Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Industrial Strategy

Tuesday 28 April 2026 · 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 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Chancellor and the Defence Secretary meet regularly to discuss defence, including the defence industrial strategy.
  • This Government is raising investment in defence to the highest sustained level since the cold war.
  • The UK has already signed up, with Finland and the Netherlands, to the multilateral defence budget.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Milne Lib Dem Horsham
Defence
Context

The MP inquired about discussions regarding the effectiveness of the UK's defence industrial strategy, focusing on how private investment is being leveraged to support it.

Question

What discussions have you had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the effectiveness of the defence industrial strategy?

Answer from James Murray

The Chancellor and the Defence Secretary meet regularly to discuss defence, including the defence industrial strategy. They recently met leaders from the UK financial sector to discuss how private investment can be leveraged to accelerate defence readiness.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific effectiveness of the defence industrial strategy was not addressed

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Q2 John Milne Lib Dem Horsham
Defence
Context

The MP highlighted the situation in his constituency where Chess Dynamics, a leading developer of counter-drone and air defence technology, has been awaiting clarity on the defence investment plan. The company cannot proceed with commissioning new air defence systems due to lack of certainty.

Question

In my constituency, Chess Dynamics, part of Cohort, is world-leading in developing counter-drone and air defence technology but has been kept on hold since last year. Will you meet me and Chess Dynamics to provide clarity on the investment needed for new air defence systems?

Answer from James Murray

This Government is raising investment in defence to the highest sustained level since the cold war. Over a thousand contracts have been signed, including a billion-pound contract for medium helicopters in Yeovil, half-a-billion pounds invested in radar systems, and £100 million boost for submarine-hunting aircraft.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific meeting with Chess Dynamics was not committed to

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Q3 Meg Hillier Labour (Co-op) Hackney South and Shoreditch
Defence
Context

The question arises from the context of international defence investment needs in the current geopolitical situation.

Question

What consideration has my right hon. Friend given to joining the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank to make sure that we are really pushing the investment that we need to see in defence in the current world situation?

Answer from James Murray

The UK has already signed up, with Finland and the Netherlands, to the multilateral defence budget, with this Chancellor taking a lead. I know the importance to this Government of security, which is not just something that we can achieve on our own but by working with allies to ensure that we are safer in future.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm if UK will join specifically the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank or provide details about joining this bank.

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Q4 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
Defence Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from a criticism of the Chancellor for delaying the helicopter contract and blocking the defence investment plan, while increasing welfare spending.

Question

The Chancellor said, “National security always comes first,” but she delayed the helicopter contract for our industrial base and we know that she is blocking the defence investment plan. Labour's former Defence Secretary and secretary general of NATO, Lord Robertson, said, “We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.” He is right, so why is the Chancellor failing to grip the benefits bill and invest in our defence?

Answer from James Murray

Those on the Opposition Front Bench have some cheek. The hon. Gentleman is sat next to the hon. Member for Central Devon (Sir Mel Stride), who oversaw the biggest increase in welfare spending on record, with a £33 billion increase in welfare spending in the last year of the Conservative Government. This Government are serious about getting people back into work, while increasing defence investment at the same time to 2.6% of GDP by next April—something the previous Government never managed.

Not addressed: Did not provide a reason for delaying the helicopter contract or blocking the defence investment plan.

How: Attacking Opposition'S Credibility

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