Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 62175, when his Department plans to hold the next Ajax-specific event at Bovington to which journalists will be invited.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There are currently no Ajax specific events due to be held at Bovington to which journalists will be invited.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures are outlined in the pending Review Note to transition the Protector programme from red to green delivery confidence rating; and what (a) timelines and (b) oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure that programme achieves Full Operating Capability.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
A Protector Review Note will be produced after the results of the Defence Investment Plan, due to be published later this year, have been analysed. It is therefore not possible to provide a timetable for the Review Note approval at this time however, once approved it will provide a pathway to Full Operating Capability and support Red to Green delivery assessment confidence.
The delivery confidence assessment was assessed as Red by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, primarily due to the programme awaiting previous Review Note approvals.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is for approval of the Review Note for the Protector programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
A Protector Review Note will be produced after the results of the Defence Investment Plan, due to be published later this year, have been analysed. It is therefore not possible to provide a timetable for the Review Note approval at this time however, once approved it will provide a pathway to Full Operating Capability and support Red to Green delivery assessment confidence.
The delivery confidence assessment was assessed as Red by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, primarily due to the programme awaiting previous Review Note approvals.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the Protector programme has a red delivery confidence rating.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
A Protector Review Note will be produced after the results of the Defence Investment Plan, due to be published later this year, have been analysed. It is therefore not possible to provide a timetable for the Review Note approval at this time however, once approved it will provide a pathway to Full Operating Capability and support Red to Green delivery assessment confidence.
The delivery confidence assessment was assessed as Red by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, primarily due to the programme awaiting previous Review Note approvals.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 70329 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, what information his Department holds on the jurisdiction in which the trial (a) is taking place for the person awaiting trial and (b) was taking place for the person who died before legal proceedings were concluded.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In reference to my previous Written Answer, the Northern Ireland Office is aware of at least one individual who has received a so-called 'on-the-run letter’ and is currently awaiting trial in Northern Ireland.
We are also aware, through publicly available information, of another individual in receipt of a letter, whose legal proceedings in Northern Ireland were discontinued upon that individual’s death.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 70331 on Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, if he will set out his planned timetable for (a) responding to the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ recommendations regarding the draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order and (b) laying the final Order.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Government is committed to introducing primary legislation when parliamentary time allows, including to reform and strengthen the independent Commission to ensure it is fully human rights compliant. As I stated at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on 3rd September, I intend to lay the draft Remedial Order and the Government’s response to the JCHR at the same time as introducing primary legislation.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 67826 on Boeing E-7: Standards, what enforcement measures are available for his Department to use if the incentivisation milestones are missed; and whether any of those enforcement measures had been used by 5 August 2025.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Contractual arrangements remain commercially sensitive information and cannot be disclosed publicly.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 68356 on Air Force: Boeing E-7, whether any component of the UK E-7 Wedgetail sustainment contract will involve (a) logistical, (b) maintenance and (c) technical support operations being conducted in the United States.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK E-7 Wedgetail fleet will be supported and maintained within the United Kingdom. However, Boeing, as the aircraft's Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and Northrop Grumman, the OEM for the MESA radar, will provide technical data support from the United States as required. Additionally, a limited number of aircraft components are subject to US Government Arms Export Control legislation and will need to be supported in the United States.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any structural modifications carried out on WT001 post-delivery revealed unforeseen integration challenges with (a) the MESA radar and (b) other mission systems.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
There have been no integration challenges with the MESA radar or other mission systems to date as a result of the structural modifications undertaken.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what risks he has identified in the complex integration challenges for the Type 31 frigate programme; and what (a) technical and (b) contractual steps he is taking to help mitigate those risks.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Type 31 (T31) frigate programme will deliver a maritime security capability at a value for money price, in a timescale that compares favourably with other international warship procurement programmes.
In common with other enterprises, the T31 programme is experiencing inflationary pressures, which are understood and remain in line with the latest plans and forecasts. The Red delivery confidence assessment rating reflects this impact and on completion of full assessment and assurance, formal updates will be provided through official channels at the appropriate time.
HMS VENTURER is the first in Class of the T31 and is currently scheduled to be in service by the end of the decade. All five of the T31 ships are planned to be in service by the early 2030s and are forecast to meet the Key User Requirements. Three ships are currently in build; HMS VENTURER, which was floated off a launch barge in June 2025, HMS ACTIVE and HMS FORMIDABLE.
There has been substantial investment in risk mitigation. For example: significant investment in Babcock’s facilities at Rosyth, which include digitising the shipyard, new manufacturing facilities, and a new purpose-built Assembly Hall. In addition, there has been the generation of a Shore Integration facility at Portsdown Technology Park, to mitigate risks to the integration of the combat system.