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 401–420 of 4,549 · this parliament
How much of the proposed in-year savings from his Department for 2025/26 were carried forward for inclusion within 2026/27 projected in-year savings.
As part of normal good financial management, the Ministry of Defence continues to allocate resources effectively to meet departmental and operational priorities. The Department's final position for 2025-26 will be set out in the Annual Report and Accounts.
Innovation and Technology, what discussions her Department has had with HM Treasury on the UK fiscal framework for pre-clinical Contract Research Organisations.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology engages routinely with HM Treasury on a range of issues affecting the UK life sciences sector, including the fiscal framework. Officials have discussed options for supporting pre‑clinical Contract Research Organisations with HM Treasury and work continues.
Whether she plans to review the operation of the merged R&D tax relief scheme in relation to companies providing pre-clinical research services.
The Government recognises the important role that life sciences research and development (R&D) plays in driving innovation and economic growth as well as the benefits it can bring for society. The Government committed to maintaining the generosity of the rates in both the merged R&D Expenditure Credit (RDEC) scheme and the Enhanced R&D Intensive Support (ERIS). This, combined with the commitment to cap the headline rate of Corporation Tax, means that companies doing qualifying R&D – including pre-clinical R&D – will continue to receive between £15 to £27 for every £100 spent on R&D.Under the merged R&D scheme, relief is generally available to the company that decides to undertake R&D and bears the financial risk, rather than the company contracted to carry it out, subject to limited exceptions. This approach is intended to ensure support is targeted at the company that invests in the R&D. These rules apply to pre-clinical research services in the same way as they do for all other companies.
How much his Department has been asked to make in in-year budget savings in 2026/27.
As part of routine financial management, the Ministry of Defence continues to allocate resources effectively to meet departmental and operational priorities. The total Ministry of Defence budget this financial year stands at £65.5 billion.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Policy paper: “Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods”, published on 11 November 2025, what progress has she made in creating positive incentives for research proposal applicants to develop and implement alternatives to animal use.
The delivery of the commitment to Enable funders to ensure thorough scrutiny of animal research in funding decisions is led by UKRI and will create positive incentives for research proposal applicants to develop and implement alternatives to animal use.UKRI are developing a funding service to support this and the strategy commits to start the funding cycle in 2026.The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.
Pursuant to the Answer of 13 April 2026 to Question 123462 on Sky Sabre, what defence capability Land Ceptor is configured for.
The Common Anti-air Modular Missiles (CAMM) in use with the British Army are deployed from Land Ceptor launchers as part of the Sky Sabre air defence missile system. This provides short-medium range air defence against a spectrum of conventional threats including cruise missiles, fixed wing, rotary wing and uncrewed aerial systems.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Policy paper: “Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods”, published on 11 November 2025, what progress has she made in creating a preclinical translational models hub.
The delivery of the commitment to Create a preclinical translational models hub is led by the Medical Research Council (MRC).The Preclinical translational models hub funding call to identify a host for the hub was launched on 2 March 2026 with decisions on this expected in July. The Hub is expected to commence work this year.The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.
What progress the Animals in Science Regulation Unit has made in its (a) Regulatory Reform programme and (b) new target operating model.
The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) launched its new organisational design and operating model in late 2025. This included increasing the size of the inspectorate from an average of 14.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) posts in 2023 to 22 FTE in 2026, strengthening the Regulator’s ability to scrutinise, monitor and assure compliance of regulated establishments with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. ASRU has also introduced specialist roles and functions to strengthen data analysis, quality monitoring and overall regulatory performance.The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy ‘Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods’, later in 2026.
Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Policy paper: “Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods”, published on 11 November 2025, what progress has she made in increasing the visibility of available alternative methods to facilitate their uptake.
Work to increase the visibility of available alternative methods to facilitate their uptake will be led by the NC3Rs and delivered through an expansion of their gateway publishing platform, so that it is available to all researchers developing alternative methods. Work is underway to identify and collate UKRI-funded alternative methods for inclusion on the gateway. The strategy aims for this expanded platform to be in place by the end of 2026.The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.
Pursuant to the answer of 13 April 2026 to Question 123069 on Type 83 Destroyers: Procurement, when the concept phase of the Future Air Dominance System (a) started and (b) is due to be completed.
