Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2026 to answer 107227 on Challenger Tanks: Exports, what progress he has made in exploring export opportunities for Challenger 3 and its capabilities.

The Department continues to explore opportunities for the export of Challenger 3 capabilities with significant progress made to date. Providing further detail at this time would compromise commercial sensitivities.

With reference to page 12 of the Police reform white paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” (CP1489), what plans she has to bring forward legislative proposals for vetting standards to allow police forces to retrospectively suspend police officers under investigation for (a) domestic abuse and (b) sexual offences.

The recently published police reform White Paper sets out the Government’s plans to further strengthen the police vetting and misconduct systems These reforms will, for the first time, place police vetting standards into legislation. These new regulations will include robust measures which will enable forces to exclude individuals from policing who have a caution or conviction for relevant violence against women and girls offences, and will be subject to consultation with the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales (PABEW) Police forces have existing powers to suspend police officers who are subject to an allegation, but must first consider temporary redeployment to alternative duties or location. We will therefore strengthen these arrangements, placing greater requirements on police forces to suspend officers who are under investigation for crimes such as domestic abuse or sexual offences. Subject to the statutory consultation process, we intend to make these changes this summer.

When he plans to start the Ajax’s Capability Drop 4 standard Reliability Growth Trials.

It would not be appropriate to release a complete list of criteria as it could, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability of our Armed Forces. Additionally, I will await the findings of the current investigations before making a further decision the future of Ajax.

If the Ajax Programme is within the scope of the Defence Growth Deal for Wales announced in September 2025.

No, the AJAX Programme is outside the scope of the Defence Growth Deal for Wales. The aim of the Defence Growth Deal is to drive growth in Wales through connection, resilience, and collaboration. Centred around Autonomy, evolving a skilled workforce, enhancing sovereign capability, connecting companies to the defence sector across the rest of the UK and the world.

What additional capabilities will be included in Ajax Capability Drop 4 over Drop 3.

It would not be appropriate to release a complete list of criteria as it could, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability of our Armed Forces. Additionally, I will await the findings of the current investigations before making a further decision the future of Ajax.

What is the remit of the fleet experimental squadron.

Information on the remit of fleet experimental squadron can be found here: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2025/april/29/20250430-creation-of-dcto.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of operating in Ukraine and the High North simultaneously on (a) British Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force resources.

Defence continually reviews all current and planned commitments in line with established protocols to ensure they can be fully and appropriately resourced by the single Services. This process includes ongoing dynamic assessment and the allocation of resources as new requirements emerge. Defence’s planned commitments in relation to Ukraine and the High North have been properly resourced, deconflicted, and present no identified concurrency risks across the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force. Any additional requirements arising from future commitments will be assessed through established processes and resourced accordingly to ensure Defence maintains the highest standards of operational output.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the need to introduce a legal requirement to consider access to hospital helipads in any planning application in the vicinity of a hospital.

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The proposed new Framework gives substantial weight to the benefits of providing new or improved public service infrastructure, including healthcare facilities of all types. The consultation also sets out updated policy to make clear that public services should not have unreasonable restrictions placed on their current or permitted operation as a result of development being approved after they were established. This means that development proposals should be capable of being integrated effectively with existing public service activities and infrastructure in their vicinity. The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

What assessment he has made of the potential benefits of adopting the .338 calibre for Project Cairns.

Project CAIRNS is currently a pre-concept project and as such formal consideration of systems and specifications, including calibre, has not yet taken place.

By when will all current Ajax-family vehicles be brought up to Drop 3 standard.

All current Ajax-family vehicles will be at CD3 standard by October 2028.

With reference to page 12 of the Police reform white paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing (CP1489), what assessment she has made of the potential merits of decoupling the police allocation formula from overall police officer numbers for each force.

The Government’s Safer Streets Mission sets a clear expectation for policing to deliver safer communities and improved public confidence. An effective, well-supported police service is central to achieving this. That is why forces should have the right resources to tackle crime and keep communities safe.As announced in the police funding settlement and Police Reform White Paper, we are abolishing arbitrary officer headcounts from 2026-27, and are instead prioritising the introduction of a neighbourhood policing grant. This will ensure that forces are putting uniformed officers out into the community, where people want to see them, fighting crime on our streets.For 2026-27, the police funding settlement announced that a total of up to £363 million will be available to forces through the neighbourhood policing grant, to support the delivery of an additional 1,750 neighbourhood policing personnel by 31 March 2027.The Police Reform White Paper also set out our plans for a new Police Workforce Strategy, which will provide the structure and direction needed to modernise the policing workforce at a national level and build a profession fit for the future, while ensuring forces retain the flexibility to meet the specific needs of their local communities.

