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 2,061–2,080 of 4,549 · this parliament
What assessment has he made of the potential impact of the removal of tariffs on US bio-ethanol imports on the UK bio-ethanol market.
The UK bioethanol industry has faced challenges for some time prior to the removal of tariffs for US imports. Both Ministers and senior officials have worked with the sector closely over the course of this year to understand these long-standing issues and the impacts of any regulatory changes.
With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on enabling FinTechs to list on the stock market.
The Government has delivered an ambitious programme of reforms to make it easier for all firms, including fintechs, to list and raise capital on UK markets. This includes overhauling the Prospectus regime and Listing Rules, providing more flexibility to firms and founders raising capital on UK markets. At Mansion House 2025, the Government published its Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, setting out our ten-year plan for the UK to be the world’s centre of choice for financial services investment now and in 2035, with capital markets and fintech as core pillars of the strategy.
With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on reducing regulation for FinTech firms.
The Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, part of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, delivers on the Government’s mission to shape a regulatory environment for financial services that is proportionate, predictable and internationally competitive, embracing innovation and leveraging the UK’s Fintech leadership. For example, the Strategy committed to make it quicker and easier for new firms to achieve regulatory authorisation, allowing them to conduct limited regulated activities with streamlined conditions, as well as the launch of the FCA and PRA’s Scale-Up Unit to enhance engagement with fast-growing, innovative regulated firms.
With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on making the UK the world’s most innovative full-service financial centre.
The Government published the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy on 15 July, which sets out the Government’s ten-year plan to make the UK the global location of choice for financial services firms to invest, grow and sell their services throughout the UK and to the world. As part of this, the Government announced the most wide-ranging package of reforms to financial services regulation in over a decade. Following publication, HM Treasury has been working with partners to deliver the reforms at pace. The Department for Business and Trade has published its first quarterly update on delivery of the Industrial Strategy. In relation to financial services, it confirms that the Office for Investment: Financial Services announced in the Strategy has now been launched to guide and support international investors looking to establish or grow a presence in the UK’s financial services sector. In September, the Chancellor and US Secretary to the Treasury established the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future, to drive innovation and growth in global markets including capital markets digital assets and other innovative financial activities. Working with industry and the regulators, the government will continue to prioritise delivery of the wide-ranging reform programme set out in the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy.
With reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent steps he has taken to prioritise NATO in defence planning.
In line with the Strategic Defence Review, the UK has put NATO at the heart of our force development. This is evidenced by UK operational and force design for our Euro-Atlantic security being driven by NATO's plans and capability targets, as set through NATO's Defence Planning Process.
With reference to page 106 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, when the multi-role ocean survey ship will be deployed to counter threats to critical undersea infrastructure.
The Royal Navy is acting under the direction provided in the Strategic Defence Review 2025 to lead and co-ordinate work to protect critical undersea infrastructure. This includes new investment capability options for platforms and sensor suites to counter threats. Options for new investment to support critical undersea infrastructure protection are in the Royal Navy’s submission into the Defence Investment Plan, which will report in due course.
With reference to page 120 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what proportion of the National Cyber Force’s capability is dedicated to (a) defence and (b) other national security priorities.
We do not routinely comment on operational matters or the operational prioritisation of the National Cyber Force due to reasons of national security.
With reference to page 34 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent progress he has made on strengthening the interoperability of carrier strike groups with Italy.
Italy is an important partner of the United Kingdom, demonstrated in the context of Carrier Strike, through our memberships of NATO, the F-35 Lightning II programme, and the European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative (ECGII). Interoperability has been strengthened during the ongoing deployment of the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) on Operation HIGHMAST, during which HMS PRINCE OF WALES worked alongside the Italian Navy’s ITS CAVOUR CSG in the Mediterranean Sea in May 2025. Combined training activity emphasised UK-Italian CSG interoperability and integration across all domains, including UK and Italian F-35B jets flying sorties by day and night, and the opportunity for Italian Navy F-35Bs to land on, and launch from, HMS PRINCE OF WALES. Further combined training opportunities to strengthen UK-Italian CSG interoperability are planned during the UK CSG’s return passage later this year.
With reference to page 89 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what additional resource the Royal Navy will be granted to take a new (a) leading and (b) coordinating role in securing undersea infrastructure.
The Royal Navy is acting under the direction provided in the Strategic Defence Review 2025 to lead and co-ordinate work to protect critical undersea infrastructure. This includes new investment capability options for platforms and sensor suites to counter threats. Options for new investment to support critical undersea infrastructure protection are in the Royal Navy’s submission into the Defence Investment Plan, which will report in due course.
With reference to page 78 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on developing a single Integrated Global Defence Network.
