Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What estimate he has made of the cost of implementing the Government’s Digital ID scheme.

I refer the honourable Member to my answer to PQ93098.

How many statements of requirements have been made by (a) Defence Equipment & Support, (b) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and (c) the British Army on the Ajax programme since 2010.

The term ‘statements of requirements’ is not used by the Ajax programme and therefore it is not possible to answer the hon. Member’s question.

Food and Rural Affairs, by what date she expects the repair work on (a) St Ives and (b) Brownshill staunches to be completed.

The Environment Agency (EA) remains committed to maintaining and repairing these assets and has secured funding for repairs to St Ives Sluice and Brownshill Staunch Sluice through to 31 March 2027. Subject to successful procurement and weather conditions, the EA expects major on-site works to commence during the summer and autumn of 2026, when river conditions are most suitable for construction. These on-site works are expected to be completed by March 2027. The EA has set up a website to keep the local community up to date on both projects. I encourage you to share this website with your constituents.St Ives Sluice and Brownshill Sluice | Engage Environment Agency

What is the current planned completion date for the rebuild of Hinchingbrooke Hospital as part of the New Hospital Programme.

Pursuant to my answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 29225, the expected completion date will be confirmed following the approval of a Full Business Case as set out in HM Treasury’s Green Book and as is usual for large infrastructure projects.Construction of the main hospital build at Hinchingbrooke Hospital is expected to commence in 2027/28 as set out in the published Plan for Implementation.

Pursuant to the answer of 8th December 2025, to question 96358 on Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement, a) how much money was spent and b) what specific work was completed under Project RARDEN in each of the past ten years.

There has been no money spent or specific work carried out under Project Rarden in the last ten years.

What information his Department holds on the lifespan of the RAAC within Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

The safety of staff and patients at the seven predominantly reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) hospitals remains our utmost priority.An independent report, commissioned by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has confirmed that the seven RAAC hospitals can remain open beyond 2030 as a result of the continued efforts of trusts and the NHS England National RAAC programme to manage the presence of RAAC and deliver remediation, mitigation, and safety works. The report, published 12 December 2025, can be read in full at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/raac-strategic-planning-assessment-of-the-raac-7-hospitalsWe will continue to support NHS England’s national RAAC programme with £1.6 billion across the next four years, from 2026/27 to 2029/30, to ensure sufficient funding to complete the planned RAAC remediation works and meet the additional RAAC monitoring and mitigation costs identified in the report.Construction for all RAAC replacement schemes is currently planned to commence and substantially deliver between 2025 and 2030 as part of Wave 1 of the New Hospital Programme.

If he will publish the full scope of Project NYX.

Project NYX is a demonstrator to validate the concept of a Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform. Public information is available via the Defence Sourcing Portal, the Ministry of Defence’s tendering platform, and Find a Tender service. The competition for Project NYX began on 28 November 2025 with the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire release. The Invitation to Tender will be issued week of 12 January 2026 and close 27 February 2026. Completion will inform future procurement, with initial capability delivery expected from 2030. No decision has been made on platform numbers; these will depend on evolving strategies and requirements.

When the SG-1 Fathom will be brought into service.

Under Atlantic Bastion, announced in the Strategic Defence Review, the Royal Navy (RN) will be exploiting new technologies through a portfolio of crewed and uncrewed vehicles, sensors and nodes. Helsing, who make the SG-1 Fathom, conducted a technology demonstration for the RN in December 2025. The Royal Navy are running a competition for Atlantic Net, which is the first phase of Atlantic Bastion, and in full adherence to commercial regulation, will conduct a fair and transparent assessment against peer proposals ahead of any contract award.

What progress has he made in delivering the cobalt autonomy stack for the Royal Navy.

Under Atlantic Bastion, announced in the Strategic Defence Review, the Royal Navy will be exploiting new technologies through a portfolio of crewed and uncrewed vehicles, sensors and nodes. The Cobalt Autonomy Stack acts as an autonomy and mission control layer, sitting above a fleet of mixed assets and connecting their sensors and effectors. The Atlantic Bastion capability options submitted for consideration in the Defence Investment Plan include a blend of uncrewed systems, underwater payloads, options to increase lethality, and improvements to crewed platforms which are consistent with the transition to a Hybrid Navy.

If he will publish the full scope of the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Strike concept.

This Government remains firmly committed to the objectives set out in the Strategic Defence Review. The Royal Navy Warfighting Ready Plan 2029 provides an ambitious and strategic blueprint for how the Navy with strengthen and evolve its capabilities in line with the Strategic Defence Review, in order to fulfil its role to protect the nation and its interests at a time of growing maritime threat and technological advancement. Atlantic Shield and Strike form part of the Royal Navy Warfighting Ready Plan.Atlantic Shield and Atlantic Strike will drive significant transformation over the next four years, subject to resource allocation through the Defence Investment Plan.

