Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2026 to question 9116 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what improvements to crew compartment heating on the AJAX vehicle platform he plans to make.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There are a series of upgrades identified to address issues on Ajax and work is underway to action those.
I can assure you that the Department continues to work closely with General Dynamics to ensure the programme proceeds safely, responsibly and transparently, delivering an improved user experience for our soldiers.
I will continue to keep the House informed about developments with Ajax via Written Ministerial Statement, as I have done since Exercise Titan Storm.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of of 19 June 2026, to question 9116 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what improvements to air filtration on the AJAX vehicle platform does he plan to make.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There are a series of upgrades identified to address issues on Ajax and work is underway to action those.
I can assure you that the Department continues to work closely with General Dynamics to ensure the programme proceeds safely, responsibly and transparently, delivering an improved user experience for our soldiers.
I will continue to keep the House informed about developments with Ajax via Written Ministerial Statement, as I have done since Exercise Titan Storm.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what mechanisms exist for the UK Maritime Trading Organisation to report security issues directly into Government agencies.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) is a Royal Navy capability that supports seafarers and promotes maritime security and freedom of navigation. UKMTO acts as a focal point for vessels and maritime industry partners to report security concerns and incidents for verification and dissemination, enhancing regional maritime security.
The Ministry of Defence works closely with partners across Government and the international community to ensure that appropriate information is shared to support maritime safety and security.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many a) GR.1 and b) T.2 SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft have been transferred to the Indian Air Force since 01 January 2026.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
A total of nine Jaguar aircraft have been transferred to the Indian Air Force. Of these, five were the GR1 variant, and four the T2 variant.
Of the 42 Jaguar aircraft the Ministry of Defence still holds, 13 are the GR1 variant and none are the T2 variant.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many a) GR.1 and b) T.2 SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft are still held by the Ministry of Defence.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
A total of nine Jaguar aircraft have been transferred to the Indian Air Force. Of these, five were the GR1 variant, and four the T2 variant.
Of the 42 Jaguar aircraft the Ministry of Defence still holds, 13 are the GR1 variant and none are the T2 variant.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2026 to question 10485 on Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement, which British units have received delivery of the 20 Malloy Aeronautics T-150 heavy lift uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the response I provided to Question 79050 on 20 October 2025.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-10-10/79050
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what day the next funding package for GCAP was a) agreed and b) signed.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) funding was agreed as part of the Defence Investment Plan which was published on 30 June 2026.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the full scope of the Future of Flight Programme.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The UK Future of Flight Programme is a joint industry and government programme that will enable routine beyond visual line of sight drone operations by 2027 and commercial piloted electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operations from 2028. The development of this Future of Flight ecosystem is central to delivering on the Government’s missions, including kickstarting economic growth and delivering opportunities for all and across the country.
The programme is organised into five key workstreams to deliver these ambitious commitments: Airspace Integration, Technology & Infrastructure, Enabling Growth, Local Delivery and Safety, and Security & Sustainability. The programme is supported by working groups made up of key stakeholders. Strategic direction is provided by the Future of Flight Industry Group (FFIG), which brings together Government (national and local), the CAA and industry to work towards the delivery of our Future of Flight objectives, co-chaired by me and an industry representative.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the amount of Adventures Away From Home funding is for 2026/27.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
My department invested £4.7 million in the Adventures Away From Home Fund (AAfH) in 2025/26, supporting 31,160 bursaries for young people. Delivery of the fund ended on 31st March 2026 and no further funding has been allocated for 2026/27 for the AAfH.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Satellite broadband coverage in Huntingdonshire.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We are committed to delivering gigabit broadband coverage to 99% of premises by 2032. Where premises are too costly to connect via gigabit fibre, alternative such as satellite broadband can play a role in providing quality connectivity, including in Huntingdonshire.
Satellite broadband coverage is currently widely available across the UK at ultrafast (100 Mbps or faster) speeds, with remote and rural residents already taking up these services. However, Starlink is currently the only company offering residential satellite broadband services.
The satellite market is developing at pace, with significant changes to terminal equipment, speeds and the cost of service packages. We are continuing to monitor and support the development of this market, including by encouraging spectrum releases and ground station deployments. We are expecting new market entrants which will increase consumer choice and availability.