Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 981–1,000 of 2,240 · Ministry of Defence
With reference to the data tables accompanying the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024-25, published on 11 August 2025, what the status is of the New Medium Helicopter programme.
Officials continue to consider the New Medium Helicopter business case as part of the Government’s approval process, with a decision to be made shortly as part of the upcoming Defence Investment Plan.
How many affordable homes he plans to build on surplus military land in the next three years.
The recently announced Defence Housing Strategy sets out a vision for the future renewal of the Service family estate, and is backed by a 10-year programme of investment to deliver its recommendations in full, with savings from the Annington Deal put back into fixing Defence family homes and delivering for the nation. The number of affordable homes delivered on surplus land will depend upon a number of factors including macroeconomic conditions, the appetite of development partners and planning decisions.
With reference to the National Infrastructure & Service Transformation Authority Annual Report 2024/25, published on 11 August 2025, what are the significant remaining challenges faced in delivering the European Common Radar System Mk 2.
The significant remaining challenges faced in delivering the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk 2 centre principally around the international Eurofighter capability programme, known as Phase 4 Enhancements, which will deliver the significant changes to the aircraft's avionics system required to integrate the UK Radar. Work is in hand with NETMA and Eurofighter Partner Nations to ensure that the international programme scope includes all essential UK features, and that these are prioritised to deliver in time for the RAF to test and field the ECRS Mk2 radar by 2030. This is in line with the mandate confirmed by all four Partner Nations' Ministers in May 2025.
What steps he is taking to ensure the provision of (a) suitably qualified and (b) experienced engineers to meet the operational workforce requirements of the Lightning programme.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his previous Question 87989 on 18 November 2025:https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-11-04/87989I refer the hon. Member to page 15, paragraphs 15-17 of the Fifty First Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2024-26 on The UK’s F-35 stealth fighter capability, HC 1232, published on 31 October 2025. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has increased its recruitment of engineers significantly in the last two years; offering joining bonuses and increasing the capacity of its technical training skills to enable more recruits to be trained more quickly. To improve retention the RAF has implemented a Financial Retention Incentive for engineers. The MOD has acknowledged that the F35 programme suffers from a shortage of engineers and that it is crucial that the Department addresses this issue, with significant steps already having been taken to improve the situation. However, training time required for engineers means that it is expected to take three or four years before the programme has the required numbers. The MOD has noted the Public Accounts Committee’s recommendations related to personnel and will be responding through the Treasury Minute Process in due course. The recruitment and retention of personnel remains one of the top two priorities for the Chief of the Defence Staff.
By when is his target to reduce the average times to contract for (a) major projects of six years, (b) pace-setting modular upgrades to two years and one year respectively and (c) a target of three-month cycles for rapid commercial exploitation.
Reducing the time taken to deliver capability is a key driver of our acquisition reforms. Our new segmented approach to procurement, supported by accelerated commercial pathways, is designed to enable programmes to get to contract faster.No timescale for achieving the targets has been set; however, we are making progress towards the target date of 1 April 2026 for establishment of the segmented approach in line with the Strategic Defence Review. It will start with an initial phase of pilot projects aimed at realising opportunities early on.
What workshops the Defence Medical Services have participated in with the NHS to explore the United Kingdom’s ability to deal with various combat scenarios and the treatment of casualties.
The Defence Medical Services and NHS have participated in a series of exercises to explore the UK’s ability to deal with various combat scenarios and the treatment of casualties in February and July 2025. Further exercises are planned for the end of November 2025 and in 2026. The health services for Devolved Administrations, NATO partners and voluntary sector organisations are engaged in this work.
Pursuant to the Answer of 27 October to Question 83095 on Armed Forces: Training, what the five key recommendations for improvement for the University Officer Training Corps were.
The five recommendations made by Ofsted after its inspection in February 2024 were as follows: Provide staff with the training they need to further develop their teaching and assessment skills. Swiftly complete any necessary repairs to buildings and facilities. Reduce the time taken to complete medical checks and clearance after recruitment. Minimise the impact of budget reductions and unfilled posts on the care, welfare and training of Officer Cadets and staff workload. Coordinate and collate cross-UOTC quality improvement processes to secure sustainable improvements in care, welfare and training. The University Officer Training Corps aims to continually improve across all safeguarding and safe training aspects, and in doing so, has made significant progress against the recommendations.
Pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 79538 on NHS: Defence Medical Services, when was the process of digitally extracting redacted patient notes from general practice surgeries introduced.
The British Army introduced the use of the Intelligent General Practice Supporting (iGPR) software for the secure and efficient processing of sensitive medical reports in January 2025 following an initial pilot. The Royal Navy adopted Medi2data to digitally access candidate medical reports from 9 April 2025, noting the wider benefits of using this service. The Armed Forces Recruiting Service (AFRS) will provide a streamlined, single-entry point for prospective recruits. The service will launch in 2027, replacing the individual schemes run by the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. The Defence Medical Services is engaged in this work.
What progress he has made on establishing the Office for Small Business Growth.
