Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1,381–1,400 of 4,542 · this parliament
When was the last inspection of MBR Acres under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
The last audit at MBR Acres occurred in November 2025.The Animals in Science Regulation Unit conducts both announced and unannounced audits to assure establishments are compliant with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, the terms of their licences and the Code of Practice.
Whether veterans groups were consulted on the six lawful and deliverable protections in the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill.
The Government has announced new protections and safeguards designed specifically for veterans that were not included in the 2023 Legacy Act, and that respond directly to the views expressed by veterans during engagements that the Government has undertaken. All of the protections that the Government has announced are being introduced in order to protect and ensure fair treatment of any veteran who is asked to engage with legacy mechanisms. The Government continues to engage closely with veterans and their representatives at both ministerial and official level, and to listen to their views. This includes meetings with the UK Veterans Commissioners, the Royal British Legion, and specific regimental associations.
If he will publish the full scope of the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme for under-25s.
The Armed Forces Foundation Year Scheme (‘Gap Year’) helps deliver on the Strategic Defence Review 2025’s recommendation that Defence must offer novel ways of entry into the Armed Forces that attract more people from a wider range of backgrounds; options included offering shorter commitments that appeal to more of society. The Services are finalising their Gap Year plans, including the specifics on terms of engagement, professional training and military qualifications. Services will have the flexibility to provide the most appropriate employment, experiences and skills that offer best value to both participants and Defence. It is intended that participants will be remunerated with equivalency to Regular personnel, with pay, allowances and pension arrangements to be finalised prior to implementation. The schemes will start as a pilot during 2026, to understand the impact and measure success. The pilot is expected to include 150 entrants, with an intention to increase capacity for future cohorts. The total cost to Defence to deliver the pilot scheme is £13M, which will be drawn from existing training and workforce budgets. No costing has yet been completed for future cohorts; which will be informed by the pilot scheme. Participants will undertake their Foundation Years in the enlisted recruit entry rank for each Service, on enlisted terms of engagement. Following completion of training, Royal Navy participants will be classed as Able Seaman Class 2, Army participants will be classed as Private soldiers (or capbadge equivalent) and RAF participants will be classed as Air Specialist 2. The Royal Navy is developing a one-year scheme for sailors with employment offered across operational surface platforms in non-technical activities with participants living and working alongside sailors on ships at sea.The Army is developing an 18-month training scheme, with roles varied across specific trades in the Infantry, Royal Artillery and Royal Logistic Corps.The RAF is developing a one-year programme which will involve participants working alongside Regulars from the RAF’s twelve professions, working across all departments and gaining an understanding of the potential roles available within the RAF.
With reference to the Written Ministerial Statement on the Ajax Investigation (HCWS1212), published on 18th December 2025, what are the 45 points of inspection each Ajax vehicle has undergone.
The 45-point check is a comprehensive inspection of the vehicle for serviceability, functionality and condition of systems and components. It focuses on a number of areas:· Vehicle usage data.· Track and running gear, including track tension.· Driver and Crew compartments, including seats and controls.· Vehicle superstructure, including armour, engine decks and Powerpack.· Collective Protection and Environmental Control System.· Communication and Information Systems.· Noise and Vibration Harshness modifications.
With reference to the Written Ministerial Statement on the Ajax Investigation (HCWS1212), published on 18th December 2025, who are the independent group of experts supporting the investigation.
It would not be appropriate to comment on the individuals undertaking and supporting the ongoing investigations at this stage as to do so could prejudice the outcomes of the investigations. Their work is ongoing.
How many (a) RCH155 and (b) Boxer-variants will each Royal Artillery regiment be equipped with.
The Mobile Fires Platform Project which will deliver the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) Calibre Wheeled Artillery System intended to be mounted on Boxer, remains in its assessment phase and is subject to contract. It is therefore too early to confirm platform numbers, delivery timelines and expected in-service dates. Analysis of future equipment fielding is ongoing. We are making good progress however with the purchase of two of these systems which are undergoing further testing.
What is the approval rate percentage of shotgun licence renewals within the target timeframe for Cambridgeshire Constabulary compared to the national average.
