Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What is the breakdown of the six Ajax variants within the 589 vehicles to be delivered as part of the Armoured Cavalry 2025 Programme.

A breakdown of the Ajax family of vehicles to be delivered as part of the Armoured Cavalry programme is provided below. VariantTotalRoleAJAX245Reconnaissance and joint fires observerARES93Deliver and support specialist troopsATHENA112Command and ControlATLAS38Recover damaged vehiclesAPOLLO50Repair and tow damaged vehiclesARGUS51Specialist engineering reconnaissance *ARES is the common base platform for all variants.

What progress he has made on the submarine support project of the Naval Support Integrated Global Network programme.

The Naval Support Integrated Global Network (NSIGN) Programme continues to progress through the Assessment Phase with the NSIGN (Submarines) Project Outline Business Case (OBC) approved April 2025 and Full Business Case approval expected in early 2026. Concept work is progressing with the NSIGN(Ships) and NSIGN (Naval Bases) Projects seeking OBC approval early and mid-2026 respectively. The NSIGN Projects will enable the Ministry of Defence to contract for Submarine and enabling Naval Base services delivered through Clyde and Devonport in March 2026 and for Ships and wider Naval Base services from October 2028, with a parallel (and planned) extension of the Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) where required, for the period March 2026 to October 2028.

What recent progress has been made in digitising patient records systems in North-West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.

The North-West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust is collaborating urgently with NHS England regional and national colleagues on an investment case for the procurement of a modern, enterprise-wide electronic patient record system, to advance the organisation's digital maturity in line with the national Digital Capability Framework and the requirements of the 10-Year Health Plan.

How many of the 44 double-vehicle electrical chargepoints planned by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust will be in Huntingdon constituency.

62 National Health Service trusts were awarded funding from the £8 million NHS Chargepoint Accelerator Scheme to install electric vehicle chargepoints across over 200 NHS sites.The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust was awarded £219,332 to install chargepoints across nine sites. None were in the Huntingdon constituency.Sites were put forward by trusts according to clinical and operational decisions on the roll out of electric vehicles within their fleet, and factors such as cost and feasibility of installation.

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.

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.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 33 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made in strengthening the UK’s sanctions (a) implementation and (b) enforcement through the Economic Deterrence Initiative.

The Government concluded a review of the implementation and enforcement of UK sanctions in April 2025. Following the review, this Government is committing to do more to make compliance easier for UK industry, to deter non-compliance and to make sure we have the right powers and capabilities to enforce sanctions breaches.The Economic Deterrence Initiative has underpinned this review by funding activity across government to improve implementation and enforcement of sanctions. This includes establishing new HMG capabilities like the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI), enhanced guidance and licensing capability to support legitimate business, tackling sanctions circumvention with international partners, and bolstering sanctions implementation in the Overseas Territories.His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) recently concluded a compound settlement to a UK business that breached UK sanctions. The settlement involved a penalty of £1.1 million which was paid to HMRC in May 2025. This is the largest compound settlement HMRC has concluded for a Russia sanctions offence.In March 2025, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) imposed a monetary penalty of £465,000 for breaches of Financial Sanctions, and in April the National Crime Agency (NCA) secured the first convictions for breaches of the UK's Russia sanctions.

What is the full scope of Project MORPHEUS.

MORPHEUS is a project within the Land Environment Tactical Communications and Information Systems (LETacCIS) Programme with the aim of delivering the next generation of Communication and Information Systems to forces operating in a Land Tactical Environment, inclusive of the Royal Navy in the littoral environment and elements of the Royal Air Force. MORPHEUS was initiated to replace Bowman, MOD’s current in-service Tactical Communications and Information System capability, and aimed to: - Exploit modern technology to deliver a new, more capable baseline capability from which we can more rapidly evolve- Enable easier and more effective interoperability, both with other UK systems, and with allies- Lower the training burden on users, through more intuitive interfaces- Avoid vendor lock-in, and use competition to drive Value for Money- Employ open architectures, to more easily integrate new technologies

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the cancellation by the CIA in the United States of the appointment of Tom Sylvester as the London chief of station on the UK's intelligence network.

It is a longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made in sharpening the UK’s diplomatic focus with New Zealand.

The UK-New Zealand relationship is a close partnership based on shared history, deep people-to-people links and shared priorities and values. The UK engages with the Government of New Zealand at both ministerial and official level across a wide range of regional and global issues. We were pleased to welcome Prime Minister Luxon to London in April for a day of talks with the Prime Minister.

What assessment he has made of the feasibility of using Mount Pleasant Airfield as a forward mounting base for increased activity in Antarctica.

The Ministry of Defence undertakes regular assessments of its future requirements for its basing in the South Atlantic. The Department is supporting the FCDO to publish a UK Antarctic strategy by the end of this year, which will set the Government’s aims and ambitions for Antarctica for the next five years.

What assessment she has made of the potential threat posed by Palestinian Martyrs for Justice.

The Government does not routinely comment on intelligence and security matters, including individual groups or cases.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 56675 on Hinchingbrooke Hospital: Roads, what progress she has made on completing the transaction that would see access to Police land granted to Hinchingbrooke Hospital for the new access road to facilitate construction of the proposed new hospital.

This is a local matter. The Home Office has not had a direct role in discussions between the interested parties in relation to the ownership of this land and its use for a new access road to Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to page 36 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published on 24 June 2025, what improvements have been made as a result of science and technology collaborations with New Zealand.

