Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 79669 on Police National Database, what options for future delivery of the Police National Database transformation programme she is considering.

The Home Office is currently considering a variety of options for future delivery of the Police National Database transformation programme. Information will be issued once a decision has been taken. The Home Office is unable to provide further information at this stage.Service continuity of this vital intelligence system and critical national infrastructure is our primary concern and that will enable the long-term development and modernisation of our national intelligence capabilities.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 79669 on Police National Database, when the (a) platform upgrade and (b) transition to the cloud will take place.

The Home Office is currently considering a variety of options for future delivery of the Police National Database transformation programme. Information will be issued once a decision has been taken. The Home Office is unable to provide further information at this stage.Service continuity of this vital intelligence system and critical national infrastructure is our primary concern and that will enable the long-term development and modernisation of our national intelligence capabilities.

Pursuant to the answer of 20th October 2025, to question 79734 on Prison Accommodation: Procurement, which projects previously supplied by ISG have now been taken over.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 79734, new replacement contractors have been appointed on all the projects previously supplied by ISG and ESS across the Houseblocks and Refurbishments and Category D Expansion Programmes in line with contingency plans.Work is underway to enable us to recommence delivery across these projects. We are committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and are on track to do so by 2031, with places fully operational by 2032. We have already delivered c.2,600 of these since taking office.

Pursuant to the answer of 20th October 2025 to question 79734 on Prison Accommodation: Procurement, by when a programme is planned to be developed to recommence delivery.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 79734, new replacement contractors have been appointed on all the projects previously supplied by ISG and ESS across the Houseblocks and Refurbishments and Category D Expansion Programmes in line with contingency plans.Work is underway to enable us to recommence delivery across these projects. We are committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and are on track to do so by 2031, with places fully operational by 2032. We have already delivered c.2,600 of these since taking office.

How many planes was the F-35 training squadron reduced by in order to facilitate the recent deployment of the Carrier Strike Group.

The Lightning Fleet operates as a total Force, individual airframes are not permanently allocated to units. They are allocated on a day-to-day basis to meet daily tasking requirements of each unit. Throughout the period of the Carrier Strike Group deployment the Operational Conversion Unit 207 Squadron has operated sufficient airframes to meet all its planned training and course output requirements.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2025 to Question 82447 on Ministry of Justice: ICT, how many of the 1026 devices lost were (a) secure laptops, (b) secure mobile phones and (c) authentication devices.

Of the 1026 devices lost, 317 were laptops (30.9%), and 709 were mobile phones (69.1%). There were 0 authentication devices.All of these devices were secured to HMG standards, using encryption and other methods to ensure that data on them remains inaccessible if the device is lost or stolen.

How many (a) people have applied to and (b) applications have been approved for the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme since that scheme was established.

Detailed figures on applications or approvals under the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme are not currently published. However, we have set out that as of 5 November 2025, 57 people have been transferred from France to the UK under this scheme. We continue to monitor engagement with the scheme to ensure it is being accessed by those wishing to consider making an application. This scheme is part of a pilot initiative designed to be responsive and scalable, and operational details are sensitive. We will not be disclosing such information as it could inadvertently assist the organised immigration crime gangs that are behind small boats crossings.A full evaluation of the pilot will be completed following its conclusion in June 2026.

What plans she has to update data used to construct indicators for the calculation of Police Main Grant.

This Government is committed to ensuring that policing has the resources it needs and the allocation of funding to police forces remains an important consideration.The Chancellor has announced a real terms increase in police spending power over the next three years. As with previous years, decisions on police force funding allocations for 2026-27, including the police main grant, will be set out at the forthcoming police funding settlement.

How many (a) letters and (b) emails the Prime Minister has received from the Member for Great Yarmouth.

All Members of Parliament are able to make representations on behalf of their constituents. It would not be appropriate to disclose the volume of correspondence of individual MPs.

What the timeline is for completion of new service accommodation at RAF Marham.

Four new Single Living Accommodation blocks are under construction at RAF Marham. The first block is scheduled for completion and handover for occupation on 4 December 2025, with two further blocks due for completion by February 2026. The final block is planned for completion in April 2027.There are no plans for the construction of new Service Family Accommodation at RAF Marham.

When he will set out a timetable for the purchase of the remaining 90 F-35 aircraft his Department committed to purchasing.

The recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review are being taken forward in the Defence Investment Plan.

With reference to the Fifty First Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2024-26 on The UK’s F-35 stealth fighter capability, HC 1232, published on 31 October 2025, what steps is he taking to address the lack of a standoff weapon to attack ground-based targets from a safe distance.

The F-35B Lightning's fifth-generation capabilities are transforming its operational effectiveness. The Lightning uses advanced stealth low observable capabilities and unparalleled sensor fusion and threat detection. When combined with the Lightning Electronic Warfare, Jamming and Electronic Attack capabilities, it provides the capability to dominate a highly contested battlespace.In parallel, its sensor fusion and advanced secure datalinks enable it to share threat and advanced targeting information with other UK offensive assets and those of Allies in real time to coordinate with a wide range of other stand-off weapon systems across maritime, land and air-based systems to achieve a wider decisive Joint Fires effect.The future F-35B munitions strategy is being addressed through the Defence Investment Plan.

What progress he has made in building the sovereign Air Signature Assessment Facility.

A revised Business Case for a Sovereign Low Observable Verification Facility will be submitted in 2027. We do not comment on the stealth characteristics of individual aircraft for very obvious operational reasons.

With reference to paragraph 5 of the Fifty First Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2024-26 on The UK’s F-35 stealth fighter capability, HC 1232, published on 31 October 2025, for what reason the out of service date was extended from 2048 to 2069.

The decision to extend the out-of-service date for the UK F-35B fleet to 2069 was made by the previous Government.

With reference to page 3 of the Fifty First Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2024-26 on The UK’s F-35 stealth fighter capability, HC 1232, published on 31 October 2025, (a) what steps and (b) how long will it take to address the shortage of engineers in the F-35 programme.

I refer the hon. Member to page 15, paragraphs 15-17 of the Fifty First Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2024-26 on The UK’s F-35 stealth fighter capability, HC 1232, published on 31 October 2025. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has increased its recruitment of engineers significantly in the last two years; offering joining bonuses and increasing the capacity of its technical training skills to enable more recruits to be trained more quickly. To improve retention the RAF has implemented a Financial Retention Incentive for engineers. The MOD has acknowledged that the F35 programme suffers from a shortage of engineers and that it is crucial that the Department addresses this issue, with significant steps already having been taken to improve the situation. However, training time required for engineers means that it is expected to take three or four years before the programme has the required numbers. The MOD has noted the Public Accounts Committee’s recommendations related to personnel and will be responding through the Treasury Minute Process in due course. The recruitment and retention of personnel remains one of the top two priorities for the Chief of the Defence Staff.

What elements are included within the whole-life cost estimate of £57 billion for the F-35 programme.

The whole-life cost estimate includes procurement and sustainment of 138 F-35 aircraft to 2069, including technical infrastructure, weapons integration, and aircraft upgrades. Within the development of the Defence Investment Plan, F-35A Dual Capable Aircraft costs are calculated in accordance with departmental policy.

How many and what percentage of flying instructor roles are currently gapped within the F-35 programme.

53% of flying instructor roles are currently gapped on the Lightning training Squadron, this is an improvement of some 20% since the publication of the National Audit Office report in July 2025. The shortfall is mitigated by using flying instructors from elsewhere on the Lightning Force.

With reference to paragraph 13 of the Fifty-First Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2024-26 on The UK’s F-35 stealth fighter capability, HC1232, published on 31 October 2025, what progress he has made in identifying other weapons to purchase for the F-35 which are already available and integrated.

The F-35B Lightning's fifth-generation capabilities are transforming its operational effectiveness. The Lightning uses advanced stealth low observable capabilities and unparalleled sensor fusion and threat detection. When combined with the Lightning Electronic Warfare, Jamming and Electronic Attack capabilities, it provides the capability to dominate a highly contested battlespace.In parallel, its sensor fusion and advanced secure datalinks enable it to share threat and advanced targeting information with other UK offensive assets and those of Allies in real time to coordinate with a wide range of other stand-off weapon systems across maritime, land and air-based systems to achieve a wider decisive Joint Fires effect.The future F-35B munitions strategy is being addressed through the Defence Investment Plan.

What estimate has he made of the additional whole-life costs of operating the F-35A as a Dual-Capable Aircraft.

The whole-life cost estimate includes procurement and sustainment of 138 F-35 aircraft to 2069, including technical infrastructure, weapons integration, and aircraft upgrades. Within the development of the Defence Investment Plan, F-35A Dual Capable Aircraft costs are calculated in accordance with departmental policy.

With reference to paragraph 23 of the Fifty First Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2024-26 on The UK’s F-35 stealth fighter capability, HC 1232, published on 31 October 2025, what progress has he made on delivering new infrastructure for 809 Naval Air Squadron by 2029.

The Department is considering the PAC report in detail and will respond to its findings in detail through the Treasury Minute process. New infrastructure for the Naval Air Programme continues to be progressed with a current completion target of the first quarter of 2030.