Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

With reference to page 64 of the Police reform white paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, CP1489, how she plans to ensure that other policing bodies respond to HMICFRS recommendations.

The Home Secretary announced her plans to introduce a local intervention model and new powers for His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to intervene in failing forces in the police reform White Paper entitled “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing”, which was published on 26 January.Under this local intervention model, intervention leads may be appointed to take responsibility for turning around failing forces, providing focused leadership and oversight where local arrangements have failed. This approach has been used successfully in sectors such as local government, health and education to drive rapid improvement and restore public confidence.In addition, new powers will be introduced to strengthen HMICFRS’ ability to intervene in failing forces and ensure that other policing bodies respond to its recommendations.We intend to bring forward legislation to introduce both the local intervention model and the new HMICFRS powers when Parliamentary time allows.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has she made of the potential implications for her policies of the provisional measures order from the International Court of Justice regarding the Chagos Islands.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Questions 114799 and 114800.

What progress has he made with the Secretary of State for the Home Department in apprehending Daniel Boakye following his abscondment.

A formal investigation has been commissioned into the circumstances surrounding the escape from custody. Additional management checks are also being undertaken in relation to all operational staff who may be called upon to undertake escort duty.Public safety is the Government’s priority. Following a joint operation by the Metropolitan Police, the National Crime Agency and the French authorities, we have received confirmation that Daniel Boakye has now been detained in France. Arrangements are being made to secure his return to the UK.

What information his Department holds on the factors that led to the abscondment of Daniel Boakye.

A formal investigation has been commissioned into the circumstances surrounding the escape from custody. Additional management checks are also being undertaken in relation to all operational staff who may be called upon to undertake escort duty.Public safety is the Government’s priority. Following a joint operation by the Metropolitan Police, the National Crime Agency and the French authorities, we have received confirmation that Daniel Boakye has now been detained in France. Arrangements are being made to secure his return to the UK.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Tech challenge launched to counter drone threats in prisons, published on 4 November 2025, on what date is the 12-week Counter-Drone Challenge due to end.

We have recently launched a new innovation challenge with His Majesty’s Government Communications Centre (HMGCC) Co-Creation aimed at combatting the growing threat of drones around prisons.The Counter-Drone Challenge competition closed on 4 December 2025. Selected industry partners will receive up to £60,000 funding to develop proof-of-concept systems over a 12-week period.

What is the full scope of Project VANAHEIM.

Project FLYTRAP (formerly Project VANAHEIM) is a joint UK/US/Australian Army initiative focused on countering small uncrewed aerial systems. The project aims to accelerate the British Army’s ability to address this threat through operational experimentation, system integration, and evidence-based capability development. It is evaluating a range of sensors, effectors, networks and tactics in realistic field conditions to inform doctrine and support future capability decisions.

What is the UK contribution to NATO’s Standing Naval Maritime Group 1.

The Standing Naval Forces are under the control of NATO Allied Maritime Command which responds to Allied Command Operations. This multinational, integrated force is continuously available for tasking, ranging from NATO missions to exercise participation.

On what dates the National Security Advisor held discussions with Philippe Sands KC on the Chagos Islands.

The National Security Adviser meets with a range of individuals and organisations as part of his role providing advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on national security matters. Such meetings are often sensitive in nature, and the Government does not routinely comment on them or their content.

How many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by his Department between 5 July 2024 and 29 April 2025.

Between 5 July 2024 and 29 April 2025, the Ministry of Justice recorded lost or stolen:59 laptops91 mobile phones5 other devicesAll Ministry of Justice laptops and mobile phones are encrypted and protected to National Cyber Security Centre standards. The Department has mandatory reporting procedures for lost or stolen items, and incidents are investigated in line with security policy.

When he plans to provide an answer to Question 107814.

The Proteus Rotary Wing Uncrewed Air System has been designed and built to unlock the potential of uncrewed aerial systems, operating them side-by-side with crewed aircraft in a future ‘hybrid air wing’, and supporting future anti-submarine operations under the Atlantic Bastion strategy. The Proteus Technology Demonstrator is being developed by Leonardo under a £60 million programme supporting 100 highly-skilled British jobs. Procurement decisions, including for the New Medium Helicopter contract, will be made in the Defence Investment Plan (DIP). The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. It is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.