If he will publish the full scope of the Royal Navy’s Atlantic Shield concept.

This Government remains firmly committed to the objectives set out in the Strategic Defence Review. The Royal Navy Warfighting Ready Plan 2029 provides an ambitious and strategic blueprint for how the Navy with strengthen and evolve its capabilities in line with the Strategic Defence Review, in order to fulfil its role to protect the nation and its interests at a time of growing maritime threat and technological advancement. Atlantic Shield and Strike form part of the Royal Navy Warfighting Ready Plan.Atlantic Shield and Atlantic Strike will drive significant transformation over the next four years, subject to resource allocation through the Defence Investment Plan.

With reference to the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth (CP 1388), page 85, what progress he has made in establishing a coordinating authority for market engagement within the National Armaments Director Group.

We have taken the first steps to deliver the Defence Industrial Strategy commitment to strengthen early engagement with industry and integrate market insight into force and capability development. The Market Engagement Coordinating Authority has been initiated within the National Armaments Director Group and is now in its development phase. Work is underway to build out its full capability, with Initial Operating Capability planned for Q1 2026. Once operational, the Authority will bring coherence and transparency to Defence’s engagement with industry, unify Defence’s demand signals and enable structured engagement earlier in the capability development cycle, giving suppliers confidence to invest and helping accelerate acquisition.

Whether Ministers in her Department will have a role in the decision on the chosen option for local government reorganisation in Cambridgeshire.

Decisions on local government reorganisation proposals are subject to collective agreement across government.

Between what dates has the Ajax programme previously been paused and for what reasons.

Issues of noise and vibration were recognised in mid-2020, with a stop notice issued in June 2021. All dynamic movement and transition activity was halted whilst the programme underwent a significant reset. The Army resumed training on Ajax in 2023 and paused later again in 2025.

When she plans to publish the police reform white paper.

A Police Reform White Paper is being developed in partnership with policing. This is a comprehensive package of reform to policing in England and Wales that will strip out duplication and waste and ensure policing can keep up with the fast-changing nature of crime.This is a once-in-a-generation moment for policing, and it is important that the reforms reflect the Home Secretary’s ambition. We will publish the White Paper in early 2026.

What specific changes have been made by General Dynamics in the last five years to resolve issues related directly to noise and vibration identified with the Ajax programme prior to the declaration of Initial Operating Capability.

A significant and in-depth review of the platform was undertaken by a joint Authority and General Dynamics team in 2020 -2021 to confirm the causes of noise and vibration, identify solutions and validate them through extensive testing.The Ajax platforms were thoroughly assessed using a Noise and Vibration calculator (in line with Health and Safety Executive advice) to determine the safe operating envelopes for the platform across different speeds and terrains. Whole Body and Hand Arm Vibration levels were well understood, and effective mitigations were in place. Noise levels have been well documented, and an effective hearing protection and combined communication system has been implemented.Following this review several actions were taken to reduce crew exposure to noise and vibration.  These included:Improving overall Ajax build quality.Review and amendment of build tolerances for key crew interfaces such as seats and control handles.Changes to seat structures to provide greater vibration attenuation.Improvements to track tensioning procedures to ensure correct track tension which reduces vibration.

How many Ajax-platform vehicles, broken down by variant, had been delivered to the British Army as of 1st December 2025.

170 Ajax platforms have been delivered to Field Army Units up to and including 1 December 2025. The breakdown by variant is as follows: AJAX87ARES33ATHENA25ARGUS3APOLLO13ATLAS9

How many Challenger 2 tanks remain in service with cavalry regiments following the donation of tanks to Ukraine and the conversion programme to Challenger 3.

There are 285 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks in service in the British Army. The Ministry of Defence does not break down equipment numbers further due to operational sensitivity. Eight vehicles are allocated to Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) for the design, build and testing phase of Challenger 3 conversion. The manufacturing phase is yet to start.

What element of Ajax Initial Operating Capability was declared by General Dynamics on 23 July 2025.

The Initial Operating Capability for the Ajax Programme was not declared by General Dynamics on 23 July 2025.

How many Challenger 2 tanks have now begun conversion to Challenger 3.

There are 285 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks in service in the British Army. The Ministry of Defence does not break down equipment numbers further due to operational sensitivity. Eight vehicles are allocated to Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) for the design, build and testing phase of Challenger 3 conversion. The manufacturing phase is yet to start.