Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Minister of State's answer to Urgent Question on 8 December 2025 from the Hon. Member for South Suffolk, Official Report, col 46, whether the work conducted by the team of experts from organisations outside the GD production line on the Ajax programme will be made public.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
For reasons of commercial sensitivity, it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of the Ministry of Defence’s work with external experts and organisations, which is in progress.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Minister of State's answer to Urgent Question on 8 December 2025 from the Hon. Member for South Suffolk, Official Report, col 46, whether the team of experts from organisations outside the GD production line will receive monetary compensations for their work.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
For reasons of commercial sensitivity, it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of the Ministry of Defence’s work with external experts and organisations, which is in progress.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Minister of State's answer to Urgent Question on 8 December 2025 from the Hon. Member for South Suffolk, Official Report, col 46, whether the team of experts from organisations outside the GD production line will produce a report into the Ajax programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
For reasons of commercial sensitivity, it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of the Ministry of Defence’s work with external experts and organisations, which is in progress.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Questions 85811 and 85813, if he will publish all evidence received by the Licensing Taskforce (a) during meetings and (b) through written evidence or other stakeholder engagement.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government is undertaking activity to implement the initial announcements made by the Chancellor on 26 November. Those include a guidance document (the National Licensing Policy Framework) which is already available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-licensing-policy-framework-for-the-hospitality-and-leisure-sectors and taking forward legislation to reform the Temporary Event Notices available to on-trade licensed premises. In addition, plans are being developed to assess the remaining recommendations made by the Taskforce and in relation to these the need for further legislation and guidance will be considered in due course.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel are undergoing treatment for hearing loss following operating within an Ajax or Ajax-platform vehicle.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
On 22 November 2025, during a routine training exercise, around 30 soldiers operating in Ajax reported being affected by noise and vibration exposure.
Out of an abundance of caution, and in line with our safety protocols, the exercise was halted within 30 minutes so that those affected could receive appropriate medical care.
Importantly, none of the symptoms were life-threatening or severe enough to require hospitalisation, and most soldiers have already shown significant improvement, with many returning to their duties.
As a result, I directed the Army to pause all use of Ajax for training and exercising, while a safety investigation is carried out into the events. Those investigations are ongoing, and I will update the House at an appropriate point.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Minister of State's answer to Urgent Question on 8 December 2025 from the Hon. Member for South Suffolk, Official Report, col 46, if he will name the external organisation with experience of noise and vibration that has been asked to assess Ajax.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
For reasons of commercial sensitivity, it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of the Ministry of Defence’s work with external experts and organisations, which is in progress.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Minister of State's answer to Urgent Question on 8 December 2025 from the Hon. Member for South Suffolk, Official Report, col 46, what form the expertise and challenge from the team of experts from organisations outside the GD production line will take.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
For reasons of commercial sensitivity, it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of the Ministry of Defence’s work with external experts and organisations, which is in progress.
Asked by: Juliet Campbell (Labour - Broxtowe)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the future of Chetwynd Barracks.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence continues to work towards the closure of Chetwynd Barracks in phases from 2026 as it becomes surplus to military requirements.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85808, if he will publish all responses received to the call for evidence on proposed licensing reforms.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
On 26 November an initial analysis of responses to a number of the Call for Evidence questions was published, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/reforming-the-licensing-system. We will be publishing a summary of responses received to all of the call for evidence on proposed licensing reforms in the New Year.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has carried out an evaluation of the potential merits of purchasing the CV-90 infantry fighting vehicle.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence continually assesses its current and planned capabilities to ensure that it is appropriately equipped to face any adversary.
The CV90 was one of the vehicles considered during the competition for the Scout Specialist Vehicle. An evaluation has not occurred since the Ajax contract was awarded.