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 1,781–1,800 of 2,250 · Ministry of Defence
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of renewing the Air Tanker refuelling contract, in the context of the agreement to buy 12 F-35A jets.
Future national air-to-air refuelling options will be considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan, and in subsequent force development work.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2025 to Question 63964 on India: F-35 Aircraft, how many personnel have been required to recover the F-35B from India; and what the cost to the public purse was for removing the wings and flying the plane back to the UK as cargo.
An engineering team of less than ten personnel has deployed from the UK with a spares package. We are developing options for recovering the aircraft with Air-to-Air refuelling support once the repairs are complete. All flights will be taken from the annual budgeted flying hours for the respective fleets and therefore come at no additional cost.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2025 to Question 62858 on HMS Protector: Atlantic Ocean, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the modernisation of the Russian submarine fleet on national security.
As stated in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), there is a persistent and growing underwater threat to the UK and NATO from a modernising Russian submarine force. We cannot disclose further details for operational security reasons. The SDR endorsed Atlantic Bastion, which is the Royal Navy's plan to secure the North Atlantic for the UK and NATO against this threat. All capability requirements to deliver the SDR vision are being considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan, to be published in autumn 2025.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of a replacement to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.
Since ARAP launched in 2021, the Government has relocated over 34,000 individuals under the Afghan Resettlement Programme. As over 95% of all ARAP applications considered so far have been found ineligible, ARAP is considered to have fulfilled its original objectives. The Government closed the ARAP and ACRS schemes to new applicants on 1 July 2025. There are currently no plans to develop a replacement for ARAP.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of a high altitude nuclear explosion on the UK.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continually works across government to understand, deter, and where possible mitigate, the impact of a nuclear attack on the UK. As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the Cabinet Office led Home Defence Programme will consider the impact of a range of threats to the UK and how they could be mitigated.The MOD routinely tests the nuclear survivability, including Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse survivability, of its critical capabilities to understand the ability of our armed forces to operate in a nuclear environment. Due to operational security, we can not provide details on the outcomes of these tests.
What recent progress his Department has made on the pursuit of a (a) deployable and (b) persistent wide area anti-submarine warfare search capability.
Atlantic Bastion is the Royal Navy’s plan to secure the North Atlantic for the UK and NATO, as set out by the Strategic Defence Review. Navy Command is now focussed on delivering it. The first phase is now underway with industry engagement and associated commercial activity ongoing. This will see the Royal Navy integrate with commercial partners to provide elements of Anti-Submarine Warfare data collection through a service model that increases operational mass and persistence in targeted areas of the North Atlantic.
How many people have applied for the Armed Forces Independence Payment in (a) 2022, (b) 2023, (c) 2024 and (d) to date in 2025.
The Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) is a benefit payment for Service personnel and veterans who have been awarded an Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) Band A - C. An individual may claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and AFIP concurrently, however an individual is not entitled to both allowances as they are classed as 'overlapping benefits'. Claimants could however claim and receive PIP in advance of any AFIP application or whilst they wait for the outcome of an AFCS decision. Any AFIP payment due will take account of any PIP already paid for the same period with any only any applicable balance paid.Whilst AFIP is administered by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the benefit is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Officials work closely to ensure that DWP benefits correctly interface with the compensation provided by the MOD. Information on the number of individuals who have applied for AFIP is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Statistics on the AFCS are published annually by the MOD on gov.uk, and information relating to AFIP can be found at page 19 at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6694ff57ab418ab05559251a/Armed_Forces_Compensation_Scheme_statistics_6_April_2005_to_31_March_2024.pdf There is no assessment criteria for AFIP; the eligibility criteria is to be in receipt of an AFCS Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) band A-C.
How many applicants to the Armed Forces Independence Payment received the Personal Independence Payment whilst waiting for their application to be processed in (a) 2022, (b) 2023, (c) 2024 and (d) 2025.
The Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) is a benefit payment for Service personnel and veterans who have been awarded an Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) Band A - C. An individual may claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and AFIP concurrently, however an individual is not entitled to both allowances as they are classed as 'overlapping benefits'. Claimants could however claim and receive PIP in advance of any AFIP application or whilst they wait for the outcome of an AFCS decision. Any AFIP payment due will take account of any PIP already paid for the same period with any only any applicable balance paid.Whilst AFIP is administered by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the benefit is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Officials work closely to ensure that DWP benefits correctly interface with the compensation provided by the MOD. Information on the number of individuals who have applied for AFIP is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Statistics on the AFCS are published annually by the MOD on gov.uk, and information relating to AFIP can be found at page 19 at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6694ff57ab418ab05559251a/Armed_Forces_Compensation_Scheme_statistics_6_April_2005_to_31_March_2024.pdf There is no assessment criteria for AFIP; the eligibility criteria is to be in receipt of an AFCS Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) band A-C.
What the assessment criteria is for applications for the Armed Forces Independence Payment.
The Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) is a benefit payment for Service personnel and veterans who have been awarded an Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) Band A - C. An individual may claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and AFIP concurrently, however an individual is not entitled to both allowances as they are classed as 'overlapping benefits'. Claimants could however claim and receive PIP in advance of any AFIP application or whilst they wait for the outcome of an AFCS decision. Any AFIP payment due will take account of any PIP already paid for the same period with any only any applicable balance paid.Whilst AFIP is administered by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the benefit is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Officials work closely to ensure that DWP benefits correctly interface with the compensation provided by the MOD. Information on the number of individuals who have applied for AFIP is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Statistics on the AFCS are published annually by the MOD on gov.uk, and information relating to AFIP can be found at page 19 at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6694ff57ab418ab05559251a/Armed_Forces_Compensation_Scheme_statistics_6_April_2005_to_31_March_2024.pdf There is no assessment criteria for AFIP; the eligibility criteria is to be in receipt of an AFCS Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) band A-C.
What steps he is taking to recover the Royal Air Force F-35B stranded at Thiruvananthapuram civilian airport.
We are working to repair the UK F-35B at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport as quickly as possible. Additional support is being provided by an engineering team deploying from the UK. The aircraft will be recovered once it is serviceable.We thank the Indian Authorities for their continued support. The safe landing, logistics and continuing organisational support provided by India in responding to this situation further demonstrates the close coordination and deepening relationship that exists between the Armed Forces of the UK and India.
How many of the proposed F-35A fleet will be designated as Operational Conversion Units.
The number of F-35A aircraft allocated to the F-35 Operational Conversion Unit within 207 Squadron will vary and remain subject to ongoing operational planning.
What steps has he taken to ensure RAF Wyton force protection elements are equipped with an effective C-UAS capability.
Base security at RAF Wyton consists of professionally trained personnel from the Military Provost Guard Service, Ministry of Defence Guards and RAF Police, responsible for maintaining physical security across the site, and the Station works to reduce security risk to as low as reasonably possible. Service personnel are also held at readiness should the threat level be heightened, or a major incident declared. In addition to the sites well-guarded posture, it is encircled by a metal, razor wire topped, fence line which is patrolled. We also work closely with the local Cambridgeshire Constabulary and their Counter Terrorism Policing network. As the local MP, I know the team at RAF Wyton would welcome further visits from the hon. Gentleman.
Pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61042 on Armed Forces: Firearms, when analysis into optimum levels of lethality in small teams will be (a) completed and (b) published.
Whilst I can confirm that a study into this area is being undertaken, I cannot provide any further details due to reasons of operational security and commercial sensitivity. As such, there are no current plans to publish the study upon completion.
How many service personnel were discharged after failing a Compulsory Drugs Test in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025 for which the latest data is available.
The requested information is provided in the table below. Please note that these figures are provided for internal use and not assured to the same level as official Defence Statistics. YearRoyal NavyArmyRoyal Air Force202313559565202414243755202528*212**17*** *Latest figures for Royal Navy up to June 2025.**Latest figures for the British Army up to June 2025. Note that Army figures include those that tested in the previous year but were discharged in the following year.***Royal Air Force figures are up to and including 26 June 2025.
What assessment he has made of the date by which (a) doctrine and (b) training will need to have changed by in order to reflect the option of an air-launched tactical nuclear weapon.
Joining the NATO nuclear mission does not change the UK's Nuclear doctrine. Both the UK and NATO view the fundamental purposes of nuclear weapons to preserve peace, deter aggression, and prevent coercion.UK training plans will also be informed by our NATO Allies already contributing to the mission. Further work is underway.
With reference to the policy paper entitled UK-France Joint Leaders' Declaration, published on 23 March 2023, what steps he has taken to demonstrate the sequencing of a more persistent European carrier strike group presence in the Indo-Pacific.
The UK and France, along with Italy, have jointly sequenced aircraft carrier deployments, including coordinating the deployment of HMS Prince of Wales with France's Charles de Gaulle and Italy's Cavour, to strengthen European naval presence in the Indo-Pacific. This cooperation, part of broader initiatives like the European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative, enhances regional security and strategic alignment.
What current air-to-air refuelling capability within the Royal Air Force will be used to refuel the new F-35A aircraft.
We have longstanding reciprocal arrangements to use allies Air-to-Air refuelling support when required, just as our Voyagers also support refuelling of other allies' jets. Future national air-to-air refuelling options will be considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan, and in subsequent force development work.
What the additional cost is to the purchase of the 12 F-35A aircraft of specifying their air-to-air refuelling capability as probe-and-drogue.
The procurement of 12 F-35A rather than 12 F-35B as part of the next procurement package is expected to deliver a saving of up to 25% per aircraft for the taxpayer.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the procurement by the United States Air Force of the E2D Hawkeye aircraft on the intelligence-gathering capability of the (a) US and (b) NATO.
Procurement decisions by any other NATO nation are fully a matter for that nation. NATO standardisation ensures interoperability of other nations equipment with our own sovereign military capabilities.
What assessment he has made of the level of damage inflicted on the Iranian nuclear programme following the US strikes on (a) Fordow, (b) Natanz and (c) Isfahan.
It is long standing policy of this and the previous Government that we do not comment on intelligence matters.