Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What is the full scope of the the Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework.

The Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework (HTCDF) is a bespoke £1b billion Commercial Agile Route to Market to facilitate a spiralled approach to technology development through to a sovereign capability.The framework covers a broad range of scope required to develop a Hypersonic Strike Capability, crucially allowing contracting at all levels of Technology Readiness. Lots include: Design and Integration, Modelling, Simulation and Test and Evaluation, Airframe and Power Generation, Low TRL / Specialists, Lethal Package, Propulsion, Onboard Computing and Seekers with significant supplier capability represented in each Lot.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 52039 on Armed Forces: Housing, how many void properties are in Huntingdon constituency for which the latest data is available.

As at 13 April 2026, there are 99 void Service Family Accommodation properties in the Huntingdon constituency.

With reference to his Department's announcement entitled UK and France sign agreement to develop next-generation air-to-air missile, published on 1 April 2026, by what date when will he establish the new joint Complex Weapons Portfolio Office.

As set out in the Department's announcement of 1 April 2026, the United Kingdom and France have agreed to establish a joint Complex Weapons Portfolio Office. Work is now actively underway with the French Government to establish the office and agree a commissioning date at the earliest opportunity.

What steps did he take to help ensure the mapping of the location of Olenya Guba released by his Department on 9 April 2026 accurately disclosed the location of the submarine base of the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research.

The map originally published on 9 April did not accurately reflect the location of Oleyna Guba. The difference in location arose during the reformatting of the map for publication and did not affect the versions used internally by the Department.

What progress has he made in updating the UK F-35B fleet with Block 4 modifications.

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 progress he has made on developing co-operation between the UK and France under the 2025 Northwood Declaration.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 February 2026 to Question 113496 to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mr Pritchard).

Food and Rural Affairs, how many personnel are assigned to the Tactical Delivery Group for bat crime.

The bat crime Tactical Delivery Group (TDG) is comprised of around 40 representatives from several key stakeholder organisations, including the police and the National Wildlife Crime Unit. A Defra representative attends as required. There is a TDG for each of five national wildlife crime priorities. The priority areas are those which have been assessed as posing the greatest current threat to either the conservation status of a species or which show the highest volume of crime and therefore require a UK-wide tactical response. Each TDG is required to report to the UK Tasking and Coordination Group (UKTCG) (on which Defra is represented) twice a year. This allows the UKTCG to oversee the activities of the TDG and ensure its objectives are being met. Each TDG is supported by the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), which helps prevent and detect wildlife crime by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, undertaking analysis which highlights local or national threats and directly assisting law enforcers in their investigations. Defra is a principal funder of the NWCU and is providing £530,000 for the Unit in the financial year 2026-27. The NWCU holds TDGs accountable and sets their objectives which link back to an overarching national wildlife crime strategy.

What progress he has made in meeting the NATO Industrial Capacity Expansion Pledge.

The NATO Industrial Capacity Expansion Pledge, agreed by Allies at the Washington Summit in July 2024, commits NATO to strengthening defence industrial capacity and resilience across the Alliance. The UK is actively supporting delivery of the Pledge through close engagement with NATO and Allies, including through NATO’s Defence Production Action Plan (DPAP), which provides the practical framework for implementing the commitments. This includes work to aggregate demand, strengthen defence‑critical supply chains, support multinational procurement, and improve NATO–industry engagement. The UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy aligns UK industrial activity with NATO priorities and supports delivery of the Pledge by increasing production capacity, improving resilience, and encouraging long‑term investment in the defence industrial base.

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, when in 2026 does she expect to publish a list of regulatory priorities for alternative methods to help guide investment for development, qualification and validation accelerating the regulatory acceptance of alternative methods.

The delivery of the commitment to publish a list of regulatory priorities for alternative methods sits with NC3Rs.NC3Rs, working with its Regulatory Sciences Forum, is developing the publication, including its overall structure and the criteria for inclusion and exclusion of alternative methods. As set out in the strategy, we expect the list of priorities for regulatory development and validation to be published 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.

When was the last meeting of the Advisory Military Sub-Committee.

The Advisory Military Sub-Committee last met on 21 November 2025.

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, when does she expect to publish a coherent list of alternative methods that would be acceptable data sources.

