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Defence Investment Plan
30 June 2026
Lead MP
Dan Jarvis
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Defence
Other Contributors: 68
At a Glance
Dan Jarvis raised concerns about defence investment plan in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
With permission, I will make a statement on the defence investment plan. Our armed forces are crucial to national security and require adequate funding and technological support. The published DIP commits £298 billion over four years, including an additional £15 billion compared to last year's spending review settlement. This includes day-to-day spending for training and improving equipment availability. Defence spending will increase by 27% between 2023-24 and 2029-30, surpassing any previous Member of this House's tenure. The plan aims to enhance readiness through AI, drones, cyber capabilities, space defences, and nuclear deterrence, with significant investments in combat air systems and naval upgrades. Additionally, the plan addresses personnel welfare by providing pay rises, extending childcare provisions, and improving housing conditions for military families. The UK remains committed to NATO’s 3% funding pledge, aiming to reach this target by 2035.
James Cartlidge
Con
South Suffolk
Question
The shadow Minister criticises the DIP as underfunded, too little and too late. He questions whether the plan includes a realistic timeline for reaching NATO's 3% defence spending target.
Minister reply
In response to concerns about funding levels, Dan Jarvis acknowledges previous criticisms but emphasises that this revised plan provides substantial investment beyond initial expectations. It commits £298 billion over four years and increases annual spending from £74 billion in 2023-24 to a peak of £106 billion by 2029-30, surpassing the previous government’s allocation. The plan aims for a real terms increase of defence spending by 27% across the Parliament period and pledges to reach the 3% GDP target in the subsequent financial review.
James Cartlidge
Con
South Suffolk
Question
The MP questions the adequacy of the defence investment plan, stating it is too little and too late. He mentions that the current funding will only reach 2.68% of GDP by 2030, which was a resigning matter for the previous Defence Secretary due to underfunding. Cartlidge also criticises the delay in the plan's release and highlights concerns about delayed drone procurement due to insufficient funds. He asks if reaching 2.68% by 2030 is good enough and whether the Prime Minister has given his blessing to this plan.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges past government cuts and morale issues but emphasises the new investment in drones as a significant step forward. He confirms £9 billion of investment over the next 10 years for housing and modernisation of cadet forces, highlighting commitments to reach 3% defence spending by the next Parliament and 3.5% by 2035.
John Healey
Lab
Wentworth and Dearne
Question
Acknowledging the extra money ceded by the Treasury, Healey expresses concern about meeting NATO’s commitment to 3% defence spending by 2030. He calls for further development of a credible funding plan beyond this DIP to achieve NATO's target of 3.5% by 2035.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges past work done under the previous Labour Government and commits to increasing defence spending to £15 billion in new money with an overall increase of 27% up to 2029-30. He reiterates that more needs to be done, highlighting a clear commitment at the next spending review for further increases.
James MacCleary
Lib Dem
Orkney and Shetland
Question
The Liberal Democrats welcome investment but criticise the plan for being too little, too late. It highlights a significant gap between ambition and resources, particularly concerning air defence which falls short of recommendations. The response questions the sufficiency of funding to keep Britain safe despite warnings from experts and a former Defence Secretary. Concerns are raised over funding found by raiding existing budgets, including for military housing, which could undermine new investment. The shadow also inquires about the consideration of defence bonds as a potential solution.
Minister reply
Defence was cut by 22% when the Liberal Democrats were in coalition government with the Conservatives. Today's DIP represents a real-terms increase in spending and includes significant investments in drone warfare, homeland counter-drone defences, and uncrewed vehicle programmes.
Alistair Carns
Con
South Dorset
Question
Will the Secretary of State outline to the House the percentage of the defence budget spent on uncrewed systems and whether it is docked into the defence industrial strategy?
Minister reply
The DIP brings forward the largest ever investment in drone warfare, including £150 million more for homeland counter-drone defences, £50 million more over the next 12 months for the Army’s taskforce Rapstone, and additional funding for uncrewed vehicle programmes and Royal Marine Commandos.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Question
Many wonder whether aircraft carriers are going to go the way of old battleships uniquely vulnerable to drones. To protect them, we need destroyers and frigates. Moreover, in two world wars we relied completely on destroyers and frigates to protect our food supply, so will the Secretary of State say more about the replacement of our ageing frigate and destroyer fleet?
Minister reply
Between now and 2030, the Royal Navy will take delivery of five new warships and the final Astute class attack submarine. The Government will ensure that those who serve at sea have the resources and capabilities they need to keep the country safe.
