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 2,241–2,260 of 2,264 · Ministry of Defence
What proportion of the defence budget is accounted for by armed forces pensions.
Armed Forces Pensions represent around 9% of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) budget in financial year 2024-25. This does not include any of the Armed Forces Pensions Schemes' Annually Managed Expenditure, which sits outside the MOD's budget.
How many Afghans who worked directly for British forces were brought to the UK under (a) Operation Lazurite and (b) its predecessor schemes.
Operation LAZURITE supports the Afghan Resettlement Programme announced in December. It is not in itself a scheme, rather a delivery component that assists parts of the end-to-end process of Afghan relocation and resettlement into the UK. Over 30,000 eligible Afghans have been relocated to the UK under resettlement schemes. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of relocation figures by job role, including those who worked directly for British Forces, at this time.
When the US lease on the Diego Garcia military base expires.
There is no lease with respect to Diego Garcia. US presence and operations in the British Indian Ocean Territory are governed by a series of international agreements, beginning with a 1966 Exchange of Notes between the US and UK.
What proportion of GDP is the UK's defence spending excluding Trident.
The Defence Nuclear Enteprise, which delivers our nuclear deterrent, is a cornerstone of our national security. Excluding the Defence Nuclear Enterprise investment of £9.4 billion in financial year 2023-24, defence spending would have been 1.9% of GDP.
How many Hawk T1 aircraft are in service with the (a) RAF and (b) Fleet Air Arm.
There are 26 Hawk T1 aircraft in service. The Fleet Air Arm Hawk T1 went out of service on 31 March 2022.
What the finite fatigue index is of each remaining Hawk T1 aircraft.
The fatigue index value of each remaining Hawk T1 aircraft is contained in the table below. Across all airframes we have retained more than sufficient overall remaining available fatigue life to ensure all Red Arrow tasking until 2030 as planned. Hawk T1 Fatigue IndexTail NumberFatigue Index usedMaximum Fatigue IndexPercentage of Fatigue Index UsedXX177133.650154.0986.74%XX202167.816198.4684.56%XX219163.636191.6085.41%XX221168.659203.7682.78%XX232130.940154.4884.76%XX239123.861164.7875.17%XX242146.188154.4594.65%XX278151.623187.2280.99%XX295106.590155.3168.63%XX310133.658166.8080.13%XX319176.021193.4191.01%XX321154.067190.5080.88%XX322154.811185.6783.38%XX323171.772193.2788.88%Sustainment FleetXX159137.555194.2770.81%XX198161.614202.2379.91%XX217140.460195.1171.99%XX230140.803191.5073.53%XX255145.777189.4776.94%XX261148.660194.5776.40%XX281146.154201.2672.62%XX284115.669169.3268.31%XX301127.277184.5068.98%XX303156.256196.2379.63%XX345145.217202.6171.67%XX350141.363200.8870.37%
How many (a) dependents and (b) extended family members have been requested to join Afghans residing in Service Families Accommodation.
Under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), the Ministry of Defence does not categorise under the terms dependents and extended family members. The Ministry of Defence currently accommodates all those within the scope of the ARAP scheme in temporary and long-term accommodation on the Defence Estate. This takes place on a case-by-case basis in accordance with individual needs, as well as family size and available capacity. In the event family members are separated, we aim to reunite them, however the ability to do so depends on a variety of factors such as family size and specific needs. The Secretary of State for Defence recently made an announcement regarding the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP). The ARP is a cross-Government delivery programme that will improve efficiency, value for money and outcomes across Afghan Resettlement. Alongside British personnel, many Afghans also worked with commitment and courage to support the UK mission in Afghanistan. This Government has always supported the aims of the Afghan resettlement schemes and we will deliver its commitments to those in Afghanistan who are eligible to relocate and resettle in the UK.
If he will make it his policy to provide additional support through the continuity of education allowance to help service families receiving the allowance with the cost of VAT on independent school fees.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 November 2024 to Question 11946 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge).
What steps he plans to take to monitor the potential impact of the introduction of VAT on independent school fees on service families in receipt of the continuity of education allowance.
The single Services will monitor the impact on retention in Service for those claiming Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) following the introduction of VAT on independent school fees. The Pay and Allowances Casework and Complaints Cell will monitor the impact on Service personnel changing Schools and withdrawing from CEA.
How many CH-47 Chinook helicopters have been deployed in Operations overseas in 2024.
I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand that we do not routinely disclose details relating to the deployment of the Chinook helicopter in the interests of security and operational effectiveness.
Pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 15669 on Ajax Vehicles, what the planned future operational establishment is for an infantry battalion structured around the Boxer platform.
On current plans, BOXER will be delivered to four Heavy Mechanised Infantry Battalions and Divisional Enablers. We do not routinely disclose specific details in relation to operational establishments, noting these are in any case subject to the outcomes of the Strategic Defence Review concluding in early 2025.
How many civil servants from his Department are assigned to work directly for the Office for Veterans' Affairs.
As of 28 November 2024, 49 civil servants work in the Office for Veterans’ Affairs.
What steps he is taking to equip infantry battalions with the Ares armoured personnel carrier.
The Army is currently undergoing a combined programme of work to ensure our Land Forces will have the lethality, protection and mobility to fight and win against any adversary. Whilst the Army’s modernisation will continue over the next decade with a programme of investment worth billions of pounds, future capability development priorities will be guided by the Strategic Defence Review. The ARES platform is a variant of the Armoured Cavalry Programme (Ajax) and remains on track to deliver Initial Operating Capability by December 2025. With regards to the current steps being taken to equip infantry battalions, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 November 2024 to Question 14825, which explains that planned future operational establishment will see Infantry Battalions equipped and structured around the Boxer platform.
What progress his Department has made on the procurement for the Royal Air Force's future fast-jet trainer for the Global Combat Air Programme.
The Royal Air Force is undertaking a capability investigation into the replacement of the current advanced jet trainer capability and combat aircrew training requirements for Typhoon, F-35 Lightning and the future Global Combat Air Programme, which is informing the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The nature of UK combat aircraft operation continues to transform, and future training requirements reflect this. Therefore, the capability investigation includes consideration of a training system that would combine live flying training, including with our air weapons range infrastructure, and networked virtual training through realistic simulation. This will ensure that we can continue to deliver a world class training capability. However, no decisions will be taken until after the SDR is completed.
What the new operational establishment is for a heavy mechanised infantry battalion.
The Army is currently undergoing a combined programme of work to ensure our Land Forces will have the lethality, protection and mobility to fight and win against any adversary. The outcome of the Strategic Defence Review in early 2025 will also guide future capability development priorities. Planned future operational establishment will see the British Army have four Heavy Mechanised Infantry Battalions across two Armoured Brigades. These Battalions will be equipped and structured around the Boxer platform, with the first Battalion due to reach Initial Operating Capability in 2025.
How much has been allocated from his Department's budget to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for (a) 2023/24, (b) 2024/25 and (c) 2025/26.
In Financial Year (FY) 2023-24, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) received a total of £53,670,871 from the Ministry of Defence (MOD). In FY 2024-25, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is expected to receive a total of £56,545,358 from the MOD. The MOD’s Defence Business Services pay an additional sum to the CWGC for the upkeep of non-World War One and World War Two Graves. The amounts paid are:FY2023-24 - £2.45 millionFY2024-25 - £2.80 million Additionally, FY2023-24 saw a one-off payment of £0.5 million to the CWGC for the maintenance of the British Normandy Memorial (covering the period April 2024 to March 2027). The amounts to be paid to CWGC in FY2025-26 will be confirmed once the future Defence budget is known.
What the cost to his Department was of the Continuity of Education Allowance in the latest period for which data is available; and what recent estimate his Department has made of the impact of making independent school fees subject to VAT on the cost to his Department of the Continuity of Education Allowance in the next financial year.
For Academic Year 2023-24, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) paid £88.6 million for Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) to support the education of 4,005 children for 2,666 Service personnel. Following the Budget statement by the Chancellor on 30 October, the MOD confirmed that it would carry out an in-year re-rating of CEA. The increased cost of the allowance to MOD is unknown until the exercise completes in early December.
How he determined the level of funding to be provided to the Reducing Veterans Homelessness Programme in 2026.
The £3.5 million announced by the Prime Minister will fund an additional round of the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme and Op FORTITUDE, ensuring that support will be there into 2026 for veterans at risk of homelessness.The funding has been allocated in line with previous successful programme levels.
What the replacement will be for Hawk T1 aircraft in the Royal Air Force.
The planned out-of-service date for Hawk T1 aircraft remains 2030, and a decision on a replacement aircraft will not be taken until after the Strategic Defence Review is completed.
What progress the Royal Air Force has made on creating a first Net Zero airbase by 2025.
The Chief of the Air Staff remains committed to the pledge that all RAF estate will operate beyond estate-powering fossil fuels by 2050.