Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Investment Plan

Monday 16 March 2026 · 10 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 7 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government working to publish the 10-year defence investment plan as soon as it is ready
  • Defence investment plan will reflect the strategic defence review and include 270 billion in funding
  • Steps taken to remove barriers to recruitment for volunteer reserve forces

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ben Obese-Jecty Con Huntingdon
Defence
Context

The MP is concerned about the delay in publishing the defence investment plan, which could impact capabilities.

Question

When will the government publish the defence investment plan?

Answer from John Healey

We are working flat out to settle the defence investment plan, which is a 10-year vision as laid out in the strategic defence review. It will be affordable and deliverable unlike previous plans.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific timeline for publishing was not provided

How: Working Flat Out To Settle

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Q2 Neil Shastri-Hurst Con Solihull West and Shirley
Defence Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The MP is questioning the timeliness of publishing the defence investment plan, noting previous government's delays.

Question

Will the Secretary of State confirm whether the defence investment plan will be published before the House rises on 26 March?

Answer from John Healey

We are working flat out to deliver the defence investment plan. It will reflect the strategic defence review and we are putting £270 billion into defence in this Parliament, which is a significant increase.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific publication date was not confirmed

How: Working Flat Out To Deliver

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Q3 Ian Roome Lib Dem North Devon
Defence
Context

The MP is inquiring about the status of finalising and approving items from the draft defence investment plan.

Question

Has the Secretary of State received any advice to remove items from the draft defence investment plan? The plan must be completed.

Answer from John Healey

We are working flat out to deliver the defence investment plan, which will put into practice the 10-year vision set out in the strategic defence review. The details will be reported to the House when completed.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific actions mentioned regarding completion or approval

How: Working Flat Out To Deliver

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Q4 Ben Obese-Jecty Con Huntingdon
Defence
Context

The MP is concerned about the operational arrangements for autonomous mine-clearing vessels in the Gulf and how the delay of the defence investment plan impacts capabilities.

Question

Are the autonomous mine-clearing vessels currently deployable, and what support ship will accompany them? The delay to the defence investment plan should not be affecting important decisions.

Answer from John Healey

The hon. Gentleman is last to expect setting out detail of such operational arrangements in public. Defence investment plan is not holding up decisions; 1,200 major contracts have been awarded since the election.

Not addressed: Avoided providing details on operational arrangements and specifics on impact

How: Setting Out Detail Of Such Operational Arrangements In Public

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Q5 Jessica Morden Lab Newport East
Defence
Context

The MP is interested in the commitment to using UK steel in defence procurement.

Question

Will the Secretary of State commit to directing British defence investment first to British jobs, businesses and innovation?

Answer from John Healey

A principle is to direct British defence investment first to British jobs, businesses and innovation. We will ensure supply chains reflect this policy commitment.

Answered
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Q6 Bayo Alaba Ind Southend East and Rochford
Defence
Context

The MP is interested in the steps being taken to support working adults in joining volunteer reserve forces.

Question

What steps are being taken to remove barriers to recruitment of working adults into the volunteer reserve forces?

Answer from John Healey

We have swept away long-standing rules that got in the way of people joining. There is no shortage of those who want to join, but the system has been too slow and bureaucratic.

Answered
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Q7 Luke Charters Lab York Outer
Defence
Context

The MP is inquiring about the finance and investment strategy to unlock capital for firms across the supply chain.

Question

Will the Secretary of State update on when the defence finance and investment strategy will be published?

Answer from John Healey

Agrees a strategy is key. We are ensuring capital leverages in additional sources of private investment, with £3.2 billion invested since the election and record foreign direct investment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Timeline for publishing DFIS was not provided

How: Agrees A Strategy Is Key

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Q8 James Cartlidge Con South Suffolk
Defence Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The MP is reiterating the question on the timeliness of publishing the defence investment plan.

Question

Will the Secretary of State confirm whether the defence investment plan will be published before the House rises on 26 March?

Answer from John Healey

We are working flat out to conclude the defence investment plan. Previous plans left programmes overcommitted, underfunded and unsuited.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific publication date was not confirmed

How: Working Flat Out To Conclude

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Q9 James Cartlidge Con South Suffolk
Defence Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The question is prompted by concerns over the timing of the publication of the defence investment plan, which cannot be released during purdah periods before elections. This affects upcoming Scottish, Welsh and local elections.

Question

There is a reason why that date matters: it is the date when purdah commences before the Scottish elections. Then we will have the Welsh and local elections. It is our understanding—and the Secretary of State is welcome to correct this—that the defence investment plan cannot be published during purdah. If that is the case, and if it is not published before the rise of the House on 26 March, we will not see it until well into May. That is why this question is so important.

Answer from John Healey

As the Prime Minister said, it will be published as soon as it is ready. This is not holding up major investments; there have been more than 1,200 major investments in contracts awarded since the election—and 86% of those contracts were awarded to British-based businesses, so we are boosting British security and the British economy at the same time.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific date for publication was not provided. The answer instead focused on general defence investments without addressing when the plan will be published.

How: As Soon As It Is Ready

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Q10 James MacCleary Lib Dem Lewes
Defence
Context

The question arises from concerns over the timing of both the publication of the defence investment plan and the introduction of the defence readiness Bill, which was promised in last year's strategic defence review. The bill aims to enhance national preparedness for war.

Question

Liberal Democrats share concerns about the whereabouts of the defence investment plan, and urge the Government to come forward with its publication. Last year's strategic defence review also promised a defence readiness Bill, which would give Governments the power to mobilise industry and reserves in a crisis, and would require proper reporting on our warfighting readiness, so that the House and the country were not in the dark.

Answer from John Healey

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's interest in the issue. He will recognise that, as was pointed out in the strategic defence review, this is a question for the whole of society and the whole of Government. Preparation for greater defence readiness, and greater societal and economic readiness, is going on at present, alongside the work that we are doing in defence with other parts of Government to ensure that we can deliver the defence investment plan. We will then be able to deliver, in due course, a defence readiness Bill.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific date for introducing the Defence Readiness Bill was not provided.

How: A Question For The Whole Of Society And The Whole Of Government

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