Tan Dhesi
Lab
Slough
Question
I welcome the fully funded plan backed by Treasury but note no clear pathway to reach 3% of GDP spend. Despite assurances that the DIP would go further than previous defence equipment plans, it contains less detail and much investment is backloaded beyond 2030. Will my right hon. Friend commit to fight for more funding?
Minister reply
I will fight for the funding that defence needs. The Government are committed to a trajectory towards 3.5% of GDP by demonstrating long-term commitment through closer collaboration with NATO allies and backing British industry to stimulate sovereignty and economic growth.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
At last, we have agreement on a defence expenditure statistic. The proportion of GDP spent on defence by the end of this decade will be higher than at any time in the past 30 years. Given the current dangerous situation, should we not look at percentages like during the cold war (4.1% to 5.5%)?
Minister reply
While we agree there is still work to do to reach 3.5%, today's £298 billion commitment over four years is significant. When in office two years ago, defence spending was at 2.3%. We have increased it and are on a trajectory to increase further through the next spending review process.
Wes Streeting
Lab
Ilford North
Question
The Government would have an easier task if they acknowledged their predecessors' decisions more readily. The Secretary of State acknowledges the need to go further and faster with defence investments but is not joining the Defence Security and Resilience Bank, will he reconsider?
Minister reply
We are considering different views on investing in our defence industries, including advice from allies. I am not ruling anything out or in but will look closely at what our allies say.
The Cotswolds
Question
Is the £10.7 billion efficiency savings figure crucial to making this defence investment plan affordable?
Minister reply
The plan is affordable and we welcome scrutiny on it. We are funding it carefully, ensuring that spending commitments come with evidence of how they will be paid for.
Question
What is the cost of not renewing our nuclear deterrent as demanded by the Liberal Democrats in 2010? The submariners are forced to remain at sea longer, testing food supply chains and energy infrastructure.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend does a great job representing her constituents who work on behalf of the nation, including those involved with our nuclear deterrent which is vital for national security.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
What confidence do you have that the Common Combat Vessel and its slave drone vessels will replace the Daring class in time, given it is still a concept?
Minister reply
I am keen to discuss further offline but we are working through the detail of recent transformations by the First Sea Lord to ensure we have the right capabilities.
Meg Hillier
Lab
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Question
Will there be proper parliamentary scrutiny of the plan, including from the Public Accounts Committee, the Defence Committee, and potentially the Treasury Committee?
Minister reply
We are keen to work closely with committees for constructive scrutiny. The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry would be pleased to appear in front of the Committee next week.
Steve Barclay
Con
North East Cambridgeshire
Question
Why is there no increase in reserve numbers this Parliament, despite their importance highlighted by the strategic defence review?
Minister reply
I am advised that there is a reference to reserves on page 62 of the people section. We will maintain the vision set out in the SDR and ensure those who want to serve in the reserves have an opportunity.
Emma Lewell-Buck
Lab
South Shields
Question
Replacing Type 83s with a hybrid, uncrewed Navy is a gamble. Can you assure me that unmanned and disaggregated replacements for our Type 45 destroyers will be as effective?
Minister reply
We are committed to ensuring we have the right capabilities now and in the future through the hybrid model of crewed and autonomous insertion craft and drones.
Question
What form will the transformation of Royal Marines commando forces take, especially as it is based at RM Chivenor in his constituency?
Minister reply
The £150 million investment includes a hybrid model for crewed and autonomous insertion craft and drones. I or one of my Ministers would be happy to discuss further.
Question
Will the Secretary of State make it clear during his visit to Turkey with the Prime Minister that we are spending a huge amount of money on our nuclear deterrent to keep European NATO allies safe?
Minister reply
We are the third-largest spender of resource on defence in NATO and commit £63 billion over four years. This means good, skilled jobs for people around the country.
Chingford and Woodford Green
Question
Is it not the reality that the plan the Defence Secretary has put forward barely scrapes into 2.7%? It is not 3%. It leaves us £9.3 billion short, every single year of the process.
Minister reply
I do not agree with the right hon. Gentleman. The defence investment plan represents a very significant commitment from this Government on defence spending—nearly £300 billion over the next four years.
Question
Today is a step forward and a down payment on the future of places like my towns of Aldershot and Farnborough. However, much as we wrangle over percentages of GDP, on the ground, we still lack the industrial capacity to spend this money and build more.
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her question. It was an absolute pleasure to be in her constituency at the weekend for Armed Forces Day.
Question
This defence investment plan is 300 days late and £13 billion short. It ensures that we fall further behind our allies and face greater exposure to those who would seek to do us harm, and it leaves us falling short of our NATO commitments.
Minister reply
First, let me acknowledge the very important contribution that Scotland makes to our national security.
