Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Under the Immigration Platform Technologies programme, what are the three integrated modern technology services that have been delivered.

The three integrated modern technology services that were delivered by IPT are: Access UK – Accessed via GOV.UK, this single online application service for all visa and immigration services allows our customers to complete their application, book an appointment, and pay for their service. It has taken large volumes of paper out of the system and integrates with Atlas, the caseworking system, preventing errors being made in the completion of applications. The Department uses Access to provide application services to all our core immigration routes including building emergency routes for crisis events such as Ukraine or Afghanistan.Atlas – This modern, resilient system is now the core immigration caseworking tool for HO. Atlas supports electronic documents, thereby taking significant amounts of paper out of the system. Because of increased automation, there are reduced handling costs, improved speed of processing and increased reliability of service.Person Identity Product – The Person Identity Product (PIP) is now the unified provider of all person related data services for Immigration Technology, showing the historic case information, co-ordinating the recording of Person & Identity related data, searching for an individual’s details, matching associated data and presenting data back to the end user. Please see 6 September 2022: Immigration Platform Technologies (IPT) Programme Accounting Officer Assessment - GOV.UK for further details.

How many prison places have been delivered through the Small Secure Houseblocks programme since 5 July 2024; and at which locations.

No places have yet been delivered under the Small Secure Houseblocks (SSH) programme. Following completion of the design stage, the programme is now in its main construction phase. Based on current plans, the Small Secure Houseblocks programme will deliver c.1,000 new Category C places and supporting ancillaries across the estate.The Government committed to delivering 14,000 additional prison places in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy. We are on track to deliver these by 2031, having delivered c.2,600 since taking office.

What is the full scope of Operation Olympic Defender.

Multinational Force Operation OLYMPIC DEFENDER (MNF-OOD) is a US led multinational force which provides national-level authority for centralised planning of combined space operations. The core members are the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and New Zealand. MNF-OOD's focus is to optimise space operations, improve mission assurance, enhance resilience of space-based systems and synchronise efforts to strengthen deterrence against hostile actors. UK Space Command is leading the UK's contribution. The UK's role is to analyse and share information about the space domain to ensure troops on the ground are aware of threats and their options to maintain access to space services.

What recent progress has she made in delivering the Emergency Services Mobile Communications programme.

Following the completion of two major re-procurements, the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) awarded the Mobile Services contract to BT/EE and the User Services contract to IBM in November and December 2024 respectively.The programme has completed a revised Programme Business Case which has been endorsed by the Senior Users of the 3 Emergency Services and those of the devolved nations. The Programme Business Case is expected to complete departmental and treasury approvals in early 2026. Our user community continues to be closely engaged in planning the deployment and rollout of the service and the safe transition from Airwave to ESN. Early adoption of a service ready solution is on track for early 2028 with a further target for complete transition from Airwave by the end of 2029.The main build of ESN masts to provide mobile coverage is largely complete - of a total of the extra 1047 masts due to be built, 987 are completed and operationally live. This is already providing a benefit to the public by enabling over one thousand additional 999 calls every month to be made in areas where previously there was no coverage. Work continues at pace to provide network access in areas where localised coverage is needed; these include densely populated communities, as well as sports stadiums, and shopping centres.The programme’s priority is to achieve the right balance between credible plans that ensures user confidence and the need to deliver ESN as quickly and safely as possible to enable the shutdown of Airwave.

What recent progress she has made in implementing the Asylum Transformation Programme.

The Asylum Transformation Programme is focused on improving the asylum journey by streamlining, simplifying and digitalising processes to speed up decision making and establishing an asylum accommodation system with the right capacity and optimum cost. The programme was formally established in 2022 and since that time has delivered a number of planned initiatives and will continue to deliver until programme closure. Recent Project delivery includes but is not limited to; AI tooling in Asylum case working, a two-way communication portal for legal representatives and the Home Office, improvement to age assessment data management and processes, and tooling that provides greater visibility of asylum accommodation availability across the estate.

What progress has she made on the design and pilot of AI tools to support asylum case working as part of the Asylum Transformation Programme.

The Asylum Case Summarisation (ACS) tool uses artificial intelligence (AI) to summarise asylum interview transcripts. The Asylum Policy Search (APS) tool is an AI search assistant that finds and summarises country policy information. The tools were designed as an aid for decision-makers to improve efficiency but do not, and cannot, replace any part of the decision-making process. APS has been rolled out and is accessible to all Asylum decision makers and ACS is in advances stages of development with a full roll out planned in the new year. Further tooling is being worked on including an asylum letter writing assistant for caseworkers.