The Integrated Global Defence Network (IGDN) has completed the first phase of its development by merging the Directorate of Overseas Bases and the Global Defence Network of Defence Attachés and Advisors into the IGDN HQ, dually lead by a 2 star military director and an SCS2 civilian director, with 3 star military oversight. The network will now continue through to the second phase of its development through a series of projects, including the SDR-directed Network Review of Defence’s global footprint, which will include engagement with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.
With reference to page 90 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on devising a strategy for the protection of critical national infrastructure by the (a) MOD Guard Service and (b) UK intelligence community.
The protection of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) is an important pillar of work in the Home Defence Programme. This work is led by the Cabinet Office and aims to develop a cross-Government plan to strengthen the nation’s security, preparedness, and resilience in order to deter threats to and defend the UK homeland. Defence continues to play a significant contributory role with partners and the private sector to protect CNI from a full spectrum of threats. The UK already has an existing strategy for protecting CNI which includes a partnership between intelligence agencies, and components of the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC), such as the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The Ministry of Defence (MOD) Guard Service (MGS) provides unarmed security services for MOD sites. The MGS are just one of the MOD policing and guarding organisations that could contribute to the protection of CNI under the cross-Government plan.
With reference to page 90 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on establishing a programme of exercises to test plans for response to an armed attack on (a) the UK and (b) NATO allies.
The Government regularly performs exercises on its ability to respond to an armed attack on the United Kingdom and our NATO Allies. The Ministry of Defence works closely with the Cabinet Office and the Home Office to test and strengthen national resilience and home defence arrangements. These exercises enhance coordination between the Armed Forces, civil authorities and emergency services, ensuring the UK remains prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to any armed threat. In addition, NATO has an extensive set of plans outlining how to respond to an armed attack on any Ally, including the UK. These exercises enhance Allied interoperability, validate defence and deterrence strategies, and reinforce the credibility of NATO's collective defence posture. The largest of these exercises is the STEADFAST series, NATO's most extensive and comprehensive exercise programme. Last year, Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024, the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War, involved around 20,000 UK personnel.
Under what agreement the UK operates the Naval Support Facility in Bahrain.
The Naval Support Facility in Bahrain operates under an arrangement reached with the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2014.
With reference to page 109 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on establishing an enhanced Standing Joint Command.
Since the publication of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), the Standing Joint Command (SJC) has undertaken a series of workstreams to begin delivery against SDR intent. This includes the publication of a new operational framework, the delivery of a series of table-top exercise with Government partners and a review of future workforce requirements. The work to establish an enhanced SJC remains ongoing but has already made tangible progress.
With reference to page 110 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on ensuring the Army’s contribution has kept pace with innovation in electromagnetic warfare.
For reasons of safeguarding operational security, I am unable to provide details relating to electromagnetic warfare.
With reference to page 120 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what change is required within the CyberEM domain to achieve a tech-enabled Integrated Force.
The aim to achieve a tech-enabled Integrated Force was a central tenet of the SDR and will require change across all domains. The Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ) will drive the change, with the National Armaments Director Group (NADG) responsible for delivering a strong and secure digital backbone. Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) will continue to be the 4 star Command responsible for the protection of Defence networks, platforms and infrastructure, in partnership with the Single Services, industry and partners across government. The newly established 2 star Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force, as part of CSOC, will ensure the authorities are in place to respond rapidly to both threats and opportunities in the CyberEM domain.
With reference to page 120 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on establishing a new CyberEM Command.
The design and implementation planning process is well underway. The 4 star Cyber ans Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) was officially launched on 1 September 2025. The 2 star Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force, previously referred to as the CyberEM Command, which operates within CSOC, is set to be established by the end of the year.
With reference to page 120 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, how enterprise-wide operational defence priorities for activities in the cyber domain will be deconflicted with the National Cyber Force’s priorities.
We do not routinely comment on operational matters or the operational prioritisation of the National Cyber Force (NCF) due to reasons of national security.
With reference to page 122 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on empowering each of the services to develop their own electromagnetic warfare capabilities.
The capacity to operate within the electromagnetic spectrum is a critical component of contemporary warfare, as evidenced by ongoing events in Ukraine. By the end of the year, the newly established 2 star Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force will assume responsibility for developing and coordinating Electromagnetic Operations strategy and force development, including setting standards and architectures. Meanwhile, each Single Service will continue to advance their own tactical capabilities to ensure preparedness against emerging threats and effective operation within their respective domain.
With reference to page 118 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made on re-establishing a Cabinet sub‑Committee or equivalent ministerial group to set the UK’s strategic approach to space.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry (Luke Pollard) on 6 September 2025 to Questions 70660, 70661, 70682 and 70659 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge) and on 23 July 2025 to Question 68516 to the hon. Member for Solihull West and Shirley (Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst).