mandelson (a) submit his application for STRAP clearance and (b) receive that clearance.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Prime Minister on 21 April, and his answers to the questions raised in response, including his commitment that the Government would continue to comply with the instructions of Parliament in the Humble Address of 4 February.

What assessment has he made of the surety of heating oil supply for October 2026 onwards.

The Government keeps the security of heating oil supply under close and continuous review. The UK benefits from strong and diverse security of fuel supplies, including heating oil. While heating oil markets can experience periods of operational pressure, supply continues to be available through established domestic and international supply routes. The Government works closely with the sector to monitor supply, demand and delivery conditions and will continue to monitor the position closely as the heating season approaches.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Auestion 125323 on Ahmed al-Sharaa, whether she discussed the repatriation of ISIS-linked individuals from the Al-Roj camp in Syria with the (a) President of Syria, (b) Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and (c) Director of the General Intelligence Service on 31 March 2026.

The details of conversations between the Home Secretary and senior international partners on matters of national security are confidential and not for release.Minister Falconer made a written ministerial statement to the house on 28 January on the situation in North-East Syria and has committed to providing further updates to the House in due course as the situation evolves.’

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, published on 11 November 2025, what progress she has made on replacing the rabbit pyrogen test.

Rabbit pyrogen tests were removed from the British Pharmacopeia in 2025 under this Government, meaning that no rabbit pyrogenicity testing should now be conducted in the UK for any pharmacopoeial pyrogen testing purposes. International (ISO) standards for medical devices may require the use of rabbit pyrogen testing for market authorisation for non-UK markets. Where this is the case Prospective Authorisation would need to be granted by the Home Office, no such tests were carried out in 2025. We are working with the Home Office to ensure that no new licences are approved that include the use of the rabbit pyrogen tests where validated alternatives are available.