With reference to page 11 of the white paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing (CP1489), what her proposed timetable is for publishing new national policing guarantees.

The Home Secretary announced her plans to introduce a set of Local Policing Guarantees in the white paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” published on 26 January. Local Policing Guarantees will set out minimum levels of service expected across frontline policing across England and Wales, and therefore, on a national basis. The Local Policing Guarantees will be complemented by the introduction of performance targets into the Police Performance Framework.Publication of the Local Policing Guarantees and subsequent performance targets will happen as soon as possible following further engagement with the policing sector to provide assurances that the scope is reflective of operational policing.

With reference to page 11 of the Police reform white paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing (CP1489), from which financial year does the revised police funding formula apply.

The White Paper represents the most significant reforms to policing for nearly 200 years. The reforms to our policing system set out in the White Paper will have significant consequences for the way policing is funded in future. Changes to police governance, force mergers and the creation of the National Police Service require a new way of allocating funding between forces, aligned with these new structures.We will launch an independent review of police force structures, which will report in the summer. Once we have considered the outcome of the review, we will set out further proposals to reflect changes in the new model of policing.

What steps he is taking to improve the Royal Navy’s targeting decision cycle, including through the Navy AI Cell.

Subject to the Defence Investment Plan, the Royal Navy intends to use digital systems, data tools, and structures that allow maritime forces to contribute to a Digital Targeting Web that is effective across different domains and integrates with NATO allies.

What is the remit of the Royal Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office.

I refer the hon. Member to the response given to Question 105587 on 21 January 2026.

What is the scope of the Royal Navy’s Develop Directorate.

The Royal Navy’s Develop Directorate leads the development of future warfighting capability and acts as the Design Authority for naval capabilities of the future. It seeks to achieve the optimum mix of present and future warfighting technologies required for a modern, global and ready Royal Navy.​

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of integration between Project Asgard and Project Boyd.

The Strategic Defence Review outlined how the Armed Forces must complete the journey from a joint force to an Integrated Force underpinned by a common digital foundation and shared data. Project BOYD and Project ASGARD represent the Royal Air Force (RAF) and British Army’s respective contributions to this endeavour. While Project BOYD is led by the RAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office and Project ASGARD from the Army’s Information Directorate, both fall under the effort to establish the digital targeting web to connect ‘sensors’, ‘deciders’ and ‘effectors’ which will be implemented across all domains by the Integrated Force model. Learning captured by Project ASGARD and Project BOYD will be shared by both teams to inform future acquisition decisions.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Atlantic series deployments on deterring Russia’s Northern Fleet from deploying.

Through the First Sea Lords’ Warfighting Ready Plan, the Royal Navy is transforming to a Hybrid Navy, where crewed, uncrewed and autonomous capabilities are operating together to enhance our warfighting readiness. The Hybrid Navy is our response to maintaining comparative operational advantage over our adversaries. Atlantic Bastion is our concept for assuring our nuclear deterrent, protecting our critical underwater infrastructure and denying sea control to our adversaries. Atlantic Shield will deal with adversarial threats, followed by Atlantic Strike, which will take the fight to the enemy by sea, air or land.

What requirements changes have the Army made to the Early Capability Demonstrator platform as part of the Mobile Fires Platform programme.

The Early Capability Demonstrator platform provides the common design baseline and technical specification for both the UK and Germany. The UK has not added any additional requirements changes.

With reference to page 9 of her Department's White Paper entitled From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, published on 26 January 2026, CP1489, if she will publish a list of the legislation she intends to modernise.

The Home Secretary launched an independent review of public order and hate crime legislation on 5 October 2025.The review will address whether the existing legislation, including the Public Order Act 1986, is effective and proportionate, whether it adequately protects communities from intimidation and hate and whether it strikes a fair and sustainable balance between the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest, and the need to prevent disorder and keep communities safe.To lead this vital work, the Home Secretary has appointed Lord Ken Macdonald of River Glaven KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions and one of the UK’s most respected legal authorities. His independence and expertise will ensure a rigorous and impartial review.The review is underway and will report its findings to the Home Secretary by spring 2026.