Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 33145 on Armed Forces: Sexual Offences, if he will provide a breakdown of the Service personnel charged with sexual assault between 2014 and 2024 by (a) rank and (b) year of the offence.

To provide an answer at this point would breach the Pre-Release Order for the Official Statistic ‘Murder, Manslaughter and Sexual offences in the Service Justice System’. The latest edition covers 2023 and the next edition covering 2024 is scheduled for release in April 2025. The collection of statistics can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sexual-offences-in-the-service-justice-system#editions.I will write to the hon. Member in due course, and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 33145 on Armed Forces: Sexual Offences, how many of those incidents occurred (a) before and (b) after the implementation of the zero tolerance policy toward inappropriate sexual conduct.

To provide an answer at this point would breach the Pre-Release Order for the Official Statistic ‘Murder, Manslaughter and Sexual offences in the Service Justice System’. The latest edition covers 2023 and the next edition covering 2024 is scheduled for release in April 2025. The collection of statistics can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sexual-offences-in-the-service-justice-system#editions.I will write to the hon. Member in due course, and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

How many Boxer Armoured Vehicles have been delivered to the British Army.

The Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (BOXER) programme deliveries from industry are progressing in line with the current forecasted targets. To date, two BOXER platforms have been delivered to the British Army.

Which water company provides water infrastructure for RAF (a) Wyton, (b) Alconbury and (c) Molesworth.

Water infrastructure service provision is broken down into two elements: maintenance and water supply. (a) At RAF Wyton, Severn Trent Services both maintains water infrastructure and water supply. (b) At RAF Alconbury and (c) RAF Molesworth, VIVO maintain the water infrastructure and Anglian Water the water supply.

How many (a) SUSAT, (b) ACOG L85 and (c) Specter OS4X (LDS) sights his Department holds.

The number of weapons sights held by the Department changes frequently and the figures provided have been collated using single Service data. As at 5 March 2025, there were 107,671 Sight Unit Small Arms, Trilux (SUSAT) sights and 34,258 Elcan Specter OS4X Lightweight Day Sights (LDS) held across the Ministry of Defence. The L85 Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights (ACOG) were removed from combat service in 2015, 18 are currently held in stock.

What individual schemes for Afghan resettlement in the UK are available to be applied to under the Afghan Resettlement Programme.

The Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) is a cross-Government delivery programme which brings the existing resettlement schemes into one, single pipeline, to ensure optimal outcomes at each stage of the resettlement journey.Under the ARP, the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) is the only scheme that individuals can apply to. Eligible individuals on the ACRS will continue to be prioritised and referred through one of three pathways.Further information on the ARP can be found on Gov.uk here: Afghan Resettlement Programme

How Afghans who worked for British forces during Operation Herrick can apply for resettlement in the UK.

The Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme is designed specifically for those who worked for or with the UK Government in Afghanistan in exposed or meaningful roles, such as in support of wider UK national security objectives. While Afghans who worked for British Forces during Operation Herrick can apply, all applications across the scheme are assessed individually, against the eligibility criteria using a case-by-case approach which takes into account the evidence available. ARAP forms part of the cross-Government Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP).

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 33149 on Armed Forces: Protective Clothing, what the difference in cost is between the Peltor ComTac XP/XPI and the legacy General Service Peltor Ear Muff.

I am withholding the information on the relative costs of the Peltor ComTac XP/XPI and the General Service Peltor Ear Muff, as releasing this information could prejudice commercial interests. Due to the differing capabilities which the Peltor ComTac XP/XPI and the General Service Peltor Ear Muff are required to provide, these items are also not directly comparable.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 33149 on Armed Forces: Protective Clothing, how many pairs of Peltor ComTac XP/XPI ear defenders his Department has (a) issued and (b) in store.

This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Which nation has control of base operations at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia.

The Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia is a United States defence facility. The responsibilities and authorities for its operations as agreed with the United Kingdom are set out in the 1966 UK-US Exchange of Notes, including the 1976 amendment.