The issuing of firearms certificates, resourcing of firearms licensing teams and the efficiency of police forces, including the timeframe taken for processing shotgun licence renewals, is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police and Police and Crime Commissioners. Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Bedfordshire Police and Hertfordshire Constabulary work together on firearms licensing as part of a tripartite arrangement between the forces and report to each of the relevant Chief Officers.The Home Office does not routinely collect data on the percentage of shotgun licence renewal applications that are approved within the target time of four months for each police force.However, the National Policing Chiefs Council (NPCC) lead for Firearms Licensing now publishes quarterly performance data for firearms licensing in all police forces in England and Wales. The data is published on the NPCC website at firearms-licensing-2526-q2-headlines.pdf and includes a combined percentage figure for the number of applications for the grant and renewal of licensing applications completed within four months of their receipt, including for Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
What the projected cost of the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme is in (a) 2026-27, (b) 2027-28 and (c) 2028-29.
The Armed Forces Foundation Year Scheme (‘Gap Year’) helps deliver on the Strategic Defence Review 2025’s recommendation that Defence must offer novel ways of entry into the Armed Forces that attract more people from a wider range of backgrounds; options included offering shorter commitments that appeal to more of society. The Services are finalising their Gap Year plans, including the specifics on terms of engagement, professional training and military qualifications. Services will have the flexibility to provide the most appropriate employment, experiences and skills that offer best value to both participants and Defence. It is intended that participants will be remunerated with equivalency to Regular personnel, with pay, allowances and pension arrangements to be finalised prior to implementation. The schemes will start as a pilot during 2026, to understand the impact and measure success. The pilot is expected to include 150 entrants, with an intention to increase capacity for future cohorts. The total cost to Defence to deliver the pilot scheme is £13M, which will be drawn from existing training and workforce budgets. No costing has yet been completed for future cohorts; which will be informed by the pilot scheme. Participants will undertake their Foundation Years in the enlisted recruit entry rank for each Service, on enlisted terms of engagement. Following completion of training, Royal Navy participants will be classed as Able Seaman Class 2, Army participants will be classed as Private soldiers (or capbadge equivalent) and RAF participants will be classed as Air Specialist 2. The Royal Navy is developing a one-year scheme for sailors with employment offered across operational surface platforms in non-technical activities with participants living and working alongside sailors on ships at sea.The Army is developing an 18-month training scheme, with roles varied across specific trades in the Infantry, Royal Artillery and Royal Logistic Corps.The RAF is developing a one-year programme which will involve participants working alongside Regulars from the RAF’s twelve professions, working across all departments and gaining an understanding of the potential roles available within the RAF.
What is the total cost of facility time in the latest period for which reporting is available, across all organisations, broken down by organisation, where that cost is paid by the public purse.
The most recent public-sector trade union facility time data, broken down by organisation, for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 is published here on .gov.uk.
With reference to the Urgent Question HMP Leyhill: Offender Abscondments, how many of the 57 prisoner abscondments that occurred in 2025 remained at large as of 1 January 2026.
There were 57 absconds in the year ending March 2025. Data on absconds is published annually in the HMPPS Annual Digest: HMPPS Annual Digest 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK. This only includes a 30-day reference point for whether prisoners remained at large. Data for April 2025 to March 2026 will be published in July 2026 as part of the next HMPPS Annual Digest.Public protection is our top priority. When a prisoner absconds, police are immediately notified and are responsible for locating the offender. The majority of absconders are quickly recaptured and returned to custody.Those who abscond face serious consequences, including being returned to closed prison conditions where they may serve up to two additional years on conviction. Prisoners subject to parole decisions will likely face longer before they are released.
What rank those participating in the Armed Forces Foundation Scheme will hold in the a) Army, b) Royal Navy and c) Royal Air Force.
