Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Readiness Legislation

Monday 1 June 2026 · 3 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial commitment to introduce a defence readiness Bill based on strategic defence review recommendations.
  • Readiness measures from the defence readiness Bill are already included in the Armed Forces Bill scheduled for tomorrow.
  • Government emphasizes focusing on the content quality of the defence readiness Bill rather than a specific timeline.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Neil Shastri-Hurst Con Solihull West and Shirley
Defence
Context

The hon. Member is concerned about the lack of a defence readiness Bill despite the strategic defence review recommendation.

Question

Whether he plans to introduce a defence readiness Bill given the strategic defence review recommendation, and whether such measures are included in the Armed Forces Bill coming before the House tomorrow.

Answer from Luke Pollard

Yes, we have accepted the strategic defence review recommendation that we introduce a defence readiness Bill. As the hon. Gentleman will know, readiness measures are already included in the Armed Forces Bill, which will be before the House again tomorrow. Engagement across Government and with industry is under way on the defence readiness Bill.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Neil Shastri-Hurst Con Solihull West and Shirley
Defence
Context

The hon. Member is concerned about the lack of a specific timeline for introducing the defence readiness Bill despite the urgent need in an unstable world.

Question

The Government's constant refrain is that they are “working at pace”, but the reality is that our adversaries are doing exactly that. In an increasingly unstable world, the lack of a defence readiness Bill is a significant disadvantage. Will the Minister set out when the Bill will be published, and the specific date on which it will come before the House?

Answer from Luke Pollard

It is so disappointing that all the hon. Gentleman wants is a timetable; he does not say what measures he wants to see in the defence readiness Bill. He does not care what is in it. We care about the content of the defence readiness Bill: we will get it right, and we will bring it before this House.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline for publishing and bringing the bill before the House

How: It Is So Disappointing That All The Hon. Gentleman Wants Is A Timetable; He Does Not Say What Measures He Wants To See In The Defence Readiness Bill.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Christopher Vince Lab Co-op Harlow
Defence
Context

The hon. Member acknowledges the Government's commitment to a defence readiness Bill and record funding for national defence, including 1,200 procurement deals.

Question

I welcome the Government's commitment to a defence readiness Bill, as well as the record funding for the defence of this country, and the 1,200 defence procurement deals that have already been signed. As I have not yet mentioned Harlow in the House this week, will the Minister assure me that he will work with defence manufacturers such as Raytheon in Harlow to ensure that we are prepared for the terrible things going on in the world? Will he have conversations with them, as part of his preparations for the defence readiness Bill?

Answer from Luke Pollard

My hon. Friend is a real champion for Harlow. As we are increasing defence spending, we are directing more of the increased defence budget at British companies, including British small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as larger companies. I would be happy to meet him to discuss how we can support the SMEs in his constituency, so that they receive a greater share of this Government's increased defence budget.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email