Tan Dhesi highlighted the urgency of addressing the growing military threats from Russia and China, noting that the UK needs to increase defence spending and ensure long-term investment to maintain credible deterrence. He also stressed the importance of industrial capacity and supply chain resilience to support defence goals and called for improved procurement processes and transparency.

Jim McMahon intervened to express concern about the UK's support for Ukraine and the need to do more to ensure Ukraine can win the peace. He also emphasised the importance of public understanding and national conversation on defence matters.

Vikki Slade raised concerns about the potential impact of personnel reductions on the UK's ability to maintain NATO commitments and highlighted the significant time lag for people interested in joining the armed forces.

Lauren Edwards supported the Prime Minister's commitment to increase defence spending but called for a more nuanced debate on how to allocate the budget effectively to address short, medium, and long-term strategic challenges.

Mark Francois intervened to express concern about the readiness and timing of the UK's defence posture, questioning whether the Government has nine years before a peer confrontation may be necessary.

Michelle Welsh emphasised the importance of increasing defence spending not only for security but also as an investment in the economy and job creation in defence industries.

Peter Lamb acknowledged the importance of increased defence spending for maintaining a leading role in NATO and ensuring the security of the UK's people, suggesting that sacrifices may be necessary to secure the required funding.

Order. The hon. Gentleman will have seen that many Members want to speak in this very important debate, and I am sure he will be bringing his remarks to a close shortly.

The Minister of Defence must confirm when the defence investment plan will be published so that Parliament can scrutinise the latest plans. The current MOD procurement system is slow, late and over-budget. The Quad's new powers should be used to reform MOD functions. Future warfare is moving towards drones, cyber/electronic and space domains. The MOD needs to invest in counter-drone technology and support personnel better. There is a need for different recruitment strategies and bolstering the numbers of service personnel.

Intervened with 'Shocking!' regarding the need for urgent reform in MOD procurement and personnel management.

Asked whether the country needs to spend differently on defence, specifically on technology to counter drones more cost-effectively.

Asked about the importance of spending on personnel and the support provided to service personnel.

I congratulate the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee on his well-thought-out speech. The most important factor in this debate is our people. The professionalism, courage and commitment of our armed forces is unparalleled. The defence investment plan has been delayed, which prevents scrutiny of MOD expenditure. The new ministerial team has made strides in reforming the Ministry of Defence, but there is still a long way to go. We are in a perilous situation lacking the ability to generate mass in terms of service personnel and equipment. The rapid advance of technology requires a more agile approach. We need a whole-of-society approach to the dangerous situation we face. We need to start spending 3% of GDP on defence now, but it is about spending the money well and intelligently. We have to get our procurement system right to produce the right assets for our armed forces. The threats to our national security are real and we cannot waste any more time if we are to secure the protection and security of this country.

The Government's commitment to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP and aiming for 3% in the next Parliament is acknowledged, but the Liberal Democrats urge the Government to achieve this sooner. Defence spending supports over 430,000 jobs and is essential to maintaining the UK's strategic position, especially given the threat posed by Russia. However, the increase is merely returning to early 1990s levels, not the peak of the cold war. The debate emphasises the need to maximise resources through international cooperation and to maintain public support by explaining the necessity of defence spending.

Defence spending is crucial for the local economy and national security, particularly for Barrow and Furness, where the shipyard builds submarines for the continuous at-sea deterrent. The Government's commitment to increasing defence spending is welcomed, but the focus should be on ensuring that the investment delivers its promises on time, on budget, and with a clear strategic purpose. The forthcoming defence investment plan is crucial for constituencies like hers, and she urges for transparency and clarity in cost assumptions and risk management.

The strategic defence review and the increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP are welcomed, but more urgent cross-party talks are needed to reach 3% as soon as possible. The defence investment plan should be published to provide industry with certainty and to avoid delays in procurement decisions. The small and medium-sized enterprise defence sector is ready to support the SDR and the 20-40-40 strategy, and changes in tax credits should be reviewed to encourage more work with the UK Government. The Army's training strength is at its smallest size in generations, and better procurement and trust with the Treasury are needed to ensure that funding is scaled up and that every pound approved by the House bolsters security at home and abroad.

