Oral Answers to Questions

Harriet Cross Excerpts

Monday 10th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Bradley Thomas (Bromsgrove) (Con)]

4. What steps he is taking to protect undersea infrastructure.

[Harriet Cross (Gordon and Buchan) (Con)]

18. What steps he is taking to protect undersea infrastructure.

[Damien Egan (Bristol North East) (Lab)]

23. What steps he is taking to protect critical undersea infrastructure.

--- Later in debate ---

[Luke Pollard]

I am grateful for the hon. Member’s question—it is a good one. We are seeing more risks posed to our critical underwater infrastructure by players who wish harm to our national security. We already have brilliant capability in RAF Proteus, which is able to support our infrastructure and that of our allies. When the strategic defence review is published in the spring, I am sure that there will be more developments in that direction.

[Harriet Cross]

The Secretary of State recently outlined to this House the serious situation with the Yantar—a clear example of the threat posed to our critical undersea infrastructure, and of the work that we need to do to defend ourselves and deter potential attacks. Does that not show that we need to increase our defence spending as quickly as possible to defend our crucial infrastructure and protect national security?

[Luke Pollard]

The hon. Member is right. We are increasing our defence spending. In the Budget, we increased defence spending by £3 billion, and in the spring, after the publication of the strategic defence review, we will set out a path to spending 2.5% of our GDP on defence.