Every parliamentary written question tabled by James MacCleary this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 141–160 of 445 · this parliament
How many and what proportion of the original capability requirements specified for the Ajax-family vehicles have been relaxed or amended due to an inability of the vehicles to meet the original requirements.
It would not be appropriate to release a complete list of capability criteria, or any amendments to them, as doing so could prejudice the capability of our Armed Forces.
How many and what proportion of the capability requirements have Ajax-family Capability Drop 3 vehicles been verified to fully comply with.
It would not be appropriate to release a complete list of capability criteria, or any amendments to them, as doing so could prejudice the capability of our Armed Forces.
How many of the Capability Drop 3 Ajax-family vehicles that have undergone acceptance testing by the Joint Acceptance Group required concessions against specifications or contractual requirements to be submitted by General Dynamics; and how many were approved.
All 185 Capability Drop 3 vehicles have modifications above the current production baseline and therefore every vehicle accepted through the joint acceptance group testing has concessions. In addition to these above baseline concessions, there are 28 different concessions which are due to either alternative parts or parts out of tolerance which do not impact user performance or operation or exceptionally a timebound impact on performance which is acceptable.
What estimate he has made of the number and proportion of the capability requirements that Ajax-family Capability Drop 4 vehicles will fully comply with.
It would not be appropriate to release a complete list of capability criteria, or any amendments to them, as doing so could prejudice the capability of our Armed Forces.
Pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 48851 on Reserve Forces: Finance, what assessment he has made of the level of available reserve service days; and what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of reserve service days, including for 3 Division.
The UK Armed Forces continually review Reserve Service Days (RSD) to ensure that the Reserve Forces meet operational requirements. The Army is currently conducting a review of Army Reserve tasks, including those for 3 (UK) Division, through the Field Army’s Force Commitments Exercise which will assess the funding required to support planned activities and to forecast the number of RSD needed for Financial Year 2026-27. In addition, the Royal Air Force has no current plans to alter the current commitment of RSD per person, whilst the Royal Navy is undertaking work to expand funded training, increase deployment opportunities, and improve short notice tasking for the Maritime Reserves.
How his Department plans to replace the batch 1 River Class of ships.
All decisions on capabilities will be taken in the Defence Investment Plan.
With reference to parts 1 and 2 of the Service Justice System Review, published on 29 March 2018 and 29 March 2019, if he will amend the Armed Forces Bill to exclude rape and sexual assault with penetration from Court Martial jurisdiction except when the consent of the Attorney General is given.
There are no plans to amend the Armed Forces Bill in the way proposed. There have been significant improvements to investigations, prosecutions and victim support in the Service Justice System since the Lyons Review and the House of Commons’ Defence Committee’s previous recommendation. The Defence Serious Crime Command is implementing national standards set by the College of Policing through the Professionalising Investigations Programme and the National Operating Model under Operation Soteria, in line with National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing guidance. This ensures that investigations into rape and serious sexual offences are victim-centred, suspect-focused, and consistent with nationally recognised policing standards. The Victim Witness Care Unit provides independent, trauma-informed and end-to-end support. Reports by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate independently verify the progress made.Sir Brian Leveson’s July 2025 Independent Review of the Criminal Courts stated that “criminal justice is in crisis” with cases being listed as far ahead as 2029, while the Court Martial has no backlogs and cases progress without delay. In the civilian system 19% of victims withdraw from adult-rape-flagged proceedings in the Crown Court; in the Court Martial none withdrew in 2024.Whilst conviction rates cannot be reliably compared, published data does not support claims that the conviction rate is higher in the Crown Court. The conviction rate for adult-rape-flagged cases in the Court Martial, excluding guilty pleas, is 51% from 2022 to 2024 compared to 36% in the Crown Court.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of limited spaces for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology on workforce diversity and access to the profession.
No assessment has been made. The Government is fully committed to attracting, training, and recruiting the mental health workforce of the future, including clinical psychologists.We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed services set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.
How many university places there are for doctorates in Clinical Psychology.
Universities are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and are responsible for their own admissions decisions, including provision for doctoral places.NHS England commissions taught doctorate programmes for Clinical Psychologists. NHS funded trainees receive placement funding at the national tariff rate and are funded at 100 per cent of salary cost at AFC band 6. NHS funded trainees also receive tuition support from NHS England, as well as contribution to travel and accommodation costs necessary to support trainees.The Higher Education Statistics Agency does not collect information on places available on courses but publishes data on student entrants across UK higher education (HE) providers. This includes data on students entering courses in different subjects, categorised using the HE Classification of Subjects system. In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 913 entrants to doctorates in clinical psychology in UK HE providers.
