Baroness Foster of Oxton

The UK continues to support the full implementation of the Colonna Report by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to ensure that the agency meets the highest standards on neutrality and integrity, including the recommendations relating to staff vetting, conduct and oversight. The last Quarterly Colonna Progress Report, published on 11 May, stated that 40 out of 50 recommendations had now been implemented in full, and we look forward to evidence of further progress in the next report, covering the period April-June 2026.

In line with the approach taken by most other Member States, the UK has conducted extensive due diligence and are satisfied that UNRWA adequately manages UK funds.

The UK continues to support the full implementation of the Colonna Report by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to ensure that the agency meets the highest standards on neutrality and integrity, including the recommendations relating to staff vetting, conduct and oversight. The last Quarterly Colonna Progress Report, published on 11 May, stated that 40 out of 50 recommendations had now been implemented in full, and we look forward to evidence of further progress in the next report, covering the period April-June 2026.

In line with the approach taken by most other Member States, the UK has conducted extensive due diligence and are satisfied that UNRWA adequately manages UK funds.

The Defence Investment Plan allocates a further £15 billion to defence spending over the next four years, funded by reprioritising public spending, with £10.3 billion already identified and a further £4.7 billion to be confirmed at Budget 2026 in a fair and balanced way.

A Defence Investment Plan Funding Explainer can be found on the government website.

The Defence Investment Plan allocates a further £15 billion to defence spending over the next four years, funded by reprioritising public spending, with £10.3 billion already identified and a further £4.7 billion to be confirmed at Budget 2026 in a fair and balanced way. This brings total defence spending to almost £300 billion over the next four years and by 2027-28, the UK will spend 2.7% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on core NATO defence spending.

The Government has committed to increasing defence spending to 3% of GDP in the next Parliament, with funding and plans to be set out in due course.

Defence will deliver £10.7 billion of efficiencies and savings over the Parliament, including through a reshaped civilian workforce, accelerated use of AI, £1 billion of savings from reduced reliance on consultancies, and rationalisation of the MOD estate. This will be underpinned by a £500m Transformation Fund to deliver productivity improving investments in AI and workforce transformation

The plan will be subject to an annual update to Parliament before summer recess, audited by the NAO, with the first update due by July 2027.

A further breakdown of the Defence Reform and Efficiency Plan can be found on page 73 of the Defence Investment Plan, available on the government website.

The police have significant powers available to counter criminal behaviours by direct action groups, and the Government fully supports the police in the use of those powers both to prevent criminal activity occurring, and to ensure that perpetrators face the full force of the law.