Question
The Secretary of State is right to say that the benefits of this plan will be felt right across the UK; it will increase exports, generate growth and reindustrialise our economy.
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the representations he has made on behalf of KNDS.
Question
More money for defence is a good thing, so I welcome the Secretary of State’s defence investment plan.
Minister reply
Well, I can be confident about that, because I have confidence in the long-standing record and history of Labour Governments investing in defence.
Question
I welcome this record investment in defence, and I appreciate that it may lead to us making cuts elsewhere in public expenditure.
Minister reply
Tough choices have had to be made. As I mentioned earlier, Treasury colleagues will set out the detail of the spending choices today in a written ministerial statement.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
Question
Can I return to the efficiency savings that are forecast to be made?
Minister reply
I always welcome the contributions of the hon. Gentleman, not least because they are always thoughtful and constructive.
Question
Modern warfare has evolved from traditional mass troops to online cyber-attacks and drone-enabled conflict.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right to raise those concerns about the threat we face every single day from cyber.
Question
This is a tale of two DIPs. The first period up to 2030 has detailed spending commitments, while the second from 2030 onwards has vague commitments. Mike Martin inquires about Treasury guarantees for future spending and asks if the next spending review already includes these figures.
Minister reply
Dan Jarvis acknowledges the complexity of such planning but confirms that he cannot make guarantees on behalf of other Government Departments, including the Treasury. He emphasises that the DIP reflects a careful analysis of required capabilities and difficult choices made to deliver them within available resources.
Derek Twigg
Lab
Halton
Question
Twigg inquires if the current plan adequately meets global threats, particularly in Europe. He argues for reaching 3% GDP by the end of this Parliament and highlights uncertainty for defence industries.
Minister reply
Dan Jarvis acknowledges the threat situation but emphasises that the publication of the DIP will provide greater certainty to industry partners who are essential for manufacturing required capabilities. Jarvis also stresses the need for joined-up activity across Government.
Desmond Swayne
Con
New Forest West
Question
Swayne inquires about when we can expect to reach 3% GDP on defence spending.
Minister reply
Dan Jarvis responds that the target will be reached by the next Parliament.
Question
Baker asks if Programme Euston should be built in his constituency at Methil yard, noting backing from GMB and Unite unions.
Minister reply
Dan Jarvis expresses gratitude for advocacy on the programme and agrees to discuss it further with Richard Baker without making a commitment at the Dispatch Box.
Question
Kruger questions whether the new money will adequately fund defence compared to welfare spending increases. He cites General Barrons' criticism of not keeping up with allies or enemies and queries about SME funding.
Minister reply
Dan Jarvis welcomes Kruger's question but gently suggests a more constructive dialogue, noting that the current plan includes £298 billion, including £15 billion new money for an increase in real terms of 27% by 2029-30.
Question
Martin welcomes investment in Portsmouth's naval force and asks about skills training and armed forces housing.
Minister reply
Dan Jarvis confirms the importance of skilled personnel and offers to meet with Amanda Martin to discuss these matters further.
Question
Shastri-Hurst references Lord Hutton's criticism about insufficient funding to ready armed forces by 2029. He inquires about the impact of £10.7 billion cuts.
Minister reply
Dan Jarvis acknowledges Lord Hutton's work and commitment but emphasises a real-terms increase of 27% by 2029-30, with more funding expected in future.
Matt Western
Lab
Warwick and Leamington
Question
Western thanks the Secretary for the statement and asks about defence export funding and home defence future funding.
Minister reply
Dan Jarvis acknowledges the importance of defence supporting growth and commits to discussing further proposals on funding with Matt Western.
Gosport
Question
Dinenage inquires about spending millions on private accommodation while neglecting estate buildings. She seeks details on the £9 billion spent over 10 years for defence housing.
Minister reply
Dan Jarvis acknowledges past issues under previous governments and commits to investing £9 billion over 10 years, a real-terms increase each year.
Question
Welcomed the announcement of investment in HMS Devonport and asked how communities across South East Cornwall can be involved in delivering the programme, creating skills, apprenticeships, jobs, and connecting local businesses with defence supply chains.
Minister reply
Agreed to work together as a team to ensure support for Devonport, indicating willingness to discuss further with MP.
Question
Asked whether senior military personnel are unhappy with the DIP and if the Secretary of State had removed a line from his statement suggesting Chief of the Defence Staff's backing.
Minister reply
Clarified that all chiefs support the DIP, dismissing the reported concern as incorrect.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham
Question
Asked about the difficulties in building capacity due to hollowing out of defence spending under previous governments.
Minister reply
Replied that he aims for a cross-party constructive debate and refrains from politicising matters, highlighting investment by current government.
Question
Inquired about the service family accommodation budget being cut by £300 million in this Parliament and moved to next.
Minister reply
Confirmed commitment to defence housing, stating investment of £9 billion over 10 years with a real-terms increase each year.
Gerald Jones
Lab
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Question
Welcomed investment in the Ajax programme at General Dynamics in Merthyr Tydfil, asked about new employment opportunities and export support for communities.
Minister reply
Acknowledged investment of £1.1 billion over four years on the Ajax project, creating 60,000 jobs across the country.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Question
Inquired about Welsh capital budget cuts to fund defence investment plan and disparity in defence contract spending between Wales and South West England.
Minister reply
Confirmed commitment to deliver on the defence growth deal in Wales.
Clive Betts
Lab
Sheffield South East
Question
Welcomed commitment to buy British, asked for a joined-up approach to procurement across government and questioned nuclear reactor purchases from South Korea.
Minister reply
Agreed with the need to buy British, offered to look into specific points raised.
John Glen
Con
Salisbury
Question
Inquired about alignment of investments in Porton Down with other commitments and biosecurity centres.
Minister reply
Confirmed commitment to invest in DSTL, offered to revisit specific points raised.
Question
Asked if funding for ground-to-air missile defence should be brought forward given modern warfare needs.
Minister reply
Agreed on importance of low-cost effectors and offered further detail.
Question
Concerned over allocation of capital budget to nuclear programme, questioned value for money.
Minister reply
Responded that what matters is how the money is spent and disagreed with party's policy on NATO membership.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Question
Welcomed increased investment in defence, asked about innovative procurement of innovation from start-ups and scale-ups, and questioned north-east’s low proportion of defence spending.
Minister reply
Confirmed £400 million annual investment in UK Defence Innovation and commitment to directing spend towards the north-east.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Question
RAF Halton has been on a rollercoaster of closure as a training base. Where does the defence investment plan sit with the long-term future of RAF Halton?
Minister reply
Training is critical because it underpins readiness, and spend was reprofiled to maximise this given current threats. The minister will look carefully at the points raised by the MP.
Luke Murphy
Con
Warrington South
Question
How will small defence SMEs benefit from the additional investment announced and how can their skills and expertise be utilised?
Minister reply
The Defence Office for Small Business Growth provides part of the answer, but the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry will engage further with the MP on this point.
Chris Coghlan
Lab
Walsall South
Question
Does ruling out extra borrowing risk both national defence and economic growth?
Minister reply
The Government are keen to proceed responsibly, ensuring all commitments are backed by evidence of funding. The next spending review will be the appropriate fiscal moment for a contribution towards 3% and then 3.5%.
Newcastle upon Tyne North
Question
How can investment in defence build strength and resilience across the UK, particularly in the north-east?
Minister reply
The Government will work with MPs to ensure that funding is spread and opportunities are not wasted. The MOD looks forward to working with them both on this matter.
Ben Spencer
Con
Penrith and The Border
Question
Is the defence investment plan a bit like the Government: cast adrift and waiting for someone else in the future to make the hard decisions?
Minister reply
The minister does not think it is like that at all.
Luke Akehurst
Con
Brentford and Isleworth
Question
Could the Secretary of State give more detail about additional capabilities for air and missile defence?
Minister reply
The minister will bring him into the Department to give a briefing on work being done, given his consistent raising of these points.
Rebecca Smith
Lab
Lancaster and Fleetwood
Question
Is the plan no longer pursuing replacements for HMS Bulwark and Albion, leading to delayed delivery and capability gap?
Minister reply
Under previous Government, Albion and Bulwark were tied up. The deal with Netherlands is now in place.
Kevin Bonavia
Lab
Walsall North
Question
Can the Secretary of State meet to see how defence industry in Stevenage can benefit from new defence export facility?
Minister reply
The minister would be very happy to do that.
Adam Dance
Lib Dem
Yeovil
Question
Can the Secretary of State give reassurance to Yeovil’s other defence SMEs about MOD funding for advanced kit research and development?
Minister reply
The minister will want to work closely with him further, acknowledging £1 billion investment in new medium helicopters.
Tristan Osborne
Con
West Bromwich West
Question
Can the Secretary of State confirm that the defence dividend will increase sovereign capacity and provide jobs for all people?
Minister reply
The minister can confirm this, valuing working relationship with BAE Systems.
Mark Pritchard
Con
The Wrekin
Question
What reassurance can the Defence Secretary give to constituents at RAF Cosford and those working on Boxer and Challenger 3 vehicle programmes?
