Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

What additional support from the Global F-35 programme has the Royal Navy received in order to meet Full Operational Capability for the recent deployment of the Carrier Strike Group.

I am withholding the specific criteria for achieving Full Operating Capability as it would harm the security and capability of the Armed Forces. The declaration of Full Operating Capability remains on track. The decision will be based on objective criteria and the subjective assessment of the Senior Responsible Owner, following detailed and rigorous analysis, which will be captured in the Full Operating Capability acceptance case report.

With reference to paragraph 5 of the Committee of Public Accounts report entitled The UK’s F-35 stealth fighter capability, HC1232, what steps he has taken to help tackle increases in the F-35 stealth fighter capacity programme’s whole-life costs.

This will be achieved through routine Departmental financial management throughout the life of the F-35 fleet to the out-of-service date.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 79293 on Offences against Children: Criminal Investigation, how many phases will Operation Beaconport have; and if she will set out the scope of each phase.

A new national police operation into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, Operation BEACONPORT, is now underway and being overseen by the NCA in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and other policing partners, as recommended in Baroness Casey’s report. This will identify more perpetrators, give victims the justice they deserve, ensure best practice is shared, and equip the system to deal with complex cases more effectively.This will be done through assistance to live investigations through support and guidance, a review of cases where they were closed with no further action, improving operating models to ensure child sexual exploitation and abuse is treated as serious and organised crime, and ensuring technology is harnessed to identify vulnerable children and safeguard them. It will also identify the prolific perpetrators carrying out these heinous offences.Terms of Reference are being discussed and agreed with policing partners with future budgets subject to the department’s allocation process.The closed case review element will have phases running concurrently. Each phase will build on the last.

How many prisoners have been released in error from HMP Littlehey since 5 July 2024.

Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government. On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan setting out initial steps to address this issue. Totals for releases in error, including a breakdown by releasing prison (or Prisoner Escort Custody Services), are published each July in the HMPPS Annual Digest, available via HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2024 to March 2025 - GOV.UK, and provide data up to March 2025. Breakdowns of the number of people who have been released in error since April 2025 cannot be provided because it would form a subset of releases in error data which underpins future versions of these Official Statistics. The Government is determined to fix the issue of mistaken releases and ensure the public is properly protected.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of implementing a pay-per-mile charge for electric vehicles on their drivers.

The Government keeps the tax system under review, with changes announced at fiscal events and careful consideration given to the impacts of any changes.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 79293 on Offences against Children: Criminal Investigation, what her timetable is for setting the terms of reference for Operation Beaconport.

A new national police operation into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, Operation BEACONPORT, is now underway and being overseen by the NCA in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and other policing partners, as recommended in Baroness Casey’s report. This will identify more perpetrators, give victims the justice they deserve, ensure best practice is shared, and equip the system to deal with complex cases more effectively.This will be done through assistance to live investigations through support and guidance, a review of cases where they were closed with no further action, improving operating models to ensure child sexual exploitation and abuse is treated as serious and organised crime, and ensuring technology is harnessed to identify vulnerable children and safeguard them. It will also identify the prolific perpetrators carrying out these heinous offences.Terms of Reference are being discussed and agreed with policing partners with future budgets subject to the department’s allocation process.The closed case review element will have phases running concurrently. Each phase will build on the last.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 79293 on Offences against Children: Criminal Investigation, when she expects phase one of Operation Beaconport to conclude.

A new national police operation into group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, Operation BEACONPORT, is now underway and being overseen by the NCA in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and other policing partners, as recommended in Baroness Casey’s report. This will identify more perpetrators, give victims the justice they deserve, ensure best practice is shared, and equip the system to deal with complex cases more effectively.This will be done through assistance to live investigations through support and guidance, a review of cases where they were closed with no further action, improving operating models to ensure child sexual exploitation and abuse is treated as serious and organised crime, and ensuring technology is harnessed to identify vulnerable children and safeguard them. It will also identify the prolific perpetrators carrying out these heinous offences.Terms of Reference are being discussed and agreed with policing partners with future budgets subject to the department’s allocation process.The closed case review element will have phases running concurrently. Each phase will build on the last.

What criteria he plans to use to declare Full Operating Capability for the F-35 fleet.

I am withholding the specific criteria for achieving Full Operating Capability as it would harm the security and capability of the Armed Forces. The declaration of Full Operating Capability remains on track. The decision will be based on objective criteria and the subjective assessment of the Senior Responsible Owner, following detailed and rigorous analysis, which will be captured in the Full Operating Capability acceptance case report.

When the next meeting is of the Defence growth board; and how regularly does it meet.

The Defence Growth Board last met on 3 November 2025, and the next meeting will be after the Budget.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to question 82442 on Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties, where evidence on the impact of the changes so far should be submitted to.

In March 2023, the previous government published its response to the new alcohol duty system consultation which ran from October 2021 to January 2022. Within that response was a commitment to evaluate the impacts of the new rates and structures three years after the changes take effect on 1 August 2023. The previous government’s response can be found here: The new alcohol duty system: final consultation response HMRC and HM Treasury began to monitor the impacts of the new rates and structure before the changes were introduced on 1 August 2023. The timeframes committed to should be an appropriate amount of time to gather useful and accurate data that could be used to understand the impacts in the alcohol market. Plans are being formulated within HMRC for discussions with business via their trade associations as part of the evaluation work. In the meantime, the government always welcomes written feedback direct from parliamentarians and their constituents.

