Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What information her Department holds on whether the (a) behaviour and (b) activities of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were reported by police officers from Royalty and Specialist Protection to Protection Command between 2001 and 2026.

The police are operationally independent of government and as such the Home Office does not hold this information.Police officers are required to act diligently in the exercise of their duties and responsibilities. A failure to do so is a breach of policing’s Standards of Professional Behaviour and could lead to disciplinary action.

What the delivery date is of Project Shrinker.

I would like to refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided on 5 November 2025 to Question 85996. Owing to reasons of operational security, as I hope the hon. Member will understand, I cannot provide any further details on Project Shrinker.

How many foodbanks have been officially recorded as being in operation in each year for the past 10 years.

Foodbanks are independent, charitable organisations and the Department for Work and Pensions does not have any role in their operation and therefore does not hold data on the number of foodbanks in operation. The Government recognises that the level of household food insecurity in the UK is unacceptable. We have already announced action to expand free school meals, support parents with the cost of healthy food outside of school and transform our food system to ensure it delivers access to affordable, healthy food.  Our plan to Make Work Pay is part of the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards across the country and create opportunities for all. To further support struggling households, £742 million of funding was provided to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 in England, plus additional funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion. From 1 April 2026, we are introducing a new Crisis and Resilience Fund in England. This fund aims to enable local authorities to provide preventative support to communities as well as assisting people when faced with a financial crisis, to support our ambition to end mass dependence on emergency food parcels. The Government has also taken further action to support low-income households including through the increase in the National Living Wage to £12.21 an hour from April 2025, boosting the pay of 3 million workers.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of replacing the Royal Navy’s Automated Small Calibre Gun.

The Automated Small Calibre Gun (ASCG) continues to provide a reliable, stabilised, and remotely‑operated capability for close‑in defence across a range of Royal Navy (RN) platforms. As part of routine capability planning, the RN is assessing future requirements for shipborne small‑calibre weapons, including potential enhancements to sensors, fire‑control systems, and lethality.

What progress he has made on delivering Support Weapons Enhanced Sighting Systems.

Over the past three years, the Support Weapons Enhanced Sighting Systems project has delivered a range of enhanced capabilities to the UK's Armed Forces which are now in service on systems including Heavy Machine Gun, Grenade Machine Gun, and General-Purpose Machine Gun. Further work is ongoing through a Surveillance and Target Acquisition framework to enable the wider rollout of capabilities across Front Line Command support weapon systems.

When HMS Queen Elizabeth will be seaworthy.

HMS Queen Elizabeth entered dry dock in Rosyth on 29 August 2025 to undertake planned maintenance. Information relating to the maintenance status and movements of warships are not published to avoid compromising operational security.

By what date SONUS acoustic weapon detection will be issued to 5th Regiment Royal Artillery.

The SONUS system is an Acoustic Weapon Locating capability and part of a wider programme which is delivering the next generation of Weapon Locating Systems. The first SONUS equipment delivery date has been accelerated and is now currently scheduled for early 2026, five years earlier than planned. This equipment will be issued to 5th Regiment Royal Artillery for use in training and User Acceptance Trials. Full Deployable Capability is forecast for early 2027.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of procuring the Lockheed Martin Lamprey Multi-Mission Autonomous Undersea Vehicle.

The Department keeps under review the potential operational benefits of emerging autonomous maritime systems, including autonomous undersea vehicles, as part of wider capability development.

Pursuant to the answer of 13 February 2026 to question 111268 on Ministry of Defence: Redundancy, when the targeted voluntary exit scheme launched on 6 January 2026 will close.

Applications for the voluntary exit scheme closed on 23 January 2026. This is not a redundancy process but provides eligible employees with the opportunity to leave the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on a voluntary basis. The scheme is targeted at specific in-scope groups, based on future organisational needs, protecting areas of growth and retaining skills and talent. As stated in my response to Question 111268, this exercise is ongoing and the number of exits will not be known until later in the year. The Ministry of Defence will look to avoid redundancies wherever possible. If this becomes unavoidable, this will follow full and meaningful consultation with affected employees and Trade Unions.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the removal of the 10% Wear and Tear allowance on childminders transitioning to Making Tax Digital.

