Defence Investment Plan 2026-07-06

2026-07-06

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Context
Discussions about the merits of increasing funding for defence investment.
What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of increasing funding for the defence investment plan?
I worked closely with the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to secure more money for our armed forces—a £15 billion increase in my Department's spending power. That means we will invest £298 billion in defence over the next four years. Of course there is more to do, and I will continue to work closely with colleagues across Government to ensure that defence remains the No. 1 priority at the next spending review.
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Context
Concerns about delays in funding for refurbishing or replacing service homes, impacting bases like RNAS Yeovilton.
Can the Secretary of State confirm whether personnel serving at bases such as RNAS Yeovilton will be affected by that delay, and what they should expect by 2030?
I am grateful to the hon. Lady for raising that important point, and I pay tribute to those who serve in her constituency. We well understand the importance of having the best possible standard of defence accommodation for those who give so much for our country. That is why the defence investment plan restated the commitment to spend £9 billion over the next 10 years on defence accommodation, and that is why nine out of 10 of those most in need of repair have already been fixed.
Assessment & feedback
Specific confirmation about personnel being affected by delays or expectations for improvements was not provided.
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Context
Concerns about NATO's readiness to respond to potential threats from Russia, especially on the eastern flank.
Can the Secretary of State confirm that if the Russians were to test us on NATO's eastern flank, they would look across that flank and see not a NATO brigade, but something that looks like a Ukrainian brigade?
My hon. and gallant Friend raises an important point, and I know that he speaks with operational experience on these matters. I hope that he sees and understands the importance that we attach to these matters. I know he understands the importance of working closely with our allies, both in NATO and in the joint expeditionary force—he and I have discussed that on many occasions.
Assessment & feedback
The specific readiness question was not directly addressed; focus shifted to operational experience and ally collaboration.
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Context
Concerns about funding cuts affecting service housing, previously stated as ringfenced and guaranteed by the Armed Forces Minister.
Can the Secretary of State tell the House exactly how many service family homes will now have their refurbishments or rebuild delayed into the 2030s because the Government have failed to honour that commitment? Can he confirm that that figure is 14,000 homes?
I have a lot of time for the hon. and gallant Member, but I will take no lessons from Opposition Members on the state of defence housing. He will have heard the commitment I made earlier about the £9 billion of investment that was reiterated in the DIP. I can also tell him that we will be refurbishing another 2,000 homes across the UK in the next 12 months alone.
Assessment & feedback
Exact figures and confirmation of 14,000 homes affected were not provided; focus shifted to commitment reiteration and current efforts.
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Context
Concerns about underfunding in the Defence Investment Plan and proposal for innovative financing through defence bonds.
Have the Secretary of State or his colleagues spoken to Mr Haldane about a defence bonds scheme? If not, will he commit to doing so?
I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's analysis of the DIP, not least because it included £20 billion to rapidly increase the Army's lethality and nearly £64 billion of investment in the UK's nuclear enterprise. In addition, the defence investment plan will create up to 60,000 good, skilled jobs across the country.
Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment or discussion with Mr Haldane was not addressed; focus shifted to DIP investment details.
Response accuracy