Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministerial Statement

Defence 2025-07-02

02 July 2025 · 13 other contributors

Opened by The Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard

Defence

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

The Minister for the Armed Forces raised concerns about defence 2025-07-02 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Minister moved to approve the draft Armed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025
  • Order continues the Armed Forces Act 2006 for another year
  • Act provides legal basis for service justice system and non-service justice matters

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Government Statement

The Minister for the Armed Forces

Today I am moving to approve the draft Armed Forces Act 2006 (Continuation) Order 2025, which addresses the constitutional requirement that a standing Army must receive Parliament's consent. This order will continue into force for another year the Armed Forces Act 2006, providing nearly all provisions for the existence of a service justice system and covering non-service justice matters such as service complaints and the armed forces covenant. The act also provides legal basis for offices like the Judge Advocate General and the Director of Service Prosecutions, court martial processes, and more. Additionally, we are committed to tackling unacceptable behaviours in defence, delivering significant pay rises for our armed forces, securing a major housing deal to improve military homes, investing £7 billion in military accommodation over this Parliament, setting new targets to tackle recruitment and retention crises, appointing an Armed Forces Commissioner to improve service life, and making it easier for veterans to access care and support through the VALOUR network. The strategic defence review published last month sets a path for transforming defence and ending the hollowing out of our armed forces over the past 14 years. We have stepped up support for Ukraine, signed the Trinity House agreement with Germany, started work on a new defence industrial strategy, implemented deep Ministry of Defence reform, increased defence spending by nearly £5 billion this year, committed to reach 2.5% in April 2027 and further increases thereafter.

Other contributors (13)
  • Mark Francois Con Rayleigh and Wickford

    Question

    One of the fundamental tenets of the strategic defence review is that we should be prepared to fight and defeat a peer enemy by 2035. Why have this Government returned to what in the 1920s was known as the 10-year rule?

    Minister reply

    I would say to the right hon. Member that his Government left our forces hollowed out and underfunded, with a retention and recruitment crisis where for every 100 people joining our forces, 130 were leaving. We are fixing that by getting defence back on track through increased funding, transforming defence as set out in the strategic defence review, implementing deep Ministry of Defence reform, increasing defence spending, and supporting allies such as Ukraine.

  • Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough

    Question

    There are historical parallels. In 1935 we were spending only 2.5% of our national wealth on defence. There was massive rearmament following that and consensus on both sides of the House, and by 1945 we were spending a significant portion of national wealth on it. We should work together to increase defence spending.

    Minister reply

    I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his point. When the Defence Secretary was shadow Defence Secretary and I was shadow Minister for the Armed Forces, we had cross-party support on defence matters. The strategic defence review sets out strong plans with increasing defence funding getting to 2.5%, a figure we have not matched in the past 14 years.

  • James Cartlidge Con South Suffolk

    Question

    The Opposition has been accused of being pro-Russia, pro-China and pro-Iran repeatedly by the Prime Minister because we dared to oppose the Chagos deal. If he wants unity, we need to see that on both sides of the House.

    Minister reply

    I think the unity we saw on the Chagos deal is that the Conservatives started a deal and we finished it; they agreed it was right to start negotiations and held 11 rounds, and we agreed it was right to complete that deal. We put our national security first in securing the future of the Diego Garcia base and winning support from US friends, NATO allies, Five Eyes partners and India.

  • Chris Vince Lab/Co-op Harlow

    Question

    On that point, will the right hon. Gentleman give way?

  • Julian Lewis Con New Forest East

    Question

    Whenever my right hon. Friend and other members of the Conservative shadow defence team bring up the question of reopening this lawfare against our veterans, Government Ministers say, “We will be sure to give veterans maximum support.” To me, that implies not protecting them from the lawfare, but supporting them as they go through the process; but the process is the punishment.

    Minister reply

    My right hon. Friend chaired the Select Committee on which I served some years ago, when it produced a very good report on this issue, so he is an expert on this. All I will say is that when it comes to legacy issues, Labour often provides legal support, but not necessarily always to veterans.

  • Robin Swann UUP South Antrim

    Question

    I seek clarification and support from shadow Front Benchers on this. Do they recognise that there may be a bit of disagreement in the Government between Ministers in the Ministry of Defence and those in the Northern Ireland Office on how to proceed?

    Minister reply

    I certainly hope there is. I very much hope that MOD Ministers are fighting tenaciously in private, even if they cannot say so in public, to have this mad order scrapped, and to defend the Northern Ireland veterans, just as the Northern Ireland veterans defended all of us.

  • Sorcha Eastwood Alliance Lagan Valley

    Question

    Eastwood thanked cadets for their service and highlighted the importance of recruitment and retention in a changing security situation. She also recognised families who support veterans, stating that they often deal with unseen threats.

  • David Reed Con Exmouth and Exeter East

    Question

    Reed raised concerns about the future of Royal Marines and questioned whether the UK's amphibious warfare capability was being removed. He asked for detailed plans on multi-role strike ships, their operational flexibility, and their role in high-threat environments.

  • Robin Swann UUP South Antrim

    Question

    Swann thanked the Minister for bringing forward the order and had a few questions based on contributions made by other hon. Members, but his specific questions were not detailed in the provided text.

  • Robin Swann SDLP South Antrim

    Question

    Asked for clarity on the reduction of core grant funding to cadets, particularly in Northern Ireland. Also enquired about investment in strategic locations like Aldergrove.

    Minister reply

    The Minister acknowledged the concerns raised and expressed hope that the Government would reverse any fall in core financial support for cadet services.

  • Francois Con Rayleigh and Wickford

    Question

    Asked about the future of Royal Marines with the reduction in amphibious shipping, timing of MRSS class, consultation with Parachute Regiment, and Northern Ireland veterans' welfare.

    Minister reply

    The Minister stated that he would provide further reassurance regarding the role of Royal Marines after the strategic defence review. He also referred to Northern Ireland matters as being under the purview of the Northern Ireland Office.

  • Ben Obese-Jecty Lab Huntingdon

    Question

    Raised concerns about NATO allies' support and UK's role in protecting Baltic nations from Russian aggression. Also enquired about plans to procure an icebreaker for increased Arctic presence.

    Minister reply

    The Minister emphasised strong relations with NATO allies and forward land force presence in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. He was willing to discuss polar region capabilities further.

  • David Reed Con

    Question

    Asked about the strategic defence review and requested immediate discussion on issues raised in the press, questioning why these discussions cannot happen in Parliament.

    Minister reply

    The Minister referred to past debates he initiated when in opposition, highlighting strong cross-party support for armed forces. He reassured that changes introduced by the previous Government were well ahead of lessons learned from Ukraine and that the future commando force strategy was adapted accordingly.

Get updates like this by email
▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy