Strategic Priorities Statement: Defence

Lord Stirrup Excerpts

Tuesday 25th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

I am very grateful to my noble friend for his question. He far more eloquently than me set out what I was attempting to say in my previous answer. He draws attention to the importance of reading the documents that are in your Question before tabling your Question.

[Lord Stirrup (CB)]

My Lords, has the Minister seen the recent piece in the Financial Times setting out the challenges posed to defence companies by the high level of friction within Europe-wide supply chains? This is not just a Brexit issue. Brussels has criticised the overregulation of intra-EU transfer of defence-related products. Does the Minister agree that we and our European partners need to address this issue as a matter of urgency if our defence industry is to develop the high degree of efficiency that is so necessary in the light of the serious challenges we face?

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

I very much agree with the noble and gallant Lord. I hope those issues will be addressed through the Prime Minister’s work with the European Union on defence and security co-operation, and in the defence industrial strategy and the wider EU reset.