Which standard ear defenders are issued to the armed forces.

There is not a 'standard' ear defender that is issued throughout the British Armed Forces. Due to the varying nature of environments and tasks that require a form of ear protection, Service personnel will be issued with ear defenders that have been assessed as the most appropriate for the situation.

What the role is of the RAF Regiment.

The role of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Regiment is to provide highly specialised Air-minded, ground combat forces to enable the delivery of Air and Space power. As specialists in Air Force Protection, who are optimised for operations in the Complex Air Ground Environment, the RAF Regiment contributes to the defence of RAF air assets and their bases in the UK Homeland and overseas. Additionally, the RAF Regiment delivers offensive air and space capabilities, leads on the delivery of RAF State and ceremonial duties and is responsible for the provision of fixed-site counter-uncrewed air systems. The RAF Regiment also delivers all initial and continuation force protection training to the wider RAF. The RAF Regiment constitutes a Regular and an Auxiliary Reserve Force. The RAF Regiment has been involved in operations across the globe since its inception in 1942, where more recent examples include the Falklands, the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and broader Middle East. Most recently they have supported non-combatant evacuations from Sudan and the Middle East.

How many Nepalese service personnel currently serve in the British Army.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 March 2025 to Question 33147.

How much was spent on recruitment advertising by the (a) Royal Navy excluding the Royal Marines, (b) Army, (c) Royal Air Force and (d) Royal Marines in (i) 2022, (ii) 2023 and (iii) 2024.

We inherited a retention and recruitment crisis from the last administration, and we are determined to address it. Recruitment advertising is one part of our efforts to attract recruits to the UK Armed Forces. The following information has been provided by the single Services, noting that figures for Financial Year 2024-25 are partially forecasted spend and are subject to change. Financial YearRoyal Navy £millionArmy £millionRoyal Air Force £millionRoyal Marines £million2022-2314.80011.98112.7203.7632023-2414.5729.29713.4144.1882024-2514.32017.21615.7444.304

What discussions he has had with the Royal Air Force on the procurement of the Aermacchi M-345 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. The Aermacchi M-345 fast jet trainer is one of several market options available and no formal market engagement has been conducted. I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 3 December 2024 to Question 15292 and 13 January 2025 Question 22654.

Which service arm is responsible for combat search and rescue capability.

The Ministry of Defence does not routinely comment on combat search and rescue capabilities for reasons of operational security.

How much a pair of Peltor ear defenders costs to issue.

Information on the costs to issue individual hearing protection items is not held in the format requested. I am, further, unable to comment on the unit purchase cost of the Peltor Ear Muff and the Peltor ComTac XP/XPI, as releasing this information could prejudice commercial interests.

If he will remove the cost of UK citizenship for non-UK service personnel.

British citizenship is not a requirement for Service in the UK Armed Forces, and not all countries we recruit from permit their citizens to have dual nationality. There are no current plans therefore to remove the cost. We are, however, committed to removing visa fees for non-UK personnel who have served for four or more years and their families, whilst maintaining the option for non-UK personnel to choose to naturalise as a British citizen whilst still serving.

If he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to make indefinite leave to remain available to the dependents of non-UK service personnel at zero cost this Parliament.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25 July 2024 to Question 121 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr Cartlidge).

Whether he has taken steps to procure a killflash system for the Elcan Specter OS4 Lightweight Day Sight.

Whilst there are currently no plans to procure a kill flash system for the Elcan Specter OS4 Lightweight Day Sight (LDS), the British Army continues to analyse the reflective and retroreflective properties of the optics it employs across a range of operational environments. This ongoing assessment ensures that any potential vulnerabilities are understood, and where necessary, mitigations are considered as part of future procurement and capability development. The Elcan Specter OS4 Lightweight Day Sight, which is in service, includes a removable hood for the front objective as standard. This hood serves to reduce glare, mitigate sun reflection and provides limited protection against environmental conditions.