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 3,161–3,180 of 4,549 · this parliament
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.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2025 to Question 61044 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, under what description in his Department's annual accounts will expenditure relating to the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia [CS Mauritius No.1/2025] be listed.
Any expenditure by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office relating the Diego Garcia Treaty between the UK and Mauritius would be recorded as Grant Expenditure in the Annual Report and Accounts.
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 banning the advertising of alcohol products on the alcohol industry.
The Department has made no formal assessment of the impact of banning the advertising of alcohol products on the alcohol industry. As part of the Plan for Change, the Government is committed to five missions. We will continue to work across Government to ensure all policies under consideration are assessed in order to understand the range of potential impacts both on public health and the health system, and on industry.
On what date (a) was the last and (b) is the next meeting of the Honours and Awards Secretariat.
The UK Honours and awards system does not comprise a committee or administrative team known as the Honours and Awards Secretariat.
How many of the RAF Voyager fleet are airworthy.
All Voyager aircraft are certified as airworthy. However, the serviceability of the fleet varies daily due to routine maintenance schedules. For reasons of operational security, specific details about the serviceability of Voyager aircraft are not publicly disclosed.
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.
Whether she is taking steps to procure an icebreaker ship to complement HMS Protector for future operations in the Atlantic Bastion.
As highlighted in the Strategic Defence Review, Atlantic Bastion is the Royal Navy’s plan to secure the North Atlantic for the UK and NATO against the persistent and growing underwater threat from a modernising Russian submarine force. While an icebreaking capability does not form part of the Atlantic Bastion plan, the UK recognises the increasing strategic importance of the Arctic and High North. As such, future icebreaker capabilities are being considered to deliver the Strategic Defence Review vision, with all capability requirements considered as part of the Defence Investment Plan, which will be completed in autumn 2025.
Whether the US government is required to seek permission from the UK in order to launch offensive military action from Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia under the UK-Mauritius Treaty.
Annex 1, paragraph 1(b)(i) of the treaty sets out that the United Kingdom will have unrestricted ability to control the conduct and deployment of armed operations. No permission is required as a result of this treaty, as US operations from Diego Garcia are governed by a separate Exchange of Notes between the UK and US.
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 potential impact of the incompatibility of F-35A fighters with Royal Air Force air-to-air refuelling capability on the intention to purchase F-35A fighters.
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.
How many locations in the Defence Estate are currently guarded by the Military Provost Guard Service.
The Military Provost Guard Service brings a professional and permanent armed guarding presence that offers a cost-effective and mission-ready solution, while maintaining the integrity and security of Defence estates without overstretching operational forces. While I am unable to comment on specific security arrangements, I can assure the hon. Member that we take the safety and security of our sites extremely seriously and ensure we have robust measures in place.
With reference to the oral contribution by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs in response to the question from the hon. Member for Bicester and Woodstock on 28 October 2024, Official Report, column 550, what her planned timeline is for (a) completing and (b) publishing the state threats review.
The government is committed to responding to state threat activity in all its forms and we regularly review the tools and powers available to us.That is why the Home Secretary commissioned the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism and State Threats Legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, to undertake a review to identify whether there are parts of our existing terrorism legislation which could usefully be emulated in the state threats context.Following the publication of Mr Hall’s report on 19 May 2025, the Home Secretary committed to taking forward Mr Hall’s recommendations, including the creation of a new State Threats Proscription-like Tool. We will bring forward legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows
With reference to the policy paper entitled UK-France Joint Leaders' Declaration, published on 23rd March 2023, whether he has taken steps to increase the interoperability of (a) communication, (b) armament systems and (c) other future Combat Air systems.
The UK remains committed to exploring interoperability between the Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS) of the UK and France, which will form part of the wider combat air and multi-domain capabilities across Europe and NATO. The UK maintains a NATO-first approach to addressing interoperability. At the same time, the UK and France are working together to explore areas in which interoperability can be increased, such as communication and armaments systems. The UK and France are doing so through our military and industrial relationships, mutual sharing of technical roadmaps for missiles, and the FCAS Technology Development Cooperation mechanism, the second phase of which will focus on interoperability.
What steps is she taking to proscribe the IRGC.
I refer the Hon Member for Huntingdon to the answer I gave on 10 June in response to Question 57784.
How many PIP claimants in Huntingdon constituency will no longer qualify for the PIP daily living component under proposed changes to the qualifying criteria.
As I made clear in my statement to the House, Hansard, 1 July, col 219, any changes to PIP eligibility will come after a comprehensive review of the benefit, which I am leading, and which will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders, so a wide range of views and voices are heard. This review aims to ensure that the PIP assessment is fair and fit for the future. The review is expected to conclude in autumn 2026.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the US cancellation of orders for the Boeing E7 Wedgetail on (a) UK and (b) NATO intelligence-gathering capability.
The Ministry of Defence is continuing with its procurement of E-7 Wedgetail in order to meet the national and NATO requirements for an Airborne Early Warning and Control capability which is interoperable with its allies.
If she will take steps to support the Interpersonal Abuse and Violence Against Men and Boys (Strategy) Bill.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave him on 29 April to Question 47887.
Communities and Local Government, what evidence she will use to decide on the composition of unitary councils in Cambridgeshire.
New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. The population size of 500,000 or more – as set out in the invitation and in the English Devolution White Paper – is a guiding principle, not a target. We understand that there should be flexibility, especially given our ambition to build out devolution and take account of housing growth, alongside Local Government Reorganisation, and have asked that all proposals, whether they are at the guided level, above it, or below it, should set out the rationale for the proposed approach clearly.All proposals will be assessed against all the criteria in the invitation. Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area will be judgements in the round, having regard to the statutory guidance and the available evidence. That evidence will include information provided by the councils as part of their proposals, representations received during the statutory consultation, and other relevant information available.
What the (a) proposed start date, (b) proposed completion date and (c) allocated budget is for the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II in St James's Park.
The final winning design for the National Memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, in St. James’s Park, will be unveiled in 2026, to coincide with what would have been Her late Majesty’s Centenary year. Construction will begin subject to approval of the winning design from The Prime Minister and The King and further information will be shared at the time.The provisional construction budget for the National Memorial in St. James’s Park has been confirmed by HM Government as within the range of £23m-46m excluding VAT. The final budget for the project will depend on the detail of the final design following its formal submission and once it has obtained planning permission, so cannot be given at this stage.Achieving value for money is a priority objective of the project and will be monitored closely throughout design development and the construction of the memorial.