Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What discussions her Department had with the Ministry of Defence prior to the approval of the Afghan Response Route; and when they occurred.

The Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) was launched in April 2024 in response to a data incident by the Ministry of Defence. The scheme was launched by the last Government following appropriate discussions and collective agreement.

What steps his Department plans to take to help support defence organisations to meet their obligations under the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Al Carns) on 16 July 2025 to Question 65995 to the hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Sorcha Eastwood).https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-07-08/65995

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many meetings has National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell attended with the Government of Mauritius, including in the period he spent working with her Department prior to the commencement of his appointment as a Special Envoy, regarding the Chagos Islands.

Mr Powell was appointed as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy in early August 2024. All information provided to him in that role was shared appropriately and in line with established procedures.

With reference to page 41 of the policy paper entitled From local to national: a new model for policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP 1489, when she plans to stand up an independent review of force structures.

The Police Reform White Paper set out an ambitious package of reform, including an ambition to move to fewer, larger forces by the end of next parliament.We will imminently launch the Independent Review of Police Force Structures, which will make recommendations on the optimum configuration of fewer, larger forces, and the timetable for implementation.We plan to publish the Terms of reference alongside the announcement of the Chair in the coming weeks. The Review is expected to report its findings by summer.

With reference to page 43 of her Department's policy paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP1489, what her planned timetable is for appointing an independent chair to conduct the Independent Review of Force Structures.

The Police Reform White Paper set out an ambitious package of reform, including an ambition to move to fewer, larger forces by the end of next parliament.We will imminently launch the Independent Review of Police Force Structures, which will make recommendations on the optimum configuration of fewer, larger forces, and the timetable for implementation.We plan to publish the Terms of reference alongside the announcement of the Chair in the coming weeks. The Review is expected to report its findings by summer.

With reference to page 44 of her Department's policy paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP1489, when she will publish the terms of reference for the Independent Review of Force Structures.

The Police Reform White Paper set out an ambitious package of reform, including an ambition to move to fewer, larger forces by the end of next parliament.We will imminently launch the Independent Review of Police Force Structures, which will make recommendations on the optimum configuration of fewer, larger forces, and the timetable for implementation.We plan to publish the Terms of reference alongside the announcement of the Chair in the coming weeks. The Review is expected to report its findings by summer.

With reference to page 43 of the policy paper entitled From local to national: a new model for policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP 1489, who the policing stakeholders are who will co-design the geographies.

We expect the Independent Review of Police Structures to engage extensively with a wide range of stakeholders to make recommendations on the optimum size and configuration of forces as well as their governance and accountability arrangements.We expect that it will draw on the expertise and experience of a wide range of stakeholders including but not limited to frontline officers, policing leaders and other representative bodies. We will expect the Chair of the Review to consider how to most appropriately engage with Members of Parliament, including engaging appropriate Ministers, shadow Ministers and Select Committees.

With reference to page 43 of her Department's policy paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP1489, whether Members of Parliament will be included within the scope of policing stakeholders.

We expect the Independent Review of Police Structures to engage extensively with a wide range of stakeholders to make recommendations on the optimum size and configuration of forces as well as their governance and accountability arrangements.We expect that it will draw on the expertise and experience of a wide range of stakeholders including but not limited to frontline officers, policing leaders and other representative bodies. We will expect the Chair of the Review to consider how to most appropriately engage with Members of Parliament, including engaging appropriate Ministers, shadow Ministers and Select Committees.

With reference to page 35 of the policy paper entitled From local to national: a new model for policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP 1489, which police forces will transfer to the authority of (a) Strategic Authority Mayors and (b) Policing and Crime Boards.

The Government committed in the English Devolution White Paper to transfer Police and Crime Commissioner functions to mayors of strategic authorities by default, wherever possible. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, currently before Parliament, contains provisions to achieve this aim. Subject to the Bill receiving Royal Assent, transfers of functions to mayors will take place in areas where the boundaries of the mayoral strategic authority and policing area align, at a date set by the Secretary of State by Order.In all other areas, Policing and Crime Boards will be established in May 2028 at the abolition of the Police and Crime Commissioner model.

With reference to page 37 of the policy paper entitled From local to national: a new model for policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP 1489, whether the estimated cost of the 2024 Police and Crime Commissioner elections excluded the cost of the accompanying local elections.

