The Westminster lensArchive · Written questions · 109 tabled · 105 answered

Written questions by Mathew.

Every parliamentary written question tabled by Brian Mathew this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.

Department:All (109)Department of Health and Social Care (20)Department for Transport (19)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (15)Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (15)Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (8)Department for Education (6)Cabinet Office (5)Ministry of Defence (5)Department for Work and Pensions (4)Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (3)Home Office (3)Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (3)

Showing 15 of 5 · Ministry of Defence

26 Mar 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
Asked

What assessment his Department has made of the potential risks of allowing US strikes on Iran from RAF Fairford to local communities.

Reply

The UK has a well-established system for assessing and reviewing the implications of giving permissions for the use of UK bases by allies.

26 Mar 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
Asked

Whether missions launching from RAF Fairford are strictly for the purposes of defence.

Reply

The UK government has been clear throughout that the agreement allowing the US to use UK military bases is for specific and limited, defensive purposes.

27 Jan 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
Asked

How many current and former serving Afghan military personnel remain in Afghanistan now that the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy has ended.

Reply

The UK Government does not hold details of the number of current and former serving Afghan military personnel who remain in Afghanistan.

25 Feb 2025·Ministry of Defence·Answered
Asked

If he will supply Ukraine with additional Challenger 2 tanks.

Reply

At present there are no plans to supply additional Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine.The UK's decision to send a squadron of 14 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks to Ukraine in 2023 delivered a coherent and combat effective capability and spearheaded the provision of dozens of additional Western Main Battle Tanks from international partners.We recently announced we will be providing Ukraine with more than 50 armoured and protected vehicles, including modernised T-72 tanks, by the end of spring, building on over 1,000 armoured, protected and logistics vehicles the UK has previously delivered to Ukraine.We continue to work closely with the Ukrainian Government to ensure the capabilities we provide meet the priorities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

30 Jan 2025·Ministry of Defence·Answered
Asked

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of asking Avon Protection to produce a further 200,000 gas masks for soldiers in Ukraine.

Reply

Russia has publicly admitted to the use of Riot Control Agents on the battlefield against Ukraine, and there are multiple reports of the use of the toxic choking agent chloropicrin. In December last year, a Technical Report confirming the use of Riot Control Agents in Ukraine was published by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.The UK has been at the forefront of international support and assistance to Ukraine. In the first few months of Russia's illegal invasion, UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) provided respirators and decontamination kits to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as other protective measures to enhance Ukraine's protective capabilities against chemical weapons.In December 2024, following a direct request for UK Assistance by Ukraine, the MOD announced further funding for the procurement of respirators and other equipment to protect Ukraine's forces. This is being procured jointly with international partners through the G7 led Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction.Our commitment to Ukraine is unwavering and we continue to work closely with our international partners, both bilaterally and in multilateral forums, to coordinate counter-CBRN support and assistance to Ukraine.

Sources
SourceUK Parliament Members API
MethodQuestion and answer text as published. Question preamble (“To ask the…”) trimmed for readability; answers shown in full.