The delivery of the commitment to publish a list of regulatory priorities for alternative methods sits with NC3Rs.NC3Rs, working with its Regulatory Sciences Forum, is developing the publication, including its overall structure and the criteria for inclusion and exclusion of alternative methods. As set out in the strategy, we expect the list of priorities for regulatory development and validation to be published 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.

With reference to his Department's Pre-Procurement Notice entitled Strategic Defence Review - Energetics Investment Information Notice, published on 2 April 2026, when will the feasibility studies (a) commence and (b) conclude.

We plan to confirm value for money and affordability criteria by no later than the beginning of quarter 3 2026. Feasibility studies are planned to be contracted in April 2026, and to conclude in August 2026.

With reference to his press conference of 9 April 2026, what is the £100m allocated to the Poseidon P-8 fleet for.

This allocation refers to a two-year contract extension awarded to Boeing Defence UK to provide training and support services to the RAF’s Poseidon P-8 fleet. This will run to March 2028 and covers aircraft support, maintenance, supply chain management, and training for the Poseidon fleet based at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 56964 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, on what dates did the Royal Air Force receive the remaining F-35B Lightning II aircraft.

On 13 March 2026, the UK accepted its 48th F-35B aircraft.

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 has she made in increasing private investment in alternative methods to boost innovation and growth.

Delivery of increasing private investment is led by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the commitment to increase investment in alternative methods.The strategy sets out a long‑term, cross‑government programme to accelerate the development, validation and uptake of non‑animal methods. Officials are engaging regularly with representatives from the chemicals, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries to discuss opportunities to accelerate adoption, address barriers to uptake and support collaboration between industry, regulators and the research base.The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and Belgium sign multi-million pound Mission Data partnership, published on 31 March 2026, by what date does he plan to establish a sovereign Joint Electromagnetic Warfare Support Centre in Belgium.

Further to the Department’s press release entitled “UK and Belgium sign multi‑million pound Mission Data partnership”, published on 31 March 2026, the Programme is expected to deliver a fully functional and sustainably supported Belgian Joint Electromagnetic Warfare Support Centre by the end of 2028.

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 has she made in strengthening the commitment of journal editors to publishing research using alternative methods.

The delivery of the commitment to strengthen the commitment of journal editors to publishing research using alternative methods sits with NC3Rs.    As set out in the strategy, this work will be initiated at the start of 2027. To support this, NC3Rs will launch their DRIVER (Designing and Reporting In Vitro Experiments Responsibly) recommendations that underpin improved experimental design and reporting of in vitro studies in 2026.The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.

Which preparedness plans have been scrutinised by the UK Resilience Academy since April 2025.

The UK Government is committed to enhancing the provision of independent advice and external challenge to UK preparedness plans. The Government has therefore committed to convene a number of independent panels to scrutinise UK whole-system risks. This was announced in the Resilience Action Plan and forms the Government’s response to the COVID-19 Module 1, Recommendation 10. The Cabinet Office has now developed an independent assurance programme, covering the most significant risks in the classified National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA). This draws on independent experts from across sectors outside government to ensure impartial, credible assurance, and offer recommendations on improvements that can be made. In December 2025, the Cabinet Office, working with the UK Resilience Academy, delivered a pilot to help us further refine and strengthen our independent assurance processes ahead of launching the full programme. Lessons learnt from this will inform planning for future whole-system risks, as set out in the internal NSRA.

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 has she made in collecting annual data on the number of clinical trial applications that include toxicity tests conducted in 2 species.

The delivery of the commitment to collect annual data on the number of clinical trial applications that include toxicity tests conducted in 2 species, sits with NC3Rs.MHRA holds this data and NC3Rs are working with them on the best way to access and share this information. The strategy commits to first publish by mid-2026.The Government will publish a delivery update, alongside key performance indicators on progress across all elements of the strategy, later in 2026.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Soft Power Council has submitted (a) reports and (b) formal advice to her Department since January 2025.

Available information about the Soft Power Council can be found on GOV.UK, including details of the dates of all its meetings to date and records that cover the issues discussed at each meeting. The Soft Power Council is attended on a voluntary basis by its members, and has no separate office or other fixed overheads.