Written questions

Mr Mark Francois

1,091 written questions tabled, most recent first.

26 Mar 2025 · Treasury

Defence Growth Board: Strategic Defence Review

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the Defence Growth Board fits into the upcoming Strategic Defence Review.

26 Mar 2025 · Treasury

Defence Growth Board

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will the Defence Growth Board report to (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (b) the Secretary of State for Defence or (c) Parliament; and how will its performance be measured.

26 Mar 2025 · Treasury

Defence Growth Board

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her planned timetable is for the Defence Growth Board to create growth.

26 Mar 2025 · Treasury

Defence Growth Board

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who the membership of the Defence Growth Board will be.

26 Mar 2025 · Ministry of Defence

Chagos Islands: Sovereignty

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Parliament will be provided with an updated briefing on the Chagos deal’s implications, in the context of the reported U.S. military build-up at Diego Garcia and its potential to extend operations.

26 Mar 2025 · Ministry of Defence

Chagos Islands: Sovereignty

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any portion of the £2.2 billion spending uplift for the Ministry of Defence in the 2025-26 financial year is allocated to cover costs associated with the Chagos agreement.

26 Mar 2025 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Chagos Islands: Sovereignty

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to (a) expedite and (b) delay the ratification of the Chagos sovereignty transfer to Mauritius.

25 Mar 2025 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Chagos Islands: Sovereignty

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his Department's latest estimate is of the cost to the public purse of the proposed agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, including (a) a

25 Mar 2025 · Ministry of Defence

Diego Garcia: Military Bases

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the annual payment for the lease of Diego Garcia under the proposed Chagos Islands agreement will be funded from the defence budget; and what impact this will have on the Government’s commitment to increa

25 Mar 2025 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Chagos Islands: Sovereignty

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of25 February 2025 to Question 28896, whether his Department has now received and processed all outstanding invoices for external legal costs relating

25 Mar 2025 · Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the (a) financial and (b) legal liabilities of repealing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

25 Mar 2025 · Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of repealing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

25 Mar 2025 · Northern Ireland Office

Army: Northern Ireland

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of restoring the Loughgall inquest.

24 Mar 2025 · Ministry of Defence

Merlin Helicopters

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to approve the Merlin Out of Service Date Extension Programme.

24 Mar 2025 · Ministry of Defence

Merlin Helicopters

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what approvals process is required for the Merlin Out of Service Date Extension Programme; and what the timescale is for that process.

24 Mar 2025 · Ministry of Defence

Merlin Helicopters: Trident Submarines

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what role the Merlin Out of Service Date Extension Programme has in support of the Continuous At Sea Deterrent.

12 Mar 2025 · Ministry of Defence

Veterans: Identity Cards

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) governance structure and (b) ethical oversight mechanisms have been established for the Digital Veterans ID card.

12 Mar 2025 · Ministry of Defence

Veterans: Identity Cards

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of verification interactions using the Digital Veterans ID card on the safety of veterans; and whether he has developed mitigations for potential risks.

12 Mar 2025 · Ministry of Defence

Veterans: Identity Cards

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what formal agreements have been established with (a) the Department for Work and Pensions, (b) NHS England and (c) local housing authorities on the (i) acceptance and (ii) integration of the Digital Veterans ID

12 Mar 2025 · Ministry of Defence

Veterans: Identity Cards

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which veteran organisations representing people who served in sensitive operations were consulted during the discovery phase of the Digital Veterans ID card; how their feedback was incorporated; and what design c