Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, 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.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
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.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, 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.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
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.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, 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.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
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.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, 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.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
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.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the ongoing industrial dispute with Royal Fleet Auxiliary sailors on day-to-day operations of the Fleet Auxiliary and Navy.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) remains an integral part of the Royal Navy and its collective ability to deliver operational effect in conjunction with our allies around the world.
The RFA continue to meet their operational commitments, and we are dedicated to resolving the current industrial dispute through continuing dialogue with their trade unions.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to undertake a refresh of the 2012 Defence Rotary Wing Capability Study.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
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.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where the planned new munitions factories will be located.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
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.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether RAF Benson will remain the home of the UK's Support Helicopter Force.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
There are no current plans for a relocation of the UK’s Support Helicopter Force or the Chinook Operational Conversion Unit.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Chinook Operational Conversion Unit will remain at RAF Benson.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
There are no current plans for a relocation of the UK’s Support Helicopter Force or the Chinook Operational Conversion Unit.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2026 to Question 103848 on Defence Equipment, of the £10.4 billion industry spend in the UK how much was received by (a) subsidiaries of foreign suppliers and (b) British owned suppliers.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The £10.4 billion figure quoted for expenditure with UK industry is drawn from the Ministry of Defence’s Regional Expenditure statistics, which categorise spend by location of work rather than by company ownership.
The underlying data does not capture information on the ownership structure of suppliers, therefore, the Department is unable to provide a breakdown of the spend as the “Location of Work” codes identify where contracted activity is carried out within the UK.