Written questions by Francois.

How much funding his Department provided for the First Sea Lord's Sea Power Conference 2024.

Funding for the First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference 2024 was £38,000.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 48367, what his Department's timeline is for implementing that robust mechanism review process; what steps his Department is taking to implement it; and which bodies will oversee its implementation.

Once the treaty is signed it will be put before both Houses for scrutiny before ratification in the usual way.

What the (a) acquisition, (b) modification, (c) training and (d) infrastructure development costs are of each of the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.

The whole life costs of the E7 programme are subject to approval by His Majesty's Government and cannot be confirmed until this process concludes.

Whether the Ajax armoured vehicle programme has completed its full safety case.

Yes. Full safety cases are in place for all Ajax variants.

Whether any issues have been reported to his Department on the Ajax armoured vehicle’s ability to fire on the move.

No issues have been reported; the Ajax armoured vehicle’s ability to fire on the move has been successfully demonstrated.

How many test flights the first E-7 Wedgetail aircraft has successfully completed.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 January 2025 to Question 25383 to the hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire South (Johanna Baxter).

What the status is of the (a) modification and (b) integration processes for the second and third E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.

The modification of the second and third E-7 Wedgetail aircraft continues.The second Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar is fitted to aircraft two and the third MESA is on site and scheduled to be fitted in June 2025.

What the previous ownership status was of each of the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.

The three airframes were previously on the United States civil aircraft register. They were registered to Boeing.

What steps the Civil Aviation Authority is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises to test innovative aerospace technologies that require exemptions from standard Civil Aviation Authority boundaries.

The Department through its Future of Flight programme and support for Jet Zero technology is working with the CAA to enable testing of innovative aerospace technologies by mainly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This includes:Introducing a new “Recognised Test Sites” status for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) platforms which allow drones manufacturers and operators to apply for authorisation to conduct operations at these recognised test sites with streamlined procedures;Developing an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) delivery model alongside industry;Expanding the Hydrogen in Aviation Regulatory Challenge in the current financial year by working with a range of companies, including SMEs, to prepare for the use of hydrogen as a zero-carbon aviation fuel.The Future Flight Challenge (a UKRI funded project) has provided funding to support innovators to access CAA expertise, guidance, and viewpoints on regulations by providing a focal point of contact and information.The CAA launched the Innovation Hub to create an environment where innovation in aviation can develop in line with the CAA principles such as helping innovators maximise regulatory preparation for the demonstration of their aviation systems, by testing them in safe environments and learning how they address regulatory challenges.

What steps his Department is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the defence sector with (a) high costs and (b) limited access to suitable facilities for (i) developing and (ii) testing new technologies.

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are a vital part of the UK defence supply base, contributing to growth through high-skilled jobs and dual use technology. We are supporting their competitiveness through investment from the National Security Strategic Investment Fund and by improving access to defence supply chains through a new SME hub, which will set direct SME spending targets for the Ministry of Defence by June this year. Our new UK Defence Innovation Organisation will further support defence SMEs to take state-of-the-art technology from the drawing board to the production line, and into the hands of our Armed Forces.

What plans his Department has to streamline the permissions process for small and medium-sized enterprises for testing new defence capabilities that fall outside Civil Aviation Authority regulations.

The Military Aviation Authority (MAA) as the air safety regulator for the Defence Air Environment sets the regulatory framework for Air System Test activity. It continues to support the Ministry of Defence’s ambitions, and has reorganised, upskilled and developed an updated and flexible approach to certification and regulation of new capabilities.

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to Ministry of Defence test ranges for (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises without a sponsor from his Department.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) make a vital contribution to economic growth and are a valuable source of technical innovation in defence. This is recognised in the Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, as well as the Department’s Social Value policies.Small and medium-sized enterprises can apply to use many Ministry of Defence (MOD) test ranges through the Test, Trials, Training and Evaluation (T3E) Service (https://www.t3e.uk/en/) managed on behalf of the MOD by QinetiQ. This includes enterprises that do not have a MOD sponsor. As part of the Defence Industrial Strategy and MOD’s Test and Evaluation Transformation programme, the Department is reviewing how best to support SMEs with access to relevant test facilities, including MOD and commercially run test ranges available to UK companies.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46691 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether resettlement will be limited to the Chagossian diaspora; and what criteria will be used to determine eligibility for participation.

This agreement will enable Mauritius to develop a programme of resettlement on the islands, other than Diego Garcia. The terms of resettlement will be for Mauritius to determine.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46691 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether he plans to report to Parliament on the programme of resettlement on islands other than Diego Garcia.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to his previous Question, 48365.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46691 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether his Department has conducted a risk assessment on the possibility of foreign-aligned groups using the Chagos Archipelago resettlement programme.

There will be robust security provisions to protect the base, including a robust mechanism and review process to ensure no activity in the other islands can impinge upon base operations, as well as a prohibition on the presence of foreign security forces on the outer islands, either civilian or military.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46691 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, what vetting process will be used to determine participation in the resettlement programme.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to his previous Question, 48365.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the value for money of the cost of public inquires on Troubles-related legacy issues in Northern Ireland in the context of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order.

The Northern Ireland Office works closely with His Majesty's Treasury to ensure value for money for the tax payer on all of the policies it delivers, including public inquiries.

Whether he has committed to restoring the Loughall inquest since his meeting with Loughall Truth on 24 March 2025.

The Government is committed to repeal and replace the almost universally opposed - and in many respects, unlawful - Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023. As part of this commitment, the Government has been consistently clear that we will propose measures to allow inquests previously halted by the Act to proceed, as set out in my written ministerial statements of 29 July 2024 and 7 October 2024, and in my oral statement of 4 December 2024. The Government is continuing to engage with all interested parties in a spirit of openness as we seek to implement legacy mechanisms that are compliant with human rights, and can command confidence across communities.

Which (a) veterans groups and associations and (b) other stakeholder groups his Department consulted before deciding to not to continue the Supreme Court appeal on the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023; and what the nature of their input was.

In the Dillon and Others case, the Northern Ireland High Court made a number of section 4 Human Rights Act declarations of incompatibility in respect of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The Government takes its human rights obligations extremely seriously and did not take forward an appeal.The Government is appealing to the Supreme Court on two such declarations that were subsequently made by the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.In consulting over legacy legislation, the Northern Ireland Office regularly engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including veterans.

Whether he plans to review the decision not to continue the appeal against the Northern Ireland High Court’s declaration of incompatibility regarding sections 46 and 47 of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

The High Court found sections 46 and 47 of the Legacy Act to be incompatible with the UK’s international human rights commitments. This Government takes such matters extremely seriously, and the provisions therefore need to be repealed. The Government is carefully exploring how to lawfully address this complex issue alongside our clear commitment to implement legacy mechanisms that are fully compliant with human rights.