Pursuant to the question of 10 September 2025 to Question 74120 on Armed Forces: Commonwealth, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the requirement for her Department to record the number of foreign and commonwealth service personnel who have paid for visas upon discharge on the number of foreign and commonwealth personnel staying in the UK after leaving the armed forces.

Non-UK service personnel who have completed four years’ service in the Armed Forces are eligible to apply for settlement in the UK under Appendix HM Armed Forces of the Immigration Rules. This route provides a pathway to settlement for non-UK service members and their dependants.

Based on the £34.7 billion cost of the deal for the Chagos Islands calculated by the Government Actuary’s Department, how much of the total figure will be paid by his department (a) each year and (b) in total.

The £34.7 billion figure is incorrect. The correct figure is £3.4 billion, which reflects the real costs of a treaty that lasts 99 years, with an average cost of £101 million per year.The treaty payments will be split between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Pursuant to the answer of 17th November 2025, to question 88464 on Prison Accommodation, how many a) places at new prisons, b) permanent cells at existing prisons and c) Rapid Deployment Cells will form the 350 places in Wales.

As set out in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, published in December 2024, we are delivering an additional 14,000 prison places, and aim to do so by 2031, having already delivered c.2,600 since taking office. The following table provides a breakdown of the places to be delivered in each region by new prison places, permanent cells at existing prisons and rapid deployment cells (RDCs), with each number rounded to the nearest 50 places. Due to rounding, total places may not align to the other categories.Region Total Places New Prison Places Permanent Cells RDCs South West & Centralc.3,250c.1,450c.1,600c.200South East & Eastc.2,4000c.2,100c.250Walesc.3500c.250c.100Midlandsc.2,750c.2,000c.700c.50North Westc.2,900c.1,700c.1,100c.100North Eastc.6500c.400c.200This breakdown represents current projections which may vary when compared to previous projections due to changes in programme scope or our delivery approach, as well as the inclusion in the original response of temporary additional places used in private prisons (which are not covered in the questions above).Due to rounding, and contingency within the programmes, our delivery total exceeds the 14,000 place commitment.

Pursuant to the answer of 17th November 2025, to question 88464 on Prison Accommodation, how many a) places at new prisons, b) permanent cells at existing prisons and c) Rapid Deployment Cells will form the 2,900 places in the North West.

As set out in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, published in December 2024, we are delivering an additional 14,000 prison places, and aim to do so by 2031, having already delivered c.2,600 since taking office. The following table provides a breakdown of the places to be delivered in each region by new prison places, permanent cells at existing prisons and rapid deployment cells (RDCs), with each number rounded to the nearest 50 places. Due to rounding, total places may not align to the other categories.Region Total Places New Prison Places Permanent Cells RDCs South West & Centralc.3,250c.1,450c.1,600c.200South East & Eastc.2,4000c.2,100c.250Walesc.3500c.250c.100Midlandsc.2,750c.2,000c.700c.50North Westc.2,900c.1,700c.1,100c.100North Eastc.6500c.400c.200This breakdown represents current projections which may vary when compared to previous projections due to changes in programme scope or our delivery approach, as well as the inclusion in the original response of temporary additional places used in private prisons (which are not covered in the questions above).Due to rounding, and contingency within the programmes, our delivery total exceeds the 14,000 place commitment.

Pursuant to the answer of 17th November 2025, to question 88464 on Prison Accommodation, how many a) places at new prisons, b) permanent cells at existing prisons and c) Rapid Deployment Cells will form the 2,400 places in the South East and East region.

As set out in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, published in December 2024, we are delivering an additional 14,000 prison places, and aim to do so by 2031, having already delivered c.2,600 since taking office. The following table provides a breakdown of the places to be delivered in each region by new prison places, permanent cells at existing prisons and rapid deployment cells (RDCs), with each number rounded to the nearest 50 places. Due to rounding, total places may not align to the other categories.Region Total Places New Prison Places Permanent Cells RDCs South West & Centralc.3,250c.1,450c.1,600c.200South East & Eastc.2,4000c.2,100c.250Walesc.3500c.250c.100Midlandsc.2,750c.2,000c.700c.50North Westc.2,900c.1,700c.1,100c.100North Eastc.6500c.400c.200This breakdown represents current projections which may vary when compared to previous projections due to changes in programme scope or our delivery approach, as well as the inclusion in the original response of temporary additional places used in private prisons (which are not covered in the questions above).Due to rounding, and contingency within the programmes, our delivery total exceeds the 14,000 place commitment.

