Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the break-down of the planned cuts to be made to each government department's research and development budget to help fund the commitment to spend 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product on defence by 2030.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

We have committed to increase government R&D spending by £2 billion, from £20 billion in 2024-25 to £22 billion in the next Parliament.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether their commitment to spend 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product on defence by 2030 has been incorporated into the Treasury’s baseline budgets.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Prime Minister recently set out our pledge: to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. That increase starts immediately, rising each year, and will see defence spending rise to £87 billion a year by 2030/31. This is the biggest strengthening of our defence since the Cold War.

The commitment will be fully funded, with no increases in borrowing or debt.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government from which (1) departments, (2) arms-length bodies, and (3) other organisations the number of civil servants will be reduced to help fund the commitment to spend 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product on defence by 2030.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The detail of how individual organisations will be affected by the return to pre-pandemic numbers will form a key part of the next comprehensive spending review. The longer-term reductions will build on the shorter-term headcount cap put in place through to March 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings the Earl of Minto has had with representatives from the Defence Police Federation since November 2023.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I have had written correspondence with the Defence Police Federation since taking up post in November 2023, but have held no meetings to date; I did, however, offer for the Defence Police Federation to meet with Senior Officials which took place in early March 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings the Earl of Minto has had with the Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police since November 2023.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Owing to a combination of diary constraints and scheduled calls being cancelled due to urgent business on both sides, I have not had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police.