Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Scimitar reconnaissance vehicle was retired from Army service.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
All Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) variants, including the FV107 Scimitar, were officially retired from Army service under the last Government on 31 March 2023.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last met the a) Corporate Chief Executive Officer of General Dynamics and b) Head of General Dynamics UK.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I met with representatives from General Dynamics on 9 December. The current Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon John Healey MP, has not met with the Corporate Chief Officer or the Head of General Dynamics.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the salary bill was for Defence Equipment and Support in 2024-25.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) salary information is detailed in the DE&S Annual Report and Accounts (ARAC), which is published annually on the GOV.UK website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-equipment-support-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025
The total salary costs for 2024-25 were £583 million, as noted on page 94 of the 2024-25 ARAC.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the salary bill was for the Submarine Delivery Agency in 2024-25.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Submarine Delivery Agency's Annual Report and Accounts for financial year 2024-25 are expected to be published in the New Year.
For financial year 2023-24, the total staff salary and wage costs were £128 million.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total target for efficiency savings in his Department for a) Financial Year 2025-26 b) Financial Year 2026-27 and c) Financial Year 2027-28.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Following the Spending Review in June all Departments, including the Ministry of Defence (MOD), are required to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028‑29. Further details can be found in the Spending Review, published on 11 June.
The Autumn Budget introduced a further 2028-29 0.5% RDEL efficiencies and savings target. However, Defence has been allowed to retain and reinvest the savings to protect national security.
The MOD will publish a Defence Reform and Efficiency Plan, which will provide further detail on the range of reforms across the MOD that will deliver these efficiencies.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated IOC date is for the Boxer RCH155mm self-propelled artillery system; and how many such vehicles his Department plans to buy.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 November to Question 88294, which remains extant.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-11-05/88294
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has considered inviting the Institute of Naval Medicine to investigate the reasons why medical issues arose during the Ajax-related exercise on Salisbury Plain on 22 November 2025.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As I mentioned in my answer to the Shadow Defence Secretary during the Urgent Question on 8 December 2025, the Department is assembling a group of industry experts to provide external advice to its lines of investigation.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with General Dynamics on suing that company for liquidated damages relating to the Ajax programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
It would not be appropriate to pre-empt the outcome of the ongoing investigations or to comment further at this stage. The investigations must be given adequate time to identify the root cause of the issue.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a national strategy for palliative and end of life care.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is developing a Palliative Care and End of Life Care Modern Service Framework for England. I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement HCWS1087, which I gave to the House on 24 November 2025.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the names of those who have held the post of Ajax's Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), or the equivalent position, since 2015.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The list of individuals who have held the role of Senior Responsible Officer for the Armoured Cavalry Programme (commonly known as Ajax) are listed below.
Date in post | Occupant |
November 2023 – Present | Mr Chris Bowbrick |
October 2021 – November 2023 | Dr David Marsh |
April 2019 – August 2021 | Lieutenant General Simon Hamilton |
November 2015 – April 2019 | Major General Mark Gaunt |