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 3,001–3,020 of 4,549 · this parliament
What stages of the assembly of the Eurofighter Typhoon take place in (a) Warton, (b) Samlesbury and (c) overseas.
For UK acquired aircraft and UK led export orders, ‘final assembly’ takes place at Warton wherein the Major Equipment components which have been manufactured at Samlesbury by BAES and also by the European Partner Companies at facilities in Germany, Italy and Spain, are ultimately assembled.
Which sovereign missile systems are able to be installed on F-35B.
The Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), Meteor and SPEAR 3 are the sovereign missiles that can be installed on the F-35B. ASRAAM is fully cleared and in service for use on the F-35B whilst both Meteor and SPEAR 3 are undergoing integration via the F-35 Joint Program Office.
What assessment he has made of the requirement of a high/low weapons mix to deliver high-end effectors to meet the challenge of (a) anti access, (b) area denial and (c) very long range threat systems.
The Strategic Defence Review considered all aspects of Defence, including the capabilities required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty-first century. Both autonomous and uncrewed technologies features in both Current and Planned Force Testing events, to ensure we capture the impact of changing technology on our force design. The mix of weapons systems required to defeat different target sets has also been the subject of Force Variation Testing. The results of these assessments are militarily sensitive, so are not releasable.The Defence Investment Plan will be published in the Autumn, to take onboard the Review's vision and recommendations and turn them into a delivery plan. We will ensure this plan considers the capabilities we need to deliver a more lethal Integrated Force, alongside infrastructure and people. The plan will ensure Defence has the flexibility to seize new technological opportunities and maximise the benefits of defence spending to grow the UK economy.
What Military Aid to Civil Authorities taskings have 2 Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems wing conducted since 2022.
2 C-UAS Wing have supported 13 Military Aid to Civil Authority requests from 2022 to 2 September 2025. 2 C-UAS provide counter-drone security to high-level Royal and Political engagements, major public events, and can respond to suspected drone incursions across the UK.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of adopting the US Marines’ littoral regiment concept for naval infantry as outlined in their Force Design 2030.
The Ministry of Defence keeps allied force design developments under review but has no plans to adopt the US Marine Corps Littoral Regiment construct which is designed to support archipelagic warfare and distributed operations in the Indo-Pacific. The Royal Marines and UK Commando Forces are already being transformed through the Littoral Strike/Commando Force programme which is tailored to UK and NATO requirements.
What progress the 14 Squadron Royal Air Force has made on locating the remaining hostages held in Gaza following 7 October 2025.
While I am unable to comment on intelligence matters for operational security reasons, I can say that the UK Government has been working closely with partners across the region to secure the safe release and recovery of hostages.In support of this effort, the Ministry of Defence has been conducting surveillance flights over the Eastern Mediterranean. These operations include activity within the airspace over Israel and Gaza. To be clear, the mandate for these flights is strictly limited to supporting hostage rescue. The aircraft involved are unarmed and have no combat role.
What estimate he has made of the cost of the Teutates programme.
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 estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of the Teutates programme in the 2025-2026 financial year.
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 the process is for risk assessing the pursuit of a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet.
There is no prohibition on undertaking a pursuit of a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet.Decisions on when to initiate a pursuit involving a suspect riding a motorcycle without a helmet are operational matters for the police, taking into account each particular set of circumstances. When deciding whether or not to undertake or continue a pursuit, an officer should take into account the guidance offered in the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on Roads Policing Police Pursuits.The APP makes clear that the key consideration is whether the pursuit is necessary, proportionate and balanced against the threat, risk and harm of pursuit to the person being pursued, the officers and others who may be affected and sets out the authorisation requirements for the pursuit.
What stab vests are issued to prison officers.
Protective body armour (PBA) is currently issued in the following circumstances:Operational Response and Resilience Unit staff wear PBA when deployed. Where necessary, ballistic protection may be required.Operation Tornado mobilised staff are issued PBA as part of their PPE.Prison Officers are required to wear PBA during planned use of force or when managing high-risk prisoners.Following a violent attack at HMP Frankland in April 2025, the Ministry of Justice conducted a snap review. As a result, rollout of PBA was announced for officers working in:Close Supervision CentresSeparation CentresSegregation Units within the high-security estateThe rollout is ongoing and includes individual fitting to ensure maximum protection.All body armour conforms to the Home Office 2017 standards and all versions have knife and spike resistant protection.
What steps he is taking to improve (a) infrastructure and (b) capacity at HMP Dhekalia within the Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus.
HMP Dhekelia has received several infrastructure upgrades in recent years, including refreshed dining and recreational spaces. A redevelopment of the facility is currently in the planning stages, which aims to increase capacity and further improve facilities.
What steps he is taking to develop hypersonic vectors for use by the Royal Air Force.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to Question 48869, by my right hon. Friend Maria Eagle MP, on 12 May 2025.
What is the total cost of the 4.2% police pay rise for Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
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.
What proportion of police officers in England and Wales are former armed forces service personnel.
The Home Office does not hold data on police officers that were previously in the armed forces.
How many Ajax Armoured vehicles had been delivered to the Armoured Cavalry Programme by 1 July 2025.
As at 1 July 2025, 116 platforms had been delivered to the Field Army.
Which RAF squadrons continue to operate Tranche 1 Typhoons.
RAF No 1435 Flight operate the Tranche 1 Typhoons.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of procuring General Atomics’ Gambit 5 uncrewed combat aerial vehicle.
The Royal Navy is exploring how Fixed Wing Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (FW ACPs) could augment F35B Lightning embarked in Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) carriers to provide additional strike capability. There are a number of emerging solutions for this capability and the Royal Navy will work collaboratively with the Royal Air Force to evaluate these solutions.
What steps the Royal Air Force’s NEXUS programme is taking to support battle space data transfer.
NEXUS is part of a broader shift towards cloud-based command and control - creating huge opportunities for improved use of our operational data. NEXUS offers a Government-owned approach to how we can share battle space data across air domain capabilities, across other domains and with allies and partners. NEXUS will provide improved situational awareness in order to execute missions in a timely and efficient manner. By ingesting multiple data feeds and transposing them into a common data layer, commanders will be provided with situational awareness of tactical and real-world information that can be manipulated by operators to provide timely information at the speed of relevance.
What was the outcome of Project Monet.
Project MONET delivered detailed reporting on the potential for emerging technologies to enhance Defence flying training which will inform future investment decisions.
Pursuant with reference to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question HL9397 on Typhoon Aircraft: Factories, what elements of the Typhoons expected to be ordered by Germany 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 a range of major avionics systems.