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 2,101–2,120 of 2,264 · Ministry of Defence
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the service life of the Hawk T1 beyond its 2030 out-of-service date.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to question 16460 to the hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mark Francois) on 5 December 2024.
What discussions he has had with arms manufacturers on the replacement of the SA80A3 as the Army’s standard personal weapon.
The British Army’s projected Out of Service Date for the L85A3 (SA80A3) variant of the L85 rifle family is currently 2030. The replacement for the L85 rifle will be procured under Project GRAYBURN, which is currently in the concept phase with the aim of identifying and understanding the capability requirements. As part of this phase, various rifle calibres are being considered. Performance, interoperability and complexity are some of the factors under consideration. The Army will take measures to mitigate any risk of potential capability vulnerabilities. Recent Project GRAYBURN progress includes discussions with manufacturers and industry experts to analyse the influence of the Land Industrial Strategy and UK manufacturing on the project. Due to the current phase of the project, we are unable to provide a formal cost estimation yet. This will be established once the scope, timeline and complexity of the project is confirmed but may be subject to commercial sensitivities.
How many (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Air Force pilots train at the International Flight Training School at Decimomannu air base in Sardinia each year.
UK pilot training at the International Flight Training School at Decimomannu air base in Sardinia commenced in July 2023. To date, no Royal Navy pilots have been trained at Decimomannu air base. Six Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots completed their training at the air base in 2024-25. A further two RAF pilots are forecast to complete their training during 2025-26 and 3 in 2026-27.
Which nations are members of the artillery capability coalition alongside the UK.
The artillery capability coalition is co-led by France, the United States and Ukraine, with the UK leading the weapon system sub-group. Over 20 nations are members of this coalition; the full list of membership is owned by the coalitions’ co-lead nations. The artillery capability coalition delivers immediate support to Ukraine and also has a long-term plan to support Ukraine’s ambitions for a NATO-interoperable future force. Since the beginning of the conflict, the UK has delivered over 500,000 rounds of artillery ammunition worth over £1.5 billion to Ukraine.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 42680 on RAF Molesworth: US Air Force, what the cost to the public purse was of all U.S. Air Forces in Europe operations in the UK in the latest period for which information is available.
Further to the answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 42680, the UK is not currently tracking additional costs to the public purse of any US Air Forces in Europe operations in the UK.
What discussions he has had with (a) his US counterparts and (b) other NATO counterparts on Ukraine's ambitions for a NATO interoperable future force.
The Defence Secretary regularly speaks with his US and NATO counterparts on plans for Ukraine’s future armed forces, as well as our ongoing support in response to Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion.
How many people are working on Task Force Hirst; who the taskforce consists of; and from which Government departments.
As part of the UK’s overall support to Ukraine, Task Force HIRST is a cross-Government team working on accelerating, developing and deepening UK defence industrial capacity and capability and UK/Ukrainian defence industrial cooperation. Led by a 2* Major General, alongside her other duties, the team is structured on a matrix model to draw on skills and experience as required from across Government. Subject Matter Experts are drawn in from the Ministry of Defence and other Departments as required.
What he plans to do with each Warrior infantry fighting vehicle when they retire from service.
Following the extension of the Out of Service Date (OSD) of the Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle from 2025 to 2027, it remains the Department’s intent that the Warrior family will be withdrawn from service by the end of the decade with salvage activity already occurring in line with planned fleet reductions. Plans for Warrior beyond its OSD are yet to be formally agreed.
What steps he has taken to replenish stocks of artillery ammunition following donation to Ukraine.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 April 2025 to Question 42022.
At what price he plans to sell (a) HMS Albion and (b) HMS Bulwark to the Brazilian Government.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 32948 on 3 March 2025 to the right hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mark Francois).
What the Ofsted ratings are of each establishment providing care and welfare of armed forces initial training.
The Ofsted ratings for each of the Armed Forces Apprenticeship programmes are as follows: Royal Navy – OUTSTANDING, inspected 8 March 2018 (next inspection is due before the end of July 2025)British Army – GOOD, inspected 25 October 2023Royal Air Force – GOOD, inspected 9 July 2024 The Ofsted ratings for each of the Armed Forces Initial Training establishments in the 2023-24 Academic Year are as follows: HMS Raleigh, Cornwall – GOODRAF Shawbury, Shropshire – GOODAerial Erector School, RAF Digby, Lincolnshire – OUTSTANDINGCommando Training Centre Royal Marines, Devon – GOODDefence Medical Academy, Staffordshire – REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT11 Royal School of Signals Regiment, Dorset – GOODHMNB Clyde, Argyll, Scotland – GOODUniversity Officer Training Corps, nationwide – GOODDefence School of Policing and Guarding, Hampshire – GOODArmy Foundation College (Harrogate), North Yorkshire – OUTSTANDINGDefence Animal Training Centre, Leicestershire – OUTSTANDINGBritannia Royal Naval College, Devon – GOOD All reports are publicly available via Ofsted on the gov.uk website: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/
What the Ofsted ratings are of each armed forces apprenticeship programme.