What steps her Department is taking to ensure an adequate number of university places for students studying doctorates in Clinical Psychology.
Universities are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and are responsible for their own admissions decisions, including provision for doctoral places.NHS England commissions taught doctorate programmes for Clinical Psychologists. NHS funded trainees receive placement funding at the national tariff rate and are funded at 100 per cent of salary cost at AFC band 6. NHS funded trainees also receive tuition support from NHS England, as well as contribution to travel and accommodation costs necessary to support trainees.The Higher Education Statistics Agency does not collect information on places available on courses but publishes data on student entrants across UK higher education (HE) providers. This includes data on students entering courses in different subjects, categorised using the HE Classification of Subjects system. In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 913 entrants to doctorates in clinical psychology in UK HE providers.
What steps her Department is taking to support universities offering doctorates in Clinical Psychology.
Universities are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and are responsible for their own admissions decisions, including provision for doctoral places.NHS England commissions taught doctorate programmes for Clinical Psychologists. NHS funded trainees receive placement funding at the national tariff rate and are funded at 100 per cent of salary cost at AFC band 6. NHS funded trainees also receive tuition support from NHS England, as well as contribution to travel and accommodation costs necessary to support trainees.The Higher Education Statistics Agency does not collect information on places available on courses but publishes data on student entrants across UK higher education (HE) providers. This includes data on students entering courses in different subjects, categorised using the HE Classification of Subjects system. In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 913 entrants to doctorates in clinical psychology in UK HE providers.
How many clinical psychology training places were commissioned in each of the last five years, and how this compares to the number of applicants.
The following table provides the number of training places across the 28 training providers of Doctorates in Clinical Psychology in England over the past five years:Year20212022202320242025Places9011,0651,0661,0641,073Source: Clearing House, available at the following link: https://www.clearing-house.org.uk/In addition, the following table shows the data on places and unique applicants, as applicants can apply to more than one course, that are available in total across all English, Scottish, and Welsh courses:Year20212022202320242025Places9791,1551,1661,1641,179Unique Applicants4,5444,6554,9905,6035,910Applicants per Place4.64.04.34.85.0Source: Clearing House, available at the following link: https://www.clearing-house.org.uk/
When his Department will confirm the appointment of the Armed Forces Commissioner.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 January 2026 to Question 103963 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty).
If his Department will take control of the Liberty Steel Dalzell plant to purchase slab from British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant and begin production on new FSS ships.
Liberty Steel Dalzell is a privately-owned company. The Government has no plans to take control or purchase it. Liberty Dalzell is contracted to supply steel plate to Navantia UK for the MOD’s Fleet Solid Support ships programme. This is an independent commercial arrangement between the two companies.
Where the planned new munitions factories will be located.
Following the Secretary of State’s announcement in November 2025 that a number of sites are under consideration, work is ongoing with respect to specific site proposals. More detail will be available once the necessary preparatory work has been completed and further public announcements will be made in due course.
Whether RAF Benson will remain the home of the UK's Support Helicopter Force.
There are no current plans for a relocation of the UK’s Support Helicopter Force or the Chinook Operational Conversion Unit.
Whether his Department plans to undertake a refresh of the 2012 Defence Rotary Wing Capability Study.
Rotary Wing capability is vital to our Armed Forces' ability to manoeuvre and confront adversaries. We have kept our approach to Rotary Wing capability planning up to date through iterative updates to the Rotary Wing Strategy, last published in 2021, including considerations of usage of future and emerging technologies in Rotor Craft up to 2040 and beyond. Rotary Wing force design is a key consideration as part of the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan, the outcome of which will define the future capability plan.
Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill on access to fixed charges for retirees living in housing-with-care.
The government recognise that some specialist retirement housing providers have distinct operational and financing arrangements, and we value the important contribution that this sector makes to supporting older people. We want to ensure providers can continue to operate effectively and with confidence. As per the Written Ministerial Statement made on 27 January 2026 (HCWS1278), we will consider through the scrutiny and consultation process whether particular arrangements may be appropriate for certain forms of specialist provision.
Whether the Chinook Operational Conversion Unit will remain at RAF Benson.
There are no current plans for a relocation of the UK’s Support Helicopter Force or the Chinook Operational Conversion Unit.
Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill on private investment in the supply of housing-with-care for older people.
The government recognise that some specialist retirement housing providers have distinct operational and financing arrangements, and we value the important contribution that this sector makes to supporting older people. We want to ensure providers can continue to operate effectively and with confidence. As per the Written Ministerial Statement made on 27 January 2026 (HCWS1278), we will consider through the scrutiny and consultation process whether particular arrangements may be appropriate for certain forms of specialist provision.