The Armed Forces Foundation Year Scheme (‘Gap Year’) helps deliver on the Strategic Defence Review 2025’s recommendation that Defence must offer novel ways of entry into the Armed Forces that attract more people from a wider range of backgrounds; options included offering shorter commitments that appeal to more of society. The Services are finalising their Gap Year plans, including the specifics on terms of engagement, professional training and military qualifications. Services will have the flexibility to provide the most appropriate employment, experiences and skills that offer best value to both participants and Defence. It is intended that participants will be remunerated with equivalency to Regular personnel, with pay, allowances and pension arrangements to be finalised prior to implementation. The schemes will start as a pilot during 2026, to understand the impact and measure success. The pilot is expected to include 150 entrants, with an intention to increase capacity for future cohorts. The total cost to Defence to deliver the pilot scheme is £13M, which will be drawn from existing training and workforce budgets. No costing has yet been completed for future cohorts; which will be informed by the pilot scheme. Participants will undertake their Foundation Years in the enlisted recruit entry rank for each Service, on enlisted terms of engagement. Following completion of training, Royal Navy participants will be classed as Able Seaman Class 2, Army participants will be classed as Private soldiers (or capbadge equivalent) and RAF participants will be classed as Air Specialist 2. The Royal Navy is developing a one-year scheme for sailors with employment offered across operational surface platforms in non-technical activities with participants living and working alongside sailors on ships at sea.The Army is developing an 18-month training scheme, with roles varied across specific trades in the Infantry, Royal Artillery and Royal Logistic Corps.The RAF is developing a one-year programme which will involve participants working alongside Regulars from the RAF’s twelve professions, working across all departments and gaining an understanding of the potential roles available within the RAF.
How many RCH155 does he plan to purchase in total.
The Mobile Fires Platform Project which will deliver the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) Calibre Wheeled Artillery System intended to be mounted on Boxer, remains in its assessment phase and is subject to contract. It is therefore too early to confirm platform numbers, delivery timelines and expected in-service dates. Analysis of future equipment fielding is ongoing. We are making good progress however with the purchase of one of these systems which is undergoing further testing.
What is the range of Ajax without refuelling.
Notwithstanding, the current reviews I can tell him that the operational range of the Ajax platform will be confirmed once the Capability Drop 4 build standard is reached, following Reliability Growth Trials.
What assessment has he made of the potential merits of procuring the BAE CV90 as a replacement infantry fighting vehicle for Warrior.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 98364 on 17 December 2025, which remains extant: The Ministry of Defence continually assesses its current and planned capabilities to ensure that it is appropriately equipped to face any adversary. The CV90 was one of the vehicles considered during the competition for the Scout Specialist Vehicle. An evaluation has not occurred since the Ajax contract was awarded.
If he will publish the outcome of his Department's internal investigation on Matthew Doyle before he was nominated for a peerage.
As a matter of policy we do not publish information relating to individuals' peerage nominations.
Pursuant to the answer of 18th December 2025, to question 100119 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what discussions his Department has had with (a) General Dynamics, (b) the Senior Responsible Officer and (c) the British Army on the Ajax programme between 23 July 2025 and Exercise Titan Storm.
As the hon. Member is aware I have directed a Ministerial review that covers elements of his question. I will update the House in due course.
On what date his Department was first informed a) informally and b) formally by General Dynamics that Initial Operating Capability for Ajax had been achieved.
Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for the Armoured Cavalry Programme (commonly known as Ajax) was announced on 5 November 2025 by the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry. IOC was not declared by General Dynamics.
Pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2025, to question 35843 on Marshall Bioresources: Audit, when was the last a) announced and b) unannounced audit of MBR Acres in the Huntingdon constituency.
The last announced audit at MBR Acres occurred in November 2025. The last unannounced audit occurred in April 2024.The Animals in Science Regulation Unit conducts both announced and unannounced audits to assure establishments are compliant with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, the terms of their licences and the Code of Practice.
How many emergency visa extensions has his department applied for HMPPS staff since 1 November 2025.
The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
How many applicants for the role of Armed Forces Commissioner have been interviewed as of 1 January 2026.
Five candidates have been interviewed for the role of the Armed Forces Commissioner to date. The recruitment follows the Governance Code on Public Appointments, which is designed to ensure the process is fair, open, and transparent. We are committed to appointing the right person for this critical role, which is central to delivering a trusted and effective service for our people. It is imperative that the Armed Forces Commissioner and their office are set up for success to ensure maximum effect. It is expected that the Commissioner will be appointed this year and their office operational from April, as previously stated.