Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Investment Plan

Tuesday 23 June 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 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The DIP will be published before the NATO Ankara summit.
  • The Government are working with NATO allies on a multilateral defence mechanism.
  • The Chancellor is overseeing the biggest uplift in defence spending since the cold war.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rebecca Smith Con South West Devon
Defence Economy
Context

The former Defence Secretary criticised the Treasury's proposed increase in defence spending as insufficient, revealing a gap of £28 billion by 2030. Small and medium-sized enterprises are denied access to MOD contracts.

Question

What fiscal steps is she taking to support the defence investment plan? The former Defence Secretary has blown apart the defence investment plan, revealing that the Treasury was prepared to offer only a pitiful increase in defence spending—just 0.08% by 2030—despite growing threats across the world. At the same time, billions are spent on welfare and net zero agenda. Innovative SMEs in defence are locked out of MOD contracts. The Chief of Defence Staff noted that the price of peace is increasing. Will she fill the £28 billion gap in defence investment by 2030 to secure our position?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

The DIP will be published before the NATO Ankara summit. It involves more money spent more effectively and meets the scale of challenges we face. The Tories cut £12 billion from defence spending, hitting rock bottom for pay, morale and numbers. We are turning that around with the biggest uplift in defence spending since the cold war. Contracts are awarded to firms here in Britain.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Chancellor did not commit to filling the £28 billion gap specifically but promised more money will be spent effectively.

How: We Are Turning That Around With The Biggest Uplift In Defence Spending Since The Cold War

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Q2 Rebecca Smith Con South West Devon
Defence
Context

The former Defence Secretary criticised the Treasury's proposed increase in defence spending as insufficient, revealing a gap of £28 billion by 2030. Small and medium-sized enterprises are denied access to MOD contracts.

Question

Will the Chancellor commit this morning to filling the £28 billion gap in defence investment by 2030 to secure our position on the world stage, or will she stand in the way of the delivery of the DIP that we need?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

The DIP will be published before the summit. It involves more money spent more effectively and meets the scale of challenges we face. Frankly, I will take no lectures from the Conservatives who left our armed forces hollowed out with £12 billion cuts in their first five years.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No commitment to fill the £28 billion gap was made explicitly.

How: Frankly, I Will Take No Lectures From The Conservatives

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

Throughout the equipment plan, there was always a £14 billion deficit. The House wants to know about conversations with European Governments and Canada regarding the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank.

Question

Could the Chancellor update the House on what conversations she or her Ministers are having with Governments in Europe and with Canada about the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank and the multilateral defence mechanism for funding and procuring defence across NATO?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

This Government are working with our NATO allies on a multilateral defence mechanism. We have signed treaties with Finland and the Netherlands. The mechanism enables joint procurement and stockpiling off balance sheet for better value and innovative finance. We are closely working with Canada on the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank lending to smaller businesses in the supply chain.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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

The former Defence Secretary criticised the Treasury's proposed increase in defence spending as insufficient, revealing a gap of £28 billion by 2030. The Chancellor has said that national security always comes first.

Question

Why this dereliction of duty? Why is she failing to tackle the ever-expanding welfare budget and blocking the defence investment plan from getting the funding needed to meet the threats we face?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

The hon. Gentleman sits two places away from the former welfare Secretary who presided over a record increase in welfare spending. We commissioned Alan Milburn to address young people not in employment, education or training. I am proud to oversee the biggest uplift in defence since the cold war through difficult decisions like reducing overseas development assistance.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Chancellor did not explain why there was a dereliction of duty but cited past welfare spending and reduction in ODA.

How: We Commissioned Alan Milburn To Address Young People Neet

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