Asked by: Baroness Goldie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the Defence Investment Plan has not been published by Autumn 2025 as was committed to in the Defence Industrial Strategy.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We are working flat out on the Defence Investment Plan, which will fix the outdated, overcommitted and underfunded defence programme we inherited from the last Government, and we will publish it as soon as it is ready.
Asked by: Baroness Goldie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reach the stated target of spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As confirmed in the Spending Review (SR) 2025, this Government has a fully funded path to reaching 2.6% NATO qualifying defence spending by 2027, with an ambition to reach 3% by the end of the next Parliament, when fiscal and economic conditions allow. We will set budgets for the next Spending Review period at SR27. The NATO Defence Investment Pledge will be reviewed by NATO Allies in 2029.
Asked by: Baroness Goldie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the internal Ministry of Defence reviews into Ajax will be published.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The safety of our Service personnel remains a top priority for the Ministerial team and the Department.
Investigations into Ajax and a Ministerial review remain ongoing. The investigation teams are conducting their work thoroughly and at pace and they must be given the time and space required to ensure that all information and evidence is considered.
A further update will be provided in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Goldie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of delaying the publication of the Defence Investment Plan on the defence industry.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
While the Department continues to work flat out to finalise the DIP, delivery continues, for example progressing always-on munitions factories, delivering the Defence Housing Strategy and Defence Industrial Strategy, and securing agreements to export Typhoon Jets to Türkiye and Type 26 Frigates to Norway. In 2025 we secured over £20 billion in defence exports to allies, expected to be the highest since records began over 40 years ago.
The Department has signed more than 1,000 major defence contracts since July 2024, including 86% with British-based businesses, and spent more than £31 billion with UK industry last year – an above inflation increase in spending.
Asked by: Baroness Goldie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many frigates they plan to have in service on 1 January 2026.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy will have seven frigates in service, of which one (HMS KENT) is currently undergoing planned deep maintenance. The new Type 26 and Type 31 frigates are in build in Scotland currently.
Asked by: Baroness Goldie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have appointed the Armed Forces Commissioner, and if not, when they plan to do so.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We are in the process of recruiting an Armed Forces Commissioner. It is expected that the Commissioner will be appointed in 2026, with plans for their office to be operational in April 2026. The role is subject to scrutiny in accordance with the principles of the Governance Code on Public Appointments. We remain committed to appointing the right person for this critical role, which is central to delivering a trusted and effective service for our people.
Asked by: Baroness Goldie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what risk assessment has been undertaken of the consequences of there being no Royal Fleet Auxiliary amphibious ship active and available for service.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) retains three Bay Class Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary) to support UK amphibious capability. The RFA has committed to at least one of these vessels maintaining appropriate readiness, while the others undergo deeper maintenance and upkeep.
Regarding RFA ARGUS, The RFA continue to work alongside Defence Equipment and Supprt surveyors and commercial partners to assess the cost and value of effecting the required repairs.
Asked by: Baroness Goldie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, there has been of the relative cost benefit of (1) decommissioning RFA Argus and (2) carrying out repairs; and what plans have been developed to effect its potential replacement.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) retains three Bay Class Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary) to support UK amphibious capability. The RFA has committed to at least one of these vessels maintaining appropriate readiness, while the others undergo deeper maintenance and upkeep.
Regarding RFA ARGUS, The RFA continue to work alongside Defence Equipment and Supprt surveyors and commercial partners to assess the cost and value of effecting the required repairs.
Asked by: Baroness Goldie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what steps they are taking to improve the amphibious capabilities of the Royal Navy.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Following the Strategic Defence Review 2025, the Royal Navy is progressing plans to enhance its amphibious capabilities through investment in new amphibious shipping including the Multi Role Strike Ship, Littoral Response Groups and the ongoing modernisation of the Commando Force. Final decisions on capability will be informed by the Defence Investment Plan in autumn 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Goldie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to recommendation 48 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, whether they have initiated the review of storage and other regulations of highly expensive weapons used by the Royal Air Force; and if not, when they will do so.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Air Force is in the process of establishing a review in line with Recommendation 48 of the Strategic Defence Review. This work will form part of the Chief of the Air Staff's wider Optimise Directive, which coheres initiatives aimed at delivering benefits across the Royal Air Force and ensuring the best use of resources. Examining investment options for the explosives' storage estate and availability of weapons through the Defence Investment Plan will form a key aspect of the review, which will be completed by June 2026.