The Prime Minister has set out that national security is the first duty of our Government and international cooperation with like-minded countries is in the national interest. Science and technology are essential to delivering this: technologies are increasingly dual use, offering broad strategic advantage and improving our ability to tackle transnational challenges. The UK and New Zealand are long-standing partners on defence and security and have shared ambitions to deepen cooperation. This includes recent agreements to work together on Earth Observation from Space and protecting Antarctica as a place for peace and science.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of procuring (a) lower-value and (b) highly attritable autonomous collaborative platforms in order to saturate defensive systems.

The Strategic Defence Review recommends that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy, including Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs), within the UK's conventional forces over the next five years. High numbers of ACPs will be incorporated into the Integrated Force across the full breadth of operating environments as part of a '20-40-40' mix of capabilities alongside fifth and sixth generation platforms. This means combining advanced, crewed systems with cheaper, autonomous, and expendable assets to deliver greater mass, agility, and resilience.We will prioritise investment in UK-based defence firms as part of this autonomy drive, aiming to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and enhance national security by fostering innovation and resilience within the sector. Investment opportunities with British Defence companies will be determined as part of the Defence Investment Plan.

If he will list what services are contracted through the Future Maritime Support Programme.

The Ministry of Defence contract for 11 Lots through the Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP), with each Lot providing a suite of services to deliver end outputs as agreed through each Lot contract. An overview of the Lots and their descriptions are within the table and the image below. CORE FMSP Lots: Lot No.TitleStrategyStart Date Note 1Contract Duration Note 1Bidder(s)Status1Naval Base Services at DevonportSingle Source (QDC)1 Apr 20215 years plus option for 2 yearsBabcockContract live, due to expire in March 2026.2Ships Engineering Management and Delivery at Rosyth, Devonport & ClydeSingle Source (QDC)1 Apr 20215 years plus option for 1 yearsBabcockContract live, will extend for 2 years from 1 April 20263Submarine Engineering at Devonport & ClydeSingle Source (QDC)1 Apr 20215 years plus option for 2 yearsBabcockContract live, due to expire in March 20264Hard Facilities Management Services and Alongside Services at ClydeSingle Source (QDC)1 Apr 20215 years plus option for 2 yearsBabcockContract Live, due to expire in March 20265Hard Facilities Management Services and Alongside Services at PortsmouthCompetitive1 Oct 20215 years plus option for 2 yearsJoint Venture between BAES & KBR InterserveContract live, will extend for 2 years from 1 Oct 20266Soft Facilities Management Services at ClydeCompetitive1 Oct 20215 years plus option for 2 yearsBabcock ESS ISS SodexoContract live, will extend for 2 years from 1 Oct 20267Soft Facilities Management Services at PortsmouthCompetitive1 Oct 20215 years plus option for 2 yearsESS ISS SodexoContract live, will extend for 2 years from 1 Oct 20268 Note 2Ships Engineering Management and Delivery at PortsmouthSingle Source (QDC)1 Oct 20215 years plus option for 1 yearBAESContract live, will extend for 2 years from 1 Oct 202610Warehousing and Distribution at PortsmouthCompetitive1 Oct 20215 years plus options for 2 plus 1 yearsKuehne & Nagel Unipart WincantonContract live, will extend for 2 years from 1 Oct 202611Warehousing and Distribution at ClydeCompetitive1 Oct 20215 years plus options for 2 plus 1 yearsBabcock Kuehne & Nagel UnipartContract live, will extend for 2 years from 1 Oct 2026 with option to extend further 1 year if required.12National FreightAmendment to contract awarded through competition1 Oct 2021 (Portsmouth) 1 Apr 2021 (Clyde)Until 1 Aug 2028 (Note 4)LeidosContract live Notes:1. Start date and contract duration relate to the period of service delivery. They exclude any transition period ahead of service delivery.2. Lot 8 was originally two lots, separating engineering management and delivery. Lots 8 and 9 were merged into a single Lot 8 before Invitation To Negotiate (ITN) release.3. Details of the two winning bidders will be provided via a separate LIMDIS note.4. The Leidos contract under lot 12 expires on 1 Aug 2028. The intention is to add the additional scope to the contract for the remainder of its life.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the scope of the defence exports office.

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade continues to have regular discussions with all Cabinet colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Defence.The defence exports office officially transferred to the Ministry of Defence on 31st of July as confirmed in the Prime Minister’s statement made on the 3rd of June 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49534 on Asylum: Finance, how many instances of Aspen card usage for purposes not within the parameters of the cards’ use have been recorded since 5 July 2025.

Aspen cards are issued only to the main applicants on claims for Asylum Support. Those on Section 95 support are able to withdraw cash and utilise chip and pin for transactions. Aspen cards for those on Section 4 can only be used for chip and pin payments. Asylum seekers are able to report any difficulties, including loss or theft of their Aspen card, by calling Migrant Help, available 24/7 by telephone, webchat or email.The Home Office publishes regular information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, but the specific cost data requested is considered commercially sensitive, and its disclosure could undermine the ability of the Home Office to secure maximum value for money in future contract negotiations.

Whether Project Grayburn will include 300 Blackout as a calibre option within the scope of the Individual Weapons requirements.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave on the 28 April 2025 to Question 45196, which explains that Project GRAYBURN is in its concept phase with the aim of identifying and understanding capability requirements, which includes consideration of other rifles, calibres, and ancillary items.

What assessment he has made of the feasibility of the next class of ship to be developed by the Royal Navy to have electric engines.

The UK has committed to reducing its contribution to global warming by setting a target to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. All future shipbuilding programmes will therefore investigate alternative power and propulsion options and energy efficiencies within their designs as well as technologies for measuring and optimising power consumption. Importantly, as well as cutting carbon this improves the warfighting resilience of our platforms.