Whether the Attorney General has provided legal advice on granting permission to the United States to launch offensive military action against Iran from (a) Diego Garcia and (b) RAF Fairford.

As you may know, the Law Officers’ Convention applies to advice which may or may not have been given by the Law Officers, or requested of the Law Officers, and the Convention applies to your question. The Law Officers’ Convention can be found at paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May: “By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 6 November 2024]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”

What Chinese made electric vehicles are currently leased by his Department through the Phoenix II white fleet contract.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry (Maria Eagle) on 29 April 2025 to Question 45896 to the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford (Alicia Kearns).

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the role of UK-based (a) manufacturing, (b) testing and (c) assurance activities under Project GRAYBURN.

As advised in my response to Question 106283, the project is within its concept stage, and we cannot yet assess the adequacy of the UK supply chain regarding this project. However, we have set clear expectations that Project Grayburn will be manufactured in the UK to enhance sovereign industry, generate employment and provide opportunity for export. There is currently no specific definition for the future export potential of Project Grayburn, but it is desirable for the project to create future export opportunities. As part of the current phase, analysis of potential addressable export opportunities will be conducted. With regards to the decision framework being used to assess potential future calibre changes, the project will employ the established scrutiny and approvals tools for decision making, including the Combined Operation Effectiveness and Investment Appraisal.

What mechanisms are in place to report progress on the implementation of the Design for Life roadmap across NHS trusts.

The Design for Life (DfL) Roadmap sets out a new strategy to transition away from all avoidable single-use medical technology products towards a functioning circular system by 2045. The Department has shared a ‘One Year On’ update with its wider collaborative who have supported the policymaking, now numbering over 100 organisations. This update can be found publicly at the following link:https://exeterce.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/20251127-DfL-One-Year-On-update.pdfMore reporting mechanisms will be developed as the programme matures, for example where the roadmap plans for the creation of specific targets and key performance indicators, such as in Action 3. Reporting is done on a quarterly basis to the DfL Advisory Group, which is comprised of key stakeholders, including those from United Kingdom governments, the National Health Service, industry, and academia.Information on evaluating outcomes of the recent DfL pilots can be found on the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare’s website, who were our partner on these pilots, at the following link:https://sustainablehealthcare.org.uk/activity/reusable-medtech-in-the-nhs-pioneering-sustainable-healthcare/These pilots observed that in most cases both cost and carbon savings can be found and staff satisfaction can be either maintained or improved. The Department is building on these evaluations with a dedicated Priority Adoption Working Group, which includes clinical and procurement professionals, to identify the products with the strongest case for safe, immediate transitions to reusables across the NHS. To date this group has evaluated over 50 products.These transitions will be supported by many technical assessments, including those relating to the readiness of supply chains, reprocessing infrastructure, and staff. The decision to commit to a transition, for example whether to support a transition of certain types of endoscopes or not, will be made on the basis that is it safe, feasible, and valuable in the long-term following these and other assessments. At this juncture these assessments are still underway and so estimates cannot be provided at this time.

What definition his Department uses of export potential in the context of Project GRAYBURN.

As advised in my response to Question 106283, the project is within its concept stage, and we cannot yet assess the adequacy of the UK supply chain regarding this project. However, we have set clear expectations that Project Grayburn will be manufactured in the UK to enhance sovereign industry, generate employment and provide opportunity for export. There is currently no specific definition for the future export potential of Project Grayburn, but it is desirable for the project to create future export opportunities. As part of the current phase, analysis of potential addressable export opportunities will be conducted. With regards to the decision framework being used to assess potential future calibre changes, the project will employ the established scrutiny and approvals tools for decision making, including the Combined Operation Effectiveness and Investment Appraisal.

What decision framework is being used to assess potential future calibre changes within Project Grayburn.

