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 potential merits of a Sovereign Frontier Lab.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the importance of building resilience and strategic advantage in frontier AI. While US companies currently provide most frontier model capabilities, our approach is to ensure the UK can access the best global models while safeguarding national interests.
We are expanding sovereign capability where it matters most by scaling onshore compute, supporting emerging national champions, and strengthening the UK talent pipeline. Our focus is on areas of the AI value chain where there is the greatest opportunity for the UK to advance its strategic position.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on the policy reasons why his Department commenced negotiations with the Government of Mauritius on the sovereignty of a) Diego Garcia and b) the wider Chagos Archipelago in 2009.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In 2009/10 interactions between the UK and Mauritius focussed on the creation of the Marine Protected Area (MPA), which the UK declared in 2010 and which Mauritius objected to. It was not until 2022, under the previous government, that negotiations regarding sovereignty began.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Royal Navy project is working to harness AI through machine-speed, data-centric decision making to improve the decision action cycle.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Alongside the development of the Maritime Fighting Web, several Royal Navy initiatives are underway to harness AI to improve the decision action cycle. These include establishing a Royal Navy Targeting organisation to represent the maritime component of the Integrated Force; conducting exercises and training with NATO Allies, Partners, and other Services; and working with the Defence Artificial Intelligence Cell on emerging technologies. These efforts incorporate lessons from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and address current operational risks facing the Royal Navy.
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 2 February 2026 to question 108885 on Defence: Artificial Intelligence, what is the full scope of the AI Enabled Cyber Defence project.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence does not routinely provide detailed or ongoing commentary on the development, deployment, or performance of AI related projects. Releasing such information could reasonably be expected to prejudice UK national security and Defence capability by revealing sensitive details about current or emerging systems, their maturity, and operational relevance.
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 2 February 2026 to question 108885 on Defence: Artificial Intelligence, what is the full scope of the Underwater Acoustic Foundation Model project.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence does not routinely provide detailed or ongoing commentary on the development, deployment, or performance of AI related projects. Releasing such information could reasonably be expected to prejudice UK national security and Defence capability by revealing sensitive details about current or emerging systems, their maturity, and operational relevance.
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 2 February 2026 to question 108885 on Defence: Artificial Intelligence, what is the full scope of the AI Exploitation for the Digital Targeting Web project.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence does not routinely provide detailed or ongoing commentary on the development, deployment, or performance of AI related projects. Releasing such information could reasonably be expected to prejudice UK national security and Defence capability by revealing sensitive details about current or emerging systems, their maturity, and operational relevance.
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 2 February 2026 to question 108885 on Defence: Artificial Intelligence, what is the full scope of the Autonomous Mission Execution project.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence does not routinely provide detailed or ongoing commentary on the development, deployment, or performance of AI related projects. Releasing such information could reasonably be expected to prejudice UK national security and Defence capability by revealing sensitive details about current or emerging systems, their maturity, and operational relevance.
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 2 February 2026 to question 108885 on Defence: Artificial Intelligence, what is the full scope of the Advanced Reasoning for Decision Advantage project.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence does not routinely provide detailed or ongoing commentary on the development, deployment, or performance of AI related projects. Releasing such information could reasonably be expected to prejudice UK national security and Defence capability by revealing sensitive details about current or emerging systems, their maturity, and operational relevance.
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 27 January 2026 to question 107527 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, for what reason the first 100 Ajax-vehicles are not in service with any unit.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The majority of the first 100 Ajax vehicles were withdrawn from units in 2024, with the final vehicle withdrawn from 6 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in October 2025. These vehicles are currently located in Merthyr Tydfil, Llanelli, and the Bicester Holding Area, where they are awaiting planned upgrades to meet the requirements for the current Capability Drop level before being delivered into service.
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 27 January 2026 to question 107527 on Ajax Vehicles: Procurement, what the status is of the first 100 Ajax-vehicles.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The majority of the first 100 Ajax vehicles were withdrawn from units in 2024, with the final vehicle withdrawn from 6 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in October 2025. These vehicles are currently located in Merthyr Tydfil, Llanelli, and the Bicester Holding Area, where they are awaiting planned upgrades to meet the requirements for the current Capability Drop level before being delivered into service.