I refer the hon Member to my response to question 106653.
With reference to the Policy paper: “Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods”, Published on 11 November 2025, what progress has she made in implementing the full recommendations of the Rawle Report.
The Home Office is working with the Animals in Science Regulation Unit, funders and wider stakeholders to progress implementation of the Rawle report recommendations. Specifically, the Animals in Science Committee, a ministerial advisory body, has been commissioned for advice on leading practice in delivery of the responsibilities of Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies (AWERBs); addressing a key finding from the Rawle report.The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.
Pursuant to the answer of 15 April 2026, to question 125325 on Animal Welfare: Inspections, what is the number of animals used annually by MBR Acres.
The Home Office publishes annual statistics on the use of animals in science which contain information on the number of procedures conducted, including breakdowns by species of animals. The statistics report both the total number of procedures conducted and the number of animals used for the first time in a given year. Data is collected and published on an annual basis and is not disaggregated by establishment.The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) requires establishments that breed or supply animals for use in scientific procedures to be licensed and regulated, even where no scientific procedures are carried out on site.MBR Acres Ltd is a breeding facility and does not carry out onsite testing.
With reference to the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, Keeping Britain Safe: secure at home and strong abroad, page 30, by when does he plan to have established a new Defence Diplomacy Cadre for civilian policy professionals.
As part of the implementation of the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, the Ministry of Defence is establishing a Defence Diplomacy Cadre to increase training and education for our international facing policy staff. The cadre will be piloted with an initial focus on developing skills for staff in US facing roles. Lessons from the pilot will inform the work on the full Defence Diplomacy Cadre, which will leverage expertise within Defence and wider government on relationship building, negotiation, cultural awareness, and complex geo-political contexts, to further develop these skills in Defence, and empower staff in international facing roles.
With reference to the Defence Diplomacy Strategy, Keeping Britain Safe: secure at home and strong abroad, page 30, what are the complementary International Security Fund programmes.
All of Defence's international security programmes are deliberately designed to be complementary, mutually supportive, and burden sharing, whether funded by the Ministry of Defence or cross-government funding, such as the Integrated Security Fund. The Cabinet Office publishes the Integrated Security Fund's Annual Reports on the Government's website in which further details can be found.
With reference to her oral response to the hon. Member for Huntingdon on 5 January 2026, Official Report, column 25, by what date she will write to the hon. Member for Huntingdon.
A letter to the hon. Gentleman was sent on 28 April.
Pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026 to question 122290 on Ajax Vehicles, what recent assessment he has made of the suitability of SPz Puma to replace Ajax.
Work on Ajax is ongoing. As I have previously updated the House, we have commissioned a number of safety reports. These have now been received, and we are working through their findings. I will update the House shortly on progress, as I have done since Exercise Titan Storm.
What discussions he has had with the telecoms industry on countering the threat posed to undersea telecommunications infrastructure by Russian sub-threshold interference.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to a collaborative approach between government and private sector to work together on national resilience. Supporting the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology’s lead on telecoms security, the Secretary of State for Defence has engaged with private sector partners including the telecoms industry to discuss undersea telecommunications infrastructure. These discussions form part of a broader effort to protect critical national infrastructure from a range of threats, including Russian sub-threshold interference.
Pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026 to question 122290 on Ajax Vehicles, what recent assessment he has made of the suitability of CV90 to replace Ajax.
Work on Ajax is ongoing. As I have previously updated the House, we have commissioned a number of safety reports. These have now been received, and we are working through their findings. I will update the House shortly on progress, as I have done since Exercise Titan Storm.
Pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2026 to question 122290 on Ajax Vehicles, which alternative platforms have been assessed since Initial Operating Capability was paused.
Work on Ajax is ongoing. As I have previously updated the House, we have commissioned a number of safety reports. These have now been received, and we are working through their findings. I will update the House shortly on progress, as I have done since Exercise Titan Storm.
Pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2926 to question 120448 on Type 45 Destroyers: Defence Equipment, on what date the first Type 45 destroyer will be fitted with Sea Ceptor CAMM.
The CAMM capability is being fitted to the Type 45 fleet under the Sea Viper CAMM programme, which will augment the existing Anti-Air Warfare capability of those platforms. Installation on the first vessel will be completed in late Summer 2026.