Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Technology Development

Monday 7 November 2022 · 5 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 Ministry works closely with UK industry and academia to identify and invest in innovative defence technologies.
  • The 6.6 billion R&D investment over four years supports adaptation to new threats and enhances conventional forces' lethality.
  • The Prime Minister commits to allocating proper resources for safety, positioning the UK as the largest NATO European spender.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 James Sunderland
Defence
Context

The question addresses the Ministry of Defence's initiatives to foster innovative defence technologies.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to develop innovative defence technology. I am concerned about ensuring that we are identifying and investing in the most advanced technologies to address our capability challenges and support our conventional forces.

Answer from Alex Chalk

The Ministry works closely with UK industry and academia, including SMEs, to identify and invest in innovative technologies that address capability challenges. We are testing and deploying these technologies while publishing future priorities to incentivise investment.

Answered
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Q2 Andrew Jones Con
Defence
Context

The question addresses the Government's investment in space and cyber technologies, and its impact on traditional military capabilities.

Question

Can he assure me that the necessary investment in space and cyber domains complements rather than replaces our conventional forces? The £6.6 billion R&D investment over four years is critical to modernising and adapting to new threats while supporting conventional forces' lethality.

Answer from Alex Chalk

The £6.6 billion investment supports adaptation to meet new threats as set out in the integrated review, complementing and enhancing conventional forces' lethality through modernisation.

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Q3 James Sunderland
Defence
Context

The question raises concerns about the impact of potential reduction in defence spending on the nascent defence manufacturing sector.

Question

Does the Minister share my concern that any reduction in defence spending will harm our defence manufacturing industry? Steps can be taken to safeguard future innovation, development and exports. The UK is a significant NATO spender, providing capacity for investment in technology now and in the future.

Answer from Alex Chalk

The UK's commitment as the largest NATO European spender provides capacity for decisive battle-winning technology investment. The Defence and Security Industrial Strategy sets a strategic relationship framework with industry, including regarding our industries as strategic capabilities themselves.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to safeguard future innovation and exports were not addressed

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Q4 Derek Twigg Lab Widnes and Halewood
Defence
Context

The question calls for an increase in defence spending to maintain competitiveness, particularly in new technologies like artificial intelligence.

Question

Reductions in defence spending are not hampering our security; rather, we need an increase to ensure better security and defence. We require significant funding increases to keep ahead of competitors on technology such as AI. Will the Minister secure an inflation-proofed increase through Defence Committee negotiations?

Answer from Alex Chalk

The Prime Minister's commitment is to allocate proper resources for safety. As the largest NATO European spender, our position serves this country and allies well.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Concrete assurance on securing an increase in the defence budget was not provided

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Q5 Margaret Ferrier SNP
Context

The question follows Defence Committee findings that progress in the UK's space domain is unacceptable and seeks prioritisation for publishing the conclusions of a specific programme.

Question

Following the committee's findings on space domain lack of progress, what steps are Ministers taking to prioritise the publication of the SBPNTP's conclusions? We need clarity and action based on these findings.

Answer from Alex Chalk

We are ahead in space strategy. Work continues to ensure new domains such as cyber and space support conventional forces' capability enhancement, leading in space.

Not addressed: Details on the SBPNTP's conclusions were not addressed

How: Changed Subject

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