Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Select Committee session on the Defence Investment Plan on 7 July 2026, what assessment his Department has made of the capability gaps that will remain during the period before the Defence Investment Plan is fully delivered.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We inherited a number of capability gaps when we took office in 2024. As the previous Minister for Defence Procurement, I am certain he will be familiar with them.
The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) reinforces critical UK Defence capability, maintaining current capabilities while investing in emerging technology to counter rapidly developing threats. It increases the Armed Forces' ability to deter and, if required, fight and win. This includes the Hybrid Navy, investment in Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates to replace Type 23s, uncrewed and autonomous systems, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft to bolster our Combat Air force and Precision Strike Missiles to increase Army lethality.
The MOD employs a rigorous approach to identify and mitigate risks arising from changes in the threat picture or gaps in defence capability. This ensures the coherent delivery of defence's strategic and operational objectives, both as a sovereign nation and with allies and partners. The details of those audits are not made public as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 70 of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, when the review into Single Living Accommodation will conclude.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Single Living Accommodation (SLA) and Overseas Accommodation Review is being delivered in two phases. Phase One of the Review, which focuses on SLA across the UK estate, is on track to report to Defence Ministers this Summer. The report will make recommendations to improve service standards, satisfaction and value for money in the delivery of SLA. Phase Two of the Review, which will cover the overseas estate, will conclude by the end of 2026.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will state what his Department's budget will be as a percentage of GDP in 2030.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We are increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, 3% in the next Parliament and 3.5% by 2035 on core defence.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Committee session in the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) on 7 July 2026, what assessment he has made of the potential impact the delay in the publication of the DIP has had on investment decisions by UK defence companies.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We are grateful to General Sir Richard Barrons for his contribution to the Strategic Defence Review. The Defence Investment Plan implements the Strategic Defence Review.
We have continued to invest significantly in UK defence industry throughout the development of the Defence Investment Plan. Since July 2024, the Ministry of Defence signed more than 1,400 defence contracts, with 94% of their value awarded to UK-based businesses and spent more than £31 billion with UK industry last year.
Engagement with UK Industry continued through our strategic partnering and supplier relationship management processes, as well as forums, such as the Defence Industrial Joint Council. In addition, the Ministry of Defence continued to monitor the health of the defence industrial base closely and worked with suppliers to manage risks and opportunities while the Defence Investment Plan was being developed.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Defence Investment Plan is Government policy.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Yes, of course it is.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled At least six new air defence warships to defend UK waters and boost shipbuilding, published on 29 June 2026, how much has been spent on the delivery of (a) Atlantic Bastion, (b) Atlantic Shield and (c) Atlantic Strike as of 29 June 2026.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 13181 on the 2 July 2026.
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-06-25/13181
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Europe's largest drone testing centre opens in Swindon to boost defence innovation, published on 12 June 2026, when the Uncrewed Systems Centre will be fully operational.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK faces a defining moment. Our adversaries are rapidly deploying AI to enhance capability and gain strategic advantage. The UK must be ready for the modern battlespace. The Rapid AI Delivery Taskforce (TF RAID) was formally launched on 10 June and shows delivery of the Strategic Defence Review in action: shifting our conventional forces towards greater use of AI-enabled capabilities, on a timeline measured in months, not years.
AI is already widely integrated in projects across Defence in both the battle and business space. TF RAID reflects the imperative to deliver operational advantage to the frontline through AI-enabled interventions, quickly, and provides a focussed means by which to do so. The Taskforce is established now and will deliver tangible operational impact to the military commands through a series of sprints over the next six to nine months. It will not be a frontline unit operating military capability.
TF RAID is led by a Military Director at 2* level, supported by a core team of over 60 civil servants, service personnel and contractors; with wider teams providing support from across the whole of Defence. As a temporary team, the size of the core Taskforce team will vary subject to the delivery requirements. The civil servants and service personnel have been drawn from existing Defence staff, supported by talent recruited, on a temporary or fixed term basis, from the private sector.
The Taskforce’s core ‘bench’ of AI and data specialists is working alongside embedded military product owners from the Frontline Commands to ensure solutions are driven by the needs of the end-users.
Taskforce RAID is an engine for UK industry. It is adopting a co-creation model to access a broader market and boost UK SMEs. The model is designed to diversify the supplier base and lower barriers for entry for new, innovative companies. The Taskforce gives industry unique access to real-world operational problems, direct engagement with military users, and a credible, accelerated route to deployment.
The Taskforce has an initial ringfenced budget of £20 million that will allow it to focus on the most pressing operational priorities. This will be reviewed as impact is delivered
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what is the maximum amount of investment that the British Business Bank can provide.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The British Business Bank does not operate under a single minimum investment limit. The Government has granted the Bank greater financial capacity and flexibility over the last year to respond more dynamically to market needs and public policy priorities.
The British Business Bank does not operate under a single maximum investment limit. Last year, the Government increased the Bank’s total financial capacity to £25.6bn to support the delivery of its strategic plan, comprising of £17.6bn funded capacity and £8 billion of contingent liability or guarantee capacity. This has enabled a two-thirds increase in its annual investments.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what is the minimum amount of investment that the British Business Bank can provide.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The British Business Bank does not operate under a single minimum investment limit. The Government has granted the Bank greater financial capacity and flexibility over the last year to respond more dynamically to market needs and public policy priorities.
The British Business Bank does not operate under a single maximum investment limit. Last year, the Government increased the Bank’s total financial capacity to £25.6bn to support the delivery of its strategic plan, comprising of £17.6bn funded capacity and £8 billion of contingent liability or guarantee capacity. This has enabled a two-thirds increase in its annual investments.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 70 of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, how many new bedspaces will be created in the (a) current and (b) next Parliament.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
The Department has not set a published target for the number of Single Living Accommodation bedspaces to be delivered during this Parliament. The Defence Investment Plan committed £1.4 billion over the next four years to improve Single Living Accommodation. A new programmatic approach designed to establish a long-term pipeline of projects that delivers best value, working with industry partners alongside other estate investment programmes is in development. As delivery programmes and priorities are being updated following confirmation of funding, and with the ongoing Single Living Accommodation Review which will help inform longer-term accommodation planning, publishing a numerical target at this stage would be premature.