Planning for the new Defence Office for Small Business Growth continues. The support that will be offered by the Office has been developed following wide ranging consultation with a variety of stakeholders, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), prime contractors, trade associations, mid-tier suppliers, Regional Defence and Security Clusters, and academia. The Office for Small Business Growth will be established by the end of January 2026 on a limited basis and develop its offering throughout 2026.
Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October to Question 83151 on Warrior Vehicles, what the disposal timeline is of each Warrior variant.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 June to Question 55779, which remains extant and applies to all variants of Warrior vehicles: As at 1 June 2025, there are 359 Warrior vehicles in service. As the Out of Service date for Warrior is 2027, with all vehicles withdrawn from service by the end of the decade, any that remain held by the Department beyond this will be classed as surplus to requirements. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-05-30/55779
What his Department's contribution is to Exercise PEGASUS.
Defence fully participated in Exercise PEGASUS, a tier one national exercise designed to simulate a realistic pandemic scenario. A Defence team was fully integrated with DHSC and UKHSA to plan and design Defence's contribution to the exercise.For each of the three full-play 'anchor' exercise days that ran between September and October 2025, a Departmental Operations Centre was stood up. This included a mix of civilian and military experts to simulate a fully informed response to a pandemic. Defence Ministers also participated in simulated Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR) meetings.Defence teams are now involved in the evaluation process, identifying any lessons learned from the exercise. Defence will take action on these lessons and will incorporate them into our existing pandemic management plan.
What assessment he has made of his Department’s capability during Exercise PEGASUS.
Defence fully participated in Exercise PEGASUS, a tier one national exercise designed to simulate a realistic pandemic scenario. A Defence team was fully integrated with DHSC and UKHSA to plan and design Defence's contribution to the exercise.For each of the three full-play 'anchor' exercise days that ran between September and October 2025, a Departmental Operations Centre was stood up. This included a mix of civilian and military experts to simulate a fully informed response to a pandemic. Defence Ministers also participated in simulated Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR) meetings.Defence teams are now involved in the evaluation process, identifying any lessons learned from the exercise. Defence will take action on these lessons and will incorporate them into our existing pandemic management plan.
Which Royal Air Force sub-unit has been deployed to Belgium in a counter-unmanned aerial systems role.
The RAF Regiment's No2 Counter Uncrewed Air Systems (CUAS) Wing has been deployed to Belgium.
What assessment he has made of the feasibility of including directed energy weapons in the specification for the Global Combat Air Programme.
The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), has considered a wide range of existing and future weapon capabilities to meet the evolving threat.
What the full scope is of Project Beehive.
Project BEEHIVE is a joint endeavour between the Royal Navy (RN) and UK Defence Innovation to deliver 20 uncrewed surface vessels to the Surface Flotilla and Commando Force. This initiative will not only deliver a vital Maritime Remote and Autonomous Systems (MRAAS) capability for Coastal Forces and Commando Force, but also serve as an accelerator and proving ground for the RN’s future Hybrid Navy. By enabling rapid adoption and operational testing of cutting-edge technologies, Project Beehive will drive innovation, de-risk future acquisition, and ensure the RN remains ready to meet evolving threats.
By when he expects Phase 2 of Project REPLICATOR 2 to be completed.
The final report for the current phase is due in May 2026.
Pursuant to the Answer of 20 October to Question 79450 on Guided Weapons, which project the £1billion investment to enhance our homeland air and missile defence falls under.
The £1 billion investment in Integrated Air and Missile Defence follows the Strategic Defence Review's recommendation and respond to the threat the UK faces in the Air domain. There is no project name for this investment. Work to deliver the Strategic Defence Review recommendations, including on homeland Integrated Air and Missile Defence, will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force and set out in the Defence Investment Plan to be published this year.
Pursuant to the Answer of 20 October to Question 79482 on Defence: Intelligence Services, whether the Defence Counterintelligence Unit was delivered by the November 2025 timeline outlined in the Strategic Defence Review.
The Defence Counterintelligence Unit (DCIU) was endorsed at the Military Strategic Headquarters Board earlier in November 2025, in line with the timeline outlined in the Strategic Defence Review. This unit will build on the work of existing capabilities in Defence with further work required to reach full operating capability. We expect to announce further progress on the intelligence recommendations from the Strategic Defence Review, including the DCIU, by the end of the year.
What progress he has made on delivering the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability programme.
An Outline Business Case covering the Construction Test and Evaluation phase for the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability programme (DARC) was submitted to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Investments Approval Committee this summer. It is now being considered alongside other investments as part of the Government's ongoing Defence Investment Plan (DIP). The MOD has already begun a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed redevelopment of Cawdor Barracks for the DARC site. This includes a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment to ensure that DARC has a minimal impact on the local skyline.The EIA is part of a Town Planning application that will be submitted to the local planning authority in due course.
Who the eight companies participating in Phase 2 of Project REPLICATOR 2 are.
From an initial 196 bidders, six suppliers have been down-selected for physical trials. The name of these companies cannot yet be disclosed publicly.