Childminders make a significant contribution to children’s development, learning, and wellbeing. The Government has eased rules on working from schools and community centres and increased early years funding rates above 2023 average fees. These increases reflect increased costs, and from April 2026, local authorities must pass at least 97 per cent of funding to providers. Only a small proportion of childminders with qualifying income over £50,000 will be mandated into Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax from April 2026. Childminders moving to MTD for income tax can continue to claim tax relief for household costs, wear and tear of household items and furniture, and food and drink, by deducting actual business costs. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business. The Government will monitor the impact of MTD for income tax on childminders and other home-based childcare providers in the same way as it will for all sole traders moving to MTD for income tax.

What assessment he has made of the ability of Defence Equipment and Support to incorporate a (a) UK manufacturing and (b) Land Industrial Strategy components into all procurement programmes.

Defence Equipment & Support works within operative procurement rules and frameworks, such as the Procurement Act 2023 and the Land Industrial Strategy, which encourage compliant bids from UK suppliers in the delivery of Defence equipment programmes, including body armour.

Communities and Local Government, what the cost to the public purse is of a) reinstating and b) holding previously cancelled local elections in May 2026.

I refer the Rt hon. and hon. Members to the Secretary of State’s Written Ministerial Statement of 23 February 2026 (HCWS1349). It is a longstanding principle that Government does not comment on or publish legal advice. The Government has no plans to publish individual correspondence from councils. Councils are being supported to deliver elections. The administration and cost of running local elections remain matters for local authorities, with wider costs handled in the usual way. We are also making available up to £63 million in new capacity funding for reorganisation areas.

When HMS Queen Elizabeth entered dry-dock.

HMS Queen Elizabeth entered dry dock in Rosyth on 29 August 2025 to undertake planned maintenance. Information relating to the maintenance status and movements of warships are not published to avoid compromising operational security.

What assessment he has made of the ability of Defence Equipment and Support to incorporate a UK sovereign component into all upcoming body armour procurement programmes.

Defence Equipment & Support works within operative procurement rules and frameworks, such as the Procurement Act 2023 and the Land Industrial Strategy, which encourage compliant bids from UK suppliers in the delivery of Defence equipment programmes, including body armour.

Whether the Maritime Fighting Web is part of the Digital Targeting Web.

I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to Question 112332 on 18 February 2026.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2026 to question 111937, what the outcome was of the meetings with Mauritius in a) January and b) July 2009 on the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to Question 109314 on 09 February 2026.

With reference to the speech by the Prime Minister at the Munich Security Conference on 14 February 2026, on which US capabilities he plans to decrease dependence.

The forthcoming Defence Investment Plan will set out how the UK will deliver the ambition of the Strategic Defence Review, ensuring we are integrated into NATO force structures by design but capable of acting as an integrated sovereign force when needed. This includes consideration of enabling capabilities such as munitions stockpiles, cyber resilience, space assets, and critical industrial capacity. While the UK-US defence relationship remains foundational to our defence and national security, and the UK derives great benefit from it, it is right that the UK continues to invest in a balanced mix of sovereign, bilateral and multilateral programmes. This ensures our Armed Forces can operate effectively with allies, lead when necessary, and maintain freedom of action in any future strategic environment.

What role the Callen-Lenz Nyan One-Way Effector will play in the Army’s deep fires capability.

The Army intends to field an initial One-Way Effector capability, including the Callen Lenz NYAN effector, as part of the UK Forces’ deep fires contribution on Operation CABRIT.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2026 to question 111937, what the respective views on the issue of sovereignty at that time were.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to Question 109314 on 09 February 2026.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2026 to question 111937, which Ministers were present at the meetings with Mauritius in a) January and b) July 2009.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to Question 109314 on 09 February 2026.