As advised in my response to Question 106283, the project is within its concept stage, and we cannot yet assess the adequacy of the UK supply chain regarding this project. However, we have set clear expectations that Project Grayburn will be manufactured in the UK to enhance sovereign industry, generate employment and provide opportunity for export. There is currently no specific definition for the future export potential of Project Grayburn, but it is desirable for the project to create future export opportunities. As part of the current phase, analysis of potential addressable export opportunities will be conducted. With regards to the decision framework being used to assess potential future calibre changes, the project will employ the established scrutiny and approvals tools for decision making, including the Combined Operation Effectiveness and Investment Appraisal.

What estimate he has made of the number of additional staff required to operate hospital reprocessing centres for endoscopy that will be needed as a result of the Design for Life roadmap.

The Design for Life (DfL) Roadmap sets out a new strategy to transition away from all avoidable single-use medical technology products towards a functioning circular system by 2045. The Department has shared a ‘One Year On’ update with its wider collaborative who have supported the policymaking, now numbering over 100 organisations. This update can be found publicly at the following link:https://exeterce.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/20251127-DfL-One-Year-On-update.pdfMore reporting mechanisms will be developed as the programme matures, for example where the roadmap plans for the creation of specific targets and key performance indicators, such as in Action 3. Reporting is done on a quarterly basis to the DfL Advisory Group, which is comprised of key stakeholders, including those from United Kingdom governments, the National Health Service, industry, and academia.Information on evaluating outcomes of the recent DfL pilots can be found on the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare’s website, who were our partner on these pilots, at the following link:https://sustainablehealthcare.org.uk/activity/reusable-medtech-in-the-nhs-pioneering-sustainable-healthcare/These pilots observed that in most cases both cost and carbon savings can be found and staff satisfaction can be either maintained or improved. The Department is building on these evaluations with a dedicated Priority Adoption Working Group, which includes clinical and procurement professionals, to identify the products with the strongest case for safe, immediate transitions to reusables across the NHS. To date this group has evaluated over 50 products.These transitions will be supported by many technical assessments, including those relating to the readiness of supply chains, reprocessing infrastructure, and staff. The decision to commit to a transition, for example whether to support a transition of certain types of endoscopes or not, will be made on the basis that is it safe, feasible, and valuable in the long-term following these and other assessments. At this juncture these assessments are still underway and so estimates cannot be provided at this time.

What progress has he made in evaluating the outcomes of the Design for Life pilot sites.

The Design for Life (DfL) Roadmap sets out a new strategy to transition away from all avoidable single-use medical technology products towards a functioning circular system by 2045. The Department has shared a ‘One Year On’ update with its wider collaborative who have supported the policymaking, now numbering over 100 organisations. This update can be found publicly at the following link:https://exeterce.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/20251127-DfL-One-Year-On-update.pdfMore reporting mechanisms will be developed as the programme matures, for example where the roadmap plans for the creation of specific targets and key performance indicators, such as in Action 3. Reporting is done on a quarterly basis to the DfL Advisory Group, which is comprised of key stakeholders, including those from United Kingdom governments, the National Health Service, industry, and academia.Information on evaluating outcomes of the recent DfL pilots can be found on the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare’s website, who were our partner on these pilots, at the following link:https://sustainablehealthcare.org.uk/activity/reusable-medtech-in-the-nhs-pioneering-sustainable-healthcare/These pilots observed that in most cases both cost and carbon savings can be found and staff satisfaction can be either maintained or improved. The Department is building on these evaluations with a dedicated Priority Adoption Working Group, which includes clinical and procurement professionals, to identify the products with the strongest case for safe, immediate transitions to reusables across the NHS. To date this group has evaluated over 50 products.These transitions will be supported by many technical assessments, including those relating to the readiness of supply chains, reprocessing infrastructure, and staff. The decision to commit to a transition, for example whether to support a transition of certain types of endoscopes or not, will be made on the basis that is it safe, feasible, and valuable in the long-term following these and other assessments. At this juncture these assessments are still underway and so estimates cannot be provided at this time.

On how many occasions did the Attorney General meet with Philippe Sands KC in discussions on the Chagos Islands.

The Attorney General has never engaged in discussion with Philippe Sands KC on the UK-Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she plans to provide an answer to Question 111474.

I apologise for the delay in responding to the Hon Member's questions. The questions were answered on 27 February.