With reference to page 23 of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published on 8 September 2025, CP 1388, what progress he has made on determining which banks will form part of the defence industrial base.

Banks and other financial services companies, whose capital and expertise we need to invest and grow the defence sector, are being engaged in the development of the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy through the Defence Investors Advisory Group. This engagement informs both Government, industry and the investor community on what types of opportunity are appropriate, and how barriers to investment in defence can be removed while making the sector more attractive for private investment. This includes venture capital, private equity, banks and pension funds. This will deliver growth and strengthen the UK defence industrial base. The Defence Finance and Investment Strategy will set this out and is due to be published in early 2026.

How many people have been injured by fireworks in each of the past five years.

The following table shows the number of hospital admissions due to “discharge of firework” in each of the past five financial years: External causes admissions data:Financial yearDischarge of firework2020/211162021/221322022/231092023/241132024/25123Source: Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity, available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-admitted-patient-care-activity These figures do not represent the total number of people injured by fireworks as data is not collected for those who do not attend accident and emergency or are not admitted.

How many people have been prosecuted for the dangerous use of fireworks each year for the past five years.

Offences relating to the dangerous use or misuse of fireworks can be prosecuted under Section80 of the Explosives Act 1875 (throw or light a firework in a highway, street or public place),Section 131(1(d)) and Section 161(2(b)) of Highways Act 1980 (light a fire/discharge afirework/firearm within 50 feet of a public highway), Section 28 of the Town and Police ClausesAct 1847 (throw a firework/missile/discharge a firearm/light a fire in the street) and Section 2 ofthe Football (Offences) Act 1991 (throw a missile onto a football pitch or adjacent area). Management information is held by the CPS showing the number of offences in which aprosecution commenced during each of the last five years for the above legislation. 2020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025Explosives Act 1875 { 80 }1323152116Football (Offences) Act 1991 { 2 and 5 }1462170154119Highways Act 1980 { 161(2)(b) }12112Town Police Clauses Act 1847 { 28 }61876Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System Of these charges the CPS is unable to identify which offences specifically involved fireworks asopposed to other types of missiles, without a manual review of each case, which would incurdisproportionate cost. There is no indication of the final outcome or if the charged offence was the substantive charge atthe time of finalisation. It is often the case that an individual defendant is charged with more thanone offence.

Who the members of the Defence Growth Board are.

The members of the Defence Growth Board include the Secretary of State for Defence, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary of State for Business.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to question 82442 on Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties, when HMRC will begin the evaluation of the new rates and structures.

In March 2023, the previous government published its response to the new alcohol duty system consultation which ran from October 2021 to January 2022. Within that response was a commitment to evaluate the impacts of the new rates and structures three years after the changes take effect on 1 August 2023. The previous government’s response can be found here: The new alcohol duty system: final consultation response HMRC and HM Treasury began to monitor the impacts of the new rates and structure before the changes were introduced on 1 August 2023. The timeframes committed to should be an appropriate amount of time to gather useful and accurate data that could be used to understand the impacts in the alcohol market. Plans are being formulated within HMRC for discussions with business via their trade associations as part of the evaluation work. In the meantime, the government always welcomes written feedback direct from parliamentarians and their constituents.

When was the Core Person Record service (a) proposed, (b) developed and (c) launched in pilot form.

The Core Person Record service was proposed in April 2023.The service started development in October 2023 and was launched in pilot form in June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, when returning officers will be informed of whether Huntingdonshire District Council elections will go ahead in 2026.

Our starting point is for all elections scheduled for May 2026 to go ahead unless there is strong justification otherwise.Returning Officers are not directly informed by the Government about whether local elections will proceed. They act independently, complying with legislation and following guidance provided by the Electoral Commission.

When new prisons in (a) Buckinghamshire, (b) Lancashire and (c) Leicestershire were first announced by his Department.

Plans to build a potential new prison in Buckinghamshire were first announced by the Ministry of Justice in December 2020. Plans to build potential new prisons in Lancashire and Leicestershire were first announced by the Department in June 2021.This Government will now deliver those prisons as part of our 10-Year Capacity Strategy, under which we aim to deliver 14,000 additional prison places by 2031, with the expectation that they will become operational by 2032. We are currently on track to do so, having already delivered c.2,600 since taking office, including 1,500 places through the new prison HMP Millsike, which opened earlier this year.

What discussions has he held with the European Commissioner for Defence and Space on the potential merits of enhanced UK-EU cooperation under Security Action for Europe.

The UK is committed to a broad and constructive relationship with the EU. We are working to implement the package agreed at the UK-EU Summit and build on our landmark Security and Defence Partnership – which includes taking forward discussions on a bilateral participation agreement for enhanced cooperation under the EU’s Security Action For Europe (SAFE) instrument. As part of these efforts, the Defence Secretary continues to work constructively with all of our European allies, including with the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, to enhance Europe's defence industrial capacity and production and to deliver the critical capabilities to support Ukraine. We will not pre-empt the outcome of discussions with our European partners, this Government has been clear that we would only agree to a deal if we were satisfied it provided value to the UK and UK industry.

How many people have been prosecuted for the illegal sale of fireworks each year for the past five years.

This information is not held by the Department of Business and Trade. Local Council Trading Standards prosecute cases of illegal fireworks sale. Prosecutions for illegal sales of fireworks are made under the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 (UK-wide extent) and the Fireworks Act 2003 (GB-wide extent). The Ministry of Justice collects and publishes information from Courts and Sentencing data for England and Wales in the Criminal Justice System Statistics Quarterly publications.