Minister reply
The minister will get back with a more detailed response, given reasonable points based on constituency interest.
Jessica Toale
Con
Dorset South
Question
Will the DIP support Dorset’s drone technology companies and institutions to drive forward innovation?
Minister reply
The minister confirms that investment will lead to a range of opportunities for businesses, generating 60,000 jobs across the UK.
Question
It is quite clear the Secretary of State knows that we need to be spending a lot more on defence than he has been able to announce in the defence investment plan. In writing the DIP, what assumption did he make about the status and future of the Chagos islands? Does he agree that the more than £30 billion that his Government intend to pay to the Government of Mauritius would be better spent on our defence?
Minister reply
Diego Garcia is important for our national defence, but the assumptions I have had to make are to ensure that we have the right capabilities at the right time, given the nature of the world we operate in. That is why I have been working hard to secure more resource and have sharpened our list of capabilities.
Question
The £50 billion defence export fund to support British defence businesses is welcome and will create jobs in my constituency and across Lancashire. Will my right hon. Friend expand on that? Can the fund be used to place orders of Typhoons now, ahead of selling to our allies, so that the production line can continue with Tempest?
Minister reply
My ministerial colleague will be very happy to meet with my hon. Friend.
Question
Following on from my constituency neighbour, I am obviously very disappointed to see that a Typhoon order for the RAF is not in this document. That would be worth around £8 billion, which is the single biggest way that the Government could invest in British jobs through this plan and through the aerospace industry.
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman will see from the document that we are investing £300 million in the collaborative combat aircraft order.
Question
The Secretary of State spoke about different political priorities and tough decisions being made, but today we have seen departmental budget cuts to fund an extra £15 billion for war preparedness. We talk a lot in this Chamber about defending our values, but what values are we actually defending when 14% of children in the UK are living in food insecurity?
Minister reply
Our defence spending will mean billions of pounds of investment in Scotland, which will create good jobs for people, including in my hon. Friend’s constituency.
Jeremy Corbyn
Lab
Islington North
Question
This £300 billion increase in defence expenditure will be paid for by every single Department. The Secretary of State is right to say that there is a world of insecurity and conflict out there, but where is the foreign policy strategy?
Minister reply
I recognise that the right hon. Gentleman and I are unlikely to agree on the best approach when it comes to expenditure and defence, but I hope he will recognise that we have published the defence diplomacy strategy.
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for his statement, and I particularly look forward to learning more about the uncrewed systems taskforce. When it comes to the Welsh defence industry, though, can he confirm that today’s defence investment plan will work in tandem with commitments that are already in train—such as the Wales defence growth deal—to nurture and develop the Welsh defence industry?
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his question, and I can give him that assurance.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Question
Too little, too late—that will be the legacy of this Labour Government. Earlier today, the Prime Minister admitted that capital projects including roads and energy infrastructure will no longer go ahead as planned to pay for this package.
Minister reply
I am trying to help the right hon. Lady out here. This defence investment plan brings forward £15 billion of new investment; it sits alongside a commitment to spend £298 billion, and represents a 27% real-terms increase.
Question
As the UK trade envoy to Japan, I strongly welcome the £8.6 billion for the GCAP and Tempest project. Does the Secretary of State agree that this is a clear vote of confidence that will enable project partners in our country, Japan and Italy to make strong headway with that project at last?
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his question, not least because it provides me with an opportunity to say how much we value the relationship and constructive partnership we have with our friends in Japan.
Question
This money risks landing after the danger, because it backloads most of the spending until after 2030. What if Russia rearms before 2030, or what if Xi Jinping does as the Chinese Communist party says it will and invades Taiwan in the next two years?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right to raise concerns about the nature of the threat—it absolutely needs to focus all our minds.
Question
I am presuming that everything we do now, including spending on defence, will help clear the pathway to a re-industrialised nation. I understand that rewiring Britain involves ensuring parity between academic and technical career routes.
Minister reply
I completely agree with the point that my hon. Friend has made. It is important to underline that we are looking for some financial support from the SNP for those colleges.
Shadow Comment
James Cartlidge
Shadow Comment
The shadow response criticises the defence investment plan as 'too little, too late.' It highlights that the spending proposed is insufficient and falls short of requirements stated by previous Defence Secretary John Healey. The DIP's delayed release means many critical capabilities will not be operational until the 2030s when current threats require immediate action. Moreover, there are concerns over funding cuts to military housing and cadet programmes. James Cartlidge also questions whether Andy Burnham supports the plan and whether it includes a realistic timeline for reaching NATO's 3% defence spending target.
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