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 2,941–2,960 of 4,549 · this parliament
What manpower reduction Protector MQ-9B’s ATLC function creates by replacing the LRE capability of Reaper.
The Automatic Take Off and Land Capability (ATLC) of Protector negates the requirement for Ground Control Station (GCS), pilot, sensor operator and GCS support staff to be present at any forward operating base to conduct the take-off and landing. As Protector is operated under a different construct to Reaper, no overall direct comparison can be made.
What percentage of RAF infrastructure is more than 50 years old.
This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand that considerable amounts of the defence estate is over 50 years old but the Government does not keep statistics based on age, but rather current use types. As such, we cannot provide that information without incurring disproportionate cost.
Where is the (a) technology development centre and (b) interim firing point that form part of Project Teutates located.
The TEUTATES programme is part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE). It includes the ongoing development of an interim firing point at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston site. The Technology Development Centre is also at AWE Aldermaston and is now being repurposed to support other programmes, having originally been constructed for TEUTATES.As set out in the DNE 2025 Annual Update to Parliament published on 22 May, the first X-rays by the UK-supplied Induction Voltage Adder machine were fired at the EPURE hydrodynamics facility in November 2024, marking an important Treaty milestone.I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand that I am withholding cost estimates for the programme as release would prejudice international relations.
What assessment has he made of the potential merits of increasing the overall capability of the National Space Operations Centre.
The National Space Operations Centre acts as a central hub for UK Space Domain Awareness operations, working in collaboration with UK Space Agency and Met Office. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is investing in research and improving the UK's ability to monitor and understand activities in space. This includes upgrading the National Space Operations Centre and developing new space monitoring sensors. Across Government, UK Space Domain Awareness requirements have been generated, which will support a coordinated approach to building a network of sensors and data systems, using information from various sources. The National Space Operations Centre proactively identifies and evaluates new capability development opportunities, ensuring they are prioritised to align with the MOD requirements, working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. As the space domain continues to become more congested, contested, and competitive we expect the National Space Operations Centre responsibilities and capabilities to expand over time, continuing to support the growing UK space sector and protect UK interests in, from, and to space.
With refence to his Department's press release entitled New munitions factories and long-range weapons to back nearly 2000 jobs under Strategic Defence Review, published on 1 June 2025, what are the locations of the six new (a) munitions and (b) energetics factories.
The Strategic Defence Review committed to build at least six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently developing a plan to deliver this commitment alongside our wider Defence Industrial Strategy, delivering long-term investment to boost UK growth and generating skilled UK jobs and export opportunities. The MOD is carefully considering arrangements for those factories including potential locations, and more detail will be set out in due course. It is currently considered to be premature to discuss specific proposals or sites until the necessary preparatory work has concluded.
With reference to page 135 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made in exploiting the Defence estate to generate income for the MOD.
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) sets a path for the next decade and beyond to transform Defence and make the UK stronger both at home and abroad. The Government endorses the Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations. The SDR highlights the significant opportunity to exploit the Defence estate to generate income for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and to help meet the wider needs of Defence and the Government. Given the scale and unique nature of the Defence estate, identifying and evaluating evolving land use requirements requires a fully considered approach. Any land identified as part of this process will be announced in due course.
Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on amending The Air Navigation Order 2016 to allow greater use of drones by police forces.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for ensuring that all UK aircraft operators must comply with the Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2016.In the use and deployment of drones, police forces must have due regard to the ANO which specifies the requirements and conduct drone operators must abide by to use drones in a manner which is both safe and does not unduly endanger or negatively impact members of the public.To support policing in developing a national drone capability which is both effective and safe, in FY2025/26, the Home Office has allocated £3.9m to national police-led programmes of work to drive standardisation and improve coordination in police drone operations to support public safety outcomes.Furthermore, to support development of these programmes and improve the safe and legal use of drones by policing, the Home Office and policing are currently working closely with the Department of Transport (DFT) and CAA. This is to ensure both compliance with the ANO whilst continuing to create an enabling environment that allows policing to increasingly use drones both innovatively and dynamically in the operational response to incidents.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of developing a wing-in-ground effect craft for (a) naval logistics and (b) Royal Marines amphibious assault.
The Ministry of Defence engages routinely with the United States Department of Defense, the US Navy and the US Marine Corps on capability development and experimentation. We are aware of allied activity relating to seaglider technologies and wing-in-ground effect platforms and we keep all such emerging technologies under review.
What recent discussions his Department has had with their US counterparts on the recent trial of the Regent Craft Viceroy Seaglider by the US Marine Corps.
The Ministry of Defence engages routinely with the United States Department of Defense, the US Navy and the US Marine Corps on capability development and experimentation. We are aware of allied activity relating to seaglider technologies and wing-in-ground effect platforms and we keep all such emerging technologies under review.
What recent progress he has made on the single digital platform for the Armed Forces Recruiting Programme.