The Ofsted ratings for each of the Armed Forces Apprenticeship programmes are as follows: Royal Navy – OUTSTANDING, inspected 8 March 2018 (next inspection is due before the end of July 2025)British Army – GOOD, inspected 25 October 2023Royal Air Force – GOOD, inspected 9 July 2024 The Ofsted ratings for each of the Armed Forces Initial Training establishments in the 2023-24 Academic Year are as follows: HMS Raleigh, Cornwall – GOODRAF Shawbury, Shropshire – GOODAerial Erector School, RAF Digby, Lincolnshire – OUTSTANDINGCommando Training Centre Royal Marines, Devon – GOODDefence Medical Academy, Staffordshire – REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT11 Royal School of Signals Regiment, Dorset – GOODHMNB Clyde, Argyll, Scotland – GOODUniversity Officer Training Corps, nationwide – GOODDefence School of Policing and Guarding, Hampshire – GOODArmy Foundation College (Harrogate), North Yorkshire – OUTSTANDINGDefence Animal Training Centre, Leicestershire – OUTSTANDINGBritannia Royal Naval College, Devon – GOOD All reports are publicly available via Ofsted on the gov.uk website: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/
Pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 42031 on Ukraine: Peacekeeping Operations, what definition his Department uses of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
A just and lasting peace in Ukraine should be in accordance with the UN Charter. This must uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, including by preventing renewed Russian aggression. As the Prime Minister said in Paris on 27 March 2025, “robust and credible security arrangements are the best way to ensure that any deal ends in a lasting peace", and "Ukraine must be able to defend itself and deter future Russian aggression". The UK is taking a leading role in supporting efforts to achieve such a peace and to build a coalition of the willing to support Ukraine’s future security.
Pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40748 on Armed Forces: Protective Clothing, how many of the (a) Surefire EP4, (b) ComTac XP/XPI and (c) Invisio S10/X5 have been issued to armed forces personnel under the Tactical Hearing Protection System programme.
This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
When does the Tactical Hearing Protection System programme contract expire for (a) basic users and (b) specialist users.
The Tactical Hearing Protection System Basic User and Specialist User equipment sets were purchased via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. The current Basic User contract option expires in November 2026. The Specialist User 3M ComTac XPI is no longer manufactured.
Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 4159 on Military Aircraft: Procurement, what assessment he has made of the options available for a replacement fast jet trainer.
The Royal Air Force continuously researches and assesses options for the sustainment, enhancement and development of hardware and systems to maintain competitive advantage within the flying training system.
What the rules of engagement are for the armed forces under Operation CABRIT.
I hope that the hon. Gentleman will understand that for operational security reasons I cannot comment on the specific rules of engagement for the Armed Forces under Operation CABRIT.
How many claims for hearing loss have there been in the (a) British Army and Army Reserve, (b) Royal Air Force and Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, (c) Royal Navy and Royal Navy Reserve, excluding the Royal Marines and (d) Royal Marines and Royal Marine Reserve for injuries sustained since the implementation of the Tactical Hearing Protection System programme.
The implementation of the Tactical Hearing Protection System programme took place between April 2015 and September 2016. The number of Noise-induced hearing loss claims brought by current and former Service personnel is reported in the Ministry of Defence common law compensation claim statistics. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mod-compensation-claims-statistics The breakdown of Service is not readily available. This does not include claims made via the Armed Forces Compensation and War pension schemes as providing breakdowns would require information from three different data systems to be combined and individual files to be manually reviewed which would incur disproportionate cost. It is not possible to identify if claims relate to the Tactical Hearing Protection System.
How many claims for hearing loss have there been in the (a) British Army and Army Reserve, (b) Royal Air Force and Air Force Volunteer Reserve (c) Royal Navy and Royal Navy Reserve, excluding the Royal Marines and (d) Royal Marines and Royal Marine Reserve for injuries sustained between March 2003 and the implementation of the Tactical Hearing Protection System program.
The implementation of the Tactical Hearing Protection System programme took place between April 2015 and Sep 2016. Between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2015 there were approximately 16,000 common law compensation claims for Noise-induced hearing loss from Defence personnel. As this is based on historic data on legacy systems it is not possible to be more specific or break down the figure between Service and Civilian personnel. This does not include claims made via the Armed Forces Compensation and War Pension schemes as providing breakdowns would require information from three different data systems to be combined and individual files to be manually reviewed which would incur disproportionate cost.
What the (a) average, (b) maximum and (c) total cost of claims was for hearing loss in the (i) Army, (ii) Royal Navy, (iii) Royal Marines and (iv) Royal Air Force between March 2003 and the implementation of the Tactical Hearing Protection System in 2015.
Between March 2003 and 1 April 2015 which was the start of the implementation of the Tactical Hearing Protection System programme the total cost of common law claims for noise-induced hearing loss claims was £110 million. This includes damages and claimant legal costs for claims from both Service and Civilian personnel. Further breakdown including by Service is not readily available. Most claims take a long time to settle and payments occur over a number of years. Calculation of an average payout over this period would incur disproportionate cost. This does not include claims made via the Armed Forces Compensation and War Pension schemes as providing breakdowns would require information from three different data systems to be combined and individual files to be manually reviewed which would incur disproportionate cost.