The estimated cost of the 2024 Police and Crime Commissioner elections excluded the cost of the accompanying local elections, as those are met by the respective local authorities.While the final cost of the 2024 PCC elections will not be known until all the claims have been reviewed and settled, the total estimated cost as set out in the relevant Charges Order was £87m.

With reference to page 40 of the policy paper entitled From local to national: a new model for policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP 1489, which central bodies will be replaced with the National Police Service.

The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” sets out which central bodies are planned to be replaced by the National Police Service.Further details will be set out in the legislation to create the National Police Service.

With reference to page 62 of her Department's policy paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP1489, how frequently will performance data from the Police Performance Dashboard be published.

The White Paper entitled “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” contained announcements on the tiered performance system, the Police Performance Framework and the Police Performance Dashboard.As part of the new performance system announced in the White Paper, we committed to launching a Police Performance Monitoring Group which will decide on where a force is placed within the tiering system. The new assessment and monitoring process will formally launch from April 2026, operating on a tri-annual cycle.The Police Performance Framework was launched on the same day as the publication of the Home Office White Paper (26th January). A link to the framework can be found here - Police Performance FrameworkWithin this document, we confirm that an initial Police Performance Dashboard will be introduced for the sector early in 2026. This will initially cover headline measures within the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee Performance Framework, but we will expand the dashboard iteratively to cover the breadth of the Performance Framework.We also confirm in the Framework document that we will establish new Local Policing Guarantees that set out the minimum levels of service the public should expect to receive from their police force wherever in England and Wales they live by building on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. These guarantees will cover areas such as how the police will rapidly and effectively respond when the public need them, how victims of crime will be treated in accordance with the Victims’ Code of Practice and public protection.I also refer the Honourable Gentleman to the answer which I gave to his question on 16 February 2026 (UIN 110965).

With reference to page 62 of her Department's policy paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP1489, when will the Police Performance Dashboard be introduced.

The White Paper entitled “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” contained announcements on the tiered performance system, the Police Performance Framework and the Police Performance Dashboard.As part of the new performance system announced in the White Paper, we committed to launching a Police Performance Monitoring Group which will decide on where a force is placed within the tiering system. The new assessment and monitoring process will formally launch from April 2026, operating on a tri-annual cycle.The Police Performance Framework was launched on the same day as the publication of the Home Office White Paper (26th January). A link to the framework can be found here - Police Performance FrameworkWithin this document, we confirm that an initial Police Performance Dashboard will be introduced for the sector early in 2026. This will initially cover headline measures within the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee Performance Framework, but we will expand the dashboard iteratively to cover the breadth of the Performance Framework.We also confirm in the Framework document that we will establish new Local Policing Guarantees that set out the minimum levels of service the public should expect to receive from their police force wherever in England and Wales they live by building on the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. These guarantees will cover areas such as how the police will rapidly and effectively respond when the public need them, how victims of crime will be treated in accordance with the Victims’ Code of Practice and public protection.I also refer the Honourable Gentleman to the answer which I gave to his question on 16 February 2026 (UIN 110965).

When he plans to provide an answer to Question 111932.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 4th March, Official Report, PQ 111932.

When he plans to provide an answer to Question 111938.

I refer the honourable gentleman to the answer to PQ 111938.

When he plans to provide an answer to Question 101920.

The number of personnel with a recorded code for the relevant symptom has been provided. It should be noted that personnel who had a recorded symptom for noise or vibration may have had this on their health record prior to their first Ajax use. For any service person, use of Ajax will be mixed with other hazardous exposures in Defence, such as load-carriage, fitness tests and noise and vibration exposures from other sources such as small arms fire on ranges or other armoured vehicles. It is also possible that any symptoms may be non-Ajax related. Therefore, although a noise or vibration symptom may have been recorded on the health record since the individual first operated Ajax, it does not mean that the symptom was caused as a direct result of operating on the Ajax platform and could be entirely unrelated. Of those recorded as using Ajax since the start of the Armoured Cavalry programme between 23 July 2025 and 13 November 2025: 25 personnel had a noise symptom recorded on their electronic medical record since they first used Ajax.59 personnel had a vibration symptom recorded on their electronic medical record since they first used Ajax.

When he plans to provide an answer to Question 110950.

A response has been issued here.

When he plans to provide an answer to Question 110951.

A response has been issued here.

When he plans to provide an answer to Question 110948.

A response has been issued here.

When he plans to provide an answer to Question 111933.

A response has been issued here.