The Armed Forces Recruiting Programme (AFRP) has been directed to deliver a comprehensive tri-Service recruiting solution to establish a unified recruiting operating model. Future tri-Service recruiting will provide a flexible Candidate recruiting pathway that optimises the digital environment and will recruit against demand. It will engage, assist, and support the Candidates from expression of interest through to application, assessment, and job offer, to joining their chosen service and commencing initial training. The development of the single digital platform continues to progress in line with the delivery timeline. It is being built in line with Government Digital Service standards and the user experience is core to its development. Digital development is using an Agile methodology with a number of sprints taking place to align development to the overall solution requirements. AFRP submits quarterly reports and regular updates detailing the progress of the transition from Contract Effective Date which was 1 April 2025, to Service Commencement in 2027 which allows the monitoring and assurance of transition activity. The digital platform is currently in the detailed design phase and we are unable to provide further detail at this stage.
What recent progress she has made on the Small Secure Houseblocks programme.
The Government’s commitment is to deliver 14,000 additional prison places, by 2031, as set out in the 2024 Prison Capacity Strategy. Since July 2024, we have already delivered c.2,500 additional prison places.The Small Secure Houseblocks (SSH) Programme is a key component of our plans to increase capacity. Based on current plans, this programme will deliver c.1,000 new Category C places across the estate. The design stage of the SSH programme is now complete and main construction work is underway.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Royal Air Force’s RAVEN programme in supporting dynamic operational networking.
The Royal Air Force's RAVEN programme is a modern network which enables secure information systems to be deployed quickly into temporary operating locations worldwide. RAVEN reduces deployment time, enabling rapid response for Agile Combat Employment, Transition to Conflict and other time-critical Tasks. It also cuts workforce demand to support operational deployments. RAVEN has been used effectively on several operations and exercises including NATO Enhanced Air Policing, Operation Highmast and Operation Shader.
By what date Taser 10 will be approved for use by Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
We are considering the results of independent testing and assessments of the Taser 10, before we take a decision on whether to approve it for police use.
How much the 4.2% police pay rise will cost each police force.
The Home Office does not hold paybill information for each police force. It is up to Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners to make decisions on local resourcing. They are best placed to make these decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.The Home Office will provide £120m of additional funding in 2025/26 to police forces to help with the cost of the 2025 police pay award.
How many prison officers require stab vests due to the danger of the prisoners in their charge.
The previous Lord Chancellor announced in June the mandatory use of Protective Body Armour (PBA – also known as stab vests), for staff in specialist units, which includes Close Supervision Centres, Separation Centres and Segregation Units in the Long-Term High Security Estate. Following this announcement, 750 vests have been ordered.PBA is available for use when deemed necessary in prisons, including:Operational Response and Resilience Unit staff who wear protective body armour when deployed. This includes the National Tactical Response Group and the National Dog and Tactical Support Group staff.Staff mobilised under ‘Operation Tornado’, a national mutual aid plan by which prisons support one another in the event of a serious incident or occurrence requiring a reinforcement of staff, are issued with PBA as part of their personal protective equipment.Prison Officers are required to wear PBA, along with other Personal Protective Equipment, when they engage in the planned use of force or where safe systems of work for the management of high-risk prisoners dictates.
What is the planned in-service date of the Astraea A21 warhead.
As the hon. gentleman would understand, the expected out-of-service date for our current Mk4A nuclear warhead and the expected in-service date for Astraea are being withheld as release would prejudice national security.
When the RAF will receive the first Typhoons with a European Common Radar System Mark 2 radar.
Delivery and integration of the European Common Radar System Mark 2 onto RAF Typhoon Tranche 3 aircraft, as part of the Eurofighter Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E) programme, will commence by the end of this decade.
With reference to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question HL9397 on Typhoon Aircraft: Factories, what elements of the Typhoons ordered by Italy will be manufactured in the UK.
It is the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency who set the industrial sub-system production and workshare agreements across the partner nations. Through partner nation agreement, NETMA have set United Kingdom industrial workshare as 37%. Eurofighter GMBH manage its sub-system and component manufacturing orders from across the industrial base of each partner nation, in line with that workshare agreement percentage. Some of the major components that UK leads on the manufacturing include the front and rear fuselage, windscreen and canopy, fin and rudder, engine bay doors, foreplane and major avionics systems.
What additional funds above and beyond the police grant have been allocated to Lincolnshire Police to extend the financial viability of the police force.
Despite the challenging fiscal environment, this government is committed to investing in policing.In May 2025, the Home Office provided a package of funding support to Lincolnshire worth up to £5.7m. The Home Office is working closely with Lincolnshire, other forces and the NPCC to understand force budget pressures ahead of the police funding settlement At the Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed a real terms increase in police spending power over the next three years. Force level allocations will be confirmed in the usual way at the settlement.
What assessment has he made of the potential merits of elevating space assets to a priority portfolio under the National Armaments Director.
The Ministry of Defence is introducing Service-agnostic capability portfolios to increase flexibility and drive pace in procurement. As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, delivering space-based capabilities is a priority for defence and a space systems portfolio is in scope for implementation under the National Armaments Director.