The UK must join the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) to support the growth of our defence industry, which is essential for our national security. The DSRB would provide sovereign-backed credit guarantees to UK banks, allowing them to lend more freely to the defence sector, thereby reducing the burden on the public budget and ensuring every £1 we invest in defence works harder for our country.

The UK needs to re-arm to deter war and close the gap between global threats and UK capability. Mike Martin calls for a military that is able to lead in the defence of the Euro-Atlantic area, with an Army of 100,000 soldiers, a fleet of 50 ships, and 250 combat aircraft, costing 3.5% of GDP. He emphasises the need for such an increase in the defence budget now, rather than in 2035, and highlights the importance of maintaining our commitments to allies like Estonia.

In Portsmouth North, the defence sector supports thousands of jobs and apprenticeships. Amanda Martin welcomes the Government's record investment in defence but calls for long-term support and investment to enhance local expertise, strengthen supply chains, and attract private investment into maritime technologies. She also highlights the importance of skills development and the need for a national conversation about the ever-changing world and extended defence spending.

The speaker highlights the funding gap in the defence investment plan and the delay in its publication. He questions the government's commitment to the 3% of GDP target and emphasises the importance of transparency and accountability in defence spending.

The speaker underscores the strategic importance of securing a robust defence supply chain, particularly in advanced ceramics and materials in north Staffordshire. She highlights the role of companies like Mantec and the need for investment in sovereign capability in ceramic matrix composites and fibre manufacturing to strengthen national security and maintain industrial expertise.

The speaker focuses on the details of the MOD’s supplementary estimate memorandum, noting significant increases in resource and annual managed expenditure figures. He questions whether these increases reflect genuine new spending on defence capability or are driven by accounting adjustments.

The Qatari air force's confirmed kills of two Iranian Sukhoi Su-24s demonstrates the Typhoon's lethal capabilities in air-to-air combat, despite being a gen 4 fighter.

The UK needs to move forward with the defence investment plan to provide certainty for industry and prevent potential issues with kit availability in the event of a hot war. Austerity has weakened the UK's defence capabilities, but the Government has shown commitment by increasing defence spending. Further delay in the defence investment plan is unacceptable and detrimental to industry and troop readiness.

Asked the Minister to clarify the hold-up in publishing the defence investment plan, questioning whether it is stuck in the Treasury and if there are disagreements between the MOD and the Treasury.

Critiqued the Liberal Democrats' proposal for defence bonds, pointing out that the party would have to repay bondholders two years later, questioning where the £20 billion would come from.

Cartlidge discusses the importance of pre-emptive defence measures, citing the provision of anti-tank weapons to Ukraine before the Russian invasion. He criticises the lack of additional funding for defence in the Chancellor's spring statement and outlines five consequences of insufficient defence spending, including operational impacts, procurement delays, lethality reduction, and job risks in the defence industry.

The speaker acknowledges the bravery of UK armed forces and their ongoing missions, especially in the Middle East and Mediterranean. He supports the strategic defence review and the defence industrial strategy, emphasising the importance of hard power and increased defence spending. He also responds to questions about Ajax, supplementary estimates, and accommodation improvements for service personnel.

The speaker questions the Minister about the publication of the Defence Investment Plan, expressing concern about the delay.

The speaker inquires about the availability of another Type 45 to replace HMS Dragon for its NATO Maritime Group 1 commitment, noting the current commitments of other vessels.

Expressed gratitude to the Backbench Business Committee and hon. Members for the quality of speeches. Emphasised the importance of scrutinising defence posture and investment plan. Highlighted the need for a publication date for the defence investment plan and a path towards 3% of GDP spending. Raised concerns about procurement problems and the need to rebuild trust with the Treasury.