What is the current status of all MOD sites listed within the Defence Estates Optimisation Programme.

Defence Estates Optimisation (DEO) has completed construction at 17 sites and has disposed of 30 Ministry of Defence sites. The status for the remaining disposal sites is listed in the House of Commons Defence Disposal Database report on the Gov.UK website. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disposal-database-house-of-commons-report

With reference to the news story entitled ‘Honour’-based abuse crackdown in raft of new measures, published on 26 August 2025, by when she plans to pilot a prevalence study into ‘honour’-based abuse.

'Honour’-based abuse is a serious form of abuse that nobody should have to experience. This is why we are tackling it through our mission to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade.To prevent and respond effectively to forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) it is essential that we understand the prevalence of these crimes.Building on the feasibility study conducted by the University of Birmingham in 2023/24, the Home Office has commissioned a pilot research project to support the development of a national prevalence estimate for forced marriage and female genital mutilation. This work is already underway.

How much was the UK contribution to Lots 39 and 40 of the $3.5 billion contract awarded to Raytheon on 31 July 2025, for the continued production of Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).

Lot 39 of the contract is expected to be placed by the end of 2025. Lot 40 of the contract is yet to be negotiated by the US Government. The UK proportionate contribution towards the $3.5 billion contract is classified as commercially sensitive information.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69526 on Army: Ajax Vehicles and Boxer Vehicles, will anti-tank platoons be equipped with a mix of Ajax and Boxer or one or the other depending on whether the unit is tracked or wheeled.

Anti-tank platoons within Armoured Infantry units will be equipped with Boxer variants.

With reference to page 135 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress has he made in establishing comprehensive oversight of a) assets, b) liabilities, c) rates of obsolescence and d) lifecycle costs across his Department's estate.

In line with the Strategic Defence Review 2025, the Ministry of Defence has established the following to support oversight of a) assets, b) liabilities, c) rates of obsolescence and d) lifecycle costs across his Department’s estate: (a) a centralised asset register,(b) a liability baseline,(c) introduced an obsolescence model for critical infrastructure,(d) and embedded lifecycle costing within the Defence Investment Plan to ensure transparency and alignment with the Strategic Defence Review 2025 objectives.

With reference to page 135 of his Department's document entitled Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 2 June 2025, what progress he has made in making Ministry of Defence sites available for (a) start-ups and (b) scale-ups to help nurture innovation.

In line with the Strategic Defence Review 2025, the Ministry of Defence has been reviewing its estate to identify land that it can release from current operational use. The purposes to which this land can be put is now being assessed. Some sites may become available for start-ups and scale-ups, supporting innovation in defence and technology sectors.

What recent progress has she made in implementing the 10K Additional Prison Places Estate Expansion Houseblocks and Refurbishment programme.

To date, the Houseblocks and Refurbishments programme has delivered c.1,000 places, c.200 of which were delivered under this Government. As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Capacity Strategy, we are committed to delivering 14,000 additional prison places, aiming to do so by 2031. We are currently on track to meet this target, having delivered c.2,600 since taking office.

Pursuant to the answer of 17th November 2025, to question 88464 on Prison Accommodation, how many a) places at new prisons, b) permanent cells at existing prisons and c) Rapid Deployment Cells will form the 3,250 places in the South West and Central region.

As set out in the 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, published in December 2024, we are delivering an additional 14,000 prison places, and aim to do so by 2031, having already delivered c.2,600 since taking office. The following table provides a breakdown of the places to be delivered in each region by new prison places, permanent cells at existing prisons and rapid deployment cells (RDCs), with each number rounded to the nearest 50 places. Due to rounding, total places may not align to the other categories.Region Total Places New Prison Places Permanent Cells RDCs South West & Centralc.3,250c.1,450c.1,600c.200South East & Eastc.2,4000c.2,100c.250Walesc.3500c.250c.100Midlandsc.2,750c.2,000c.700c.50North Westc.2,900c.1,700c.1,100c.100North Eastc.6500c.400c.200This breakdown represents current projections which may vary when compared to previous projections due to changes in programme scope or our delivery approach, as well as the inclusion in the original response of temporary additional places used in private prisons (which are not covered in the questions above).Due to rounding, and contingency within the programmes, our delivery total exceeds the 14,000 place commitment.

What progress has she made in replacing the key supplier for the 10K Additional Prison Places Estate Expansion Houseblocks and Refurbishment programme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 November 2025 to Question 87997.