Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Integrated Review: Publication

Monday 7 December 2020 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Prime Minister announced the first outcome of the integrated review with a significant increase in defence funding of over 24 billion over four years.
  • The Secretary of State intends to disinvest in outdated equipment and invest in future capabilities to address the changing warfare landscape.
  • The integrated review will outline Britain's global leadership, commitment to collective security, and investment in combat air, shipbuilding, space, and cyber capabilities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jack Dromey Lab
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The Government announced the integrated review outcomes with a significant increase in defence funding. The question addresses the publication date for the full conclusions.

Question

When does the Government plan to publish the integrated review of security, defence, development and foreign policy; and if he will make a statement?

Answer from Ben Wallace

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has announced the first outcome of the integrated review of security, defence, development and foreign policy, with the significant increase for defence funding of more than £24 billion over four years to enable modernisation of the armed forces. The full conclusion of the integrated review will be published early next year.

Answered
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Q2 Emma Lewell Lab South Shields
Defence
Context

The Government's current handling of the defence budget has led to delays in equipment programmes, personnel shortages, and a fall in real terms spending since 2010. The MP questioned what areas will be scaled back or sacrificed.

Question

An unaffordable and delayed equipment programme; a shortfall in personnel targets; plans to invest in space and cyber, and integration across all five operational domains, as well as a fall in defence spending since 2010 of more than £8 billion in real terms—the Government's poor handling of our nation's defence means that the review's ambitions will not match the Secretary of State's rhetoric, so when is he going to share with us what areas of defence will be scaled back or sacrificed in the review?

Answer from Ben Wallace

We have learned from previous experiences and are tailoring our response to our ambitions. It is my intention that we will make tough decisions to disinvest in outdated equipment and invest in future capabilities. The most important aspect of defence is the men and women who serve, thus investments include wraparound childcare.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific areas to be scaled back or sacrificed

How: We Have Learned From Previous Experiences, Tailoring Our Response

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Q3 Stuart Anderson Con South Shropshire
Defence
Context

The Defence Committee has been examining the evolving nature of warfare. The MP sought confirmation on how this will influence Britain's global strategy.

Question

In the Defence Committee, we have been able to look at the evolution of warfare and what that might mean for this country. Will the Secretary of State confirm that the integrated review will clearly lay out Britain's position in the changing battle space?

Answer from Ben Wallace

Yes, the integrated review will set out the UK's global leadership, commitment to collective security and burden sharing, alongside defence's historic settlement. It will enable us to prepare for this new and complex reality by investing billions in combat air, shipbuilding, space, cyber, and world-leading research.

Answered
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Q4 Jack Dromey Lab
Defence
Context

The Government has announced a significant capital programme, but there are concerns about the lack of strategic direction and the need to invest in British industry.

Question

The four years capital programme is welcome, even if it conceals a real-terms cut in revenue spending. Right now, we have funding without a strategy, which is why it is essential that the integrated review be published as quickly as possible. Will the Secretary of State undertake that the capital spend will be spent on British industry to equip the British armed forces, creating tens of thousands of jobs in our defence, aerospace and maritime industries?

Answer from Ben Wallace

While we recognise RDEL and CDEL figures over four years, the interpretation by Labour of a real-terms cut in RDEL is incorrect. The Government has committed to record defence spending which will be invested in people, capabilities, and equipment. Britain makes most of the best equipment in the world, so a large proportion of that will be British made.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific commitment on capital spend for British industry

How: We Recognise Rdel And Cdel Figures

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