Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Government press release entitled UK to deliver on 5% NATO pledge as Government drives greater security for working people, published on 23 June 2025, how much of the announced commitment to spend 1.5 percent of GDP on resilience and security represents new money.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
NATO provides reporting guidelines for the 1.5% defence and security related spending. It will include investments that raise the overall resilience of our societies, such as energy security, telecommunications, and infrastructure, as well as the execution of defence plans, expanding industrial capacity and innovation and counter hybrid actions.
Our National Security Strategy confirms our belief that these types of investment are vital to national security and we are pleased that this is now recognised by NATO. As set out in the Spending Review 2025, this government is making significant investment into these areas and we are confident we will meet the 1.5% target on defence and security related spending.
Along with all other NATO allies, the UK will report against the new categories of defence spending at the next NATO reporting deadline.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 45, clause 15, of the National Security Document 2025: Security for the British people in a dangerous world, whether the announced 2.6 percent of defence spending from 2027 will include any expenditure on resilience and security.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The National Security Strategy 2025 was published on 24 June 2025. It confirms that by combining an increase in funding with recognition of the vital contribution the Single Intelligence Account plays to our national defence, the UK will spend 2.6% on NATO qualifying defence spending from 2027. This 2.6% will be considered core defence spending.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Government press release entitled UK to deliver on 5% NATO pledge as Government drives greater security for working people, published on 23 June 2025, how much of the 4.1 percent of GDP spent in 2027 will be classified as core defence spending.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
This government is confident that it will spend at least 4.1% GDP on NATO qualifying defence and security related spend in 2027. This will comprise 2.6% core defence spend which we have already announced, and at least 1.5% on defence and security related spending.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 45, clause 15, of the National Security Document 2025: Security for the British people in a dangerous world, if she will list (a) all government departments that will be included in the commitment to spend 2.6 percent of GDP on defence expenditure from 2027 and (b) the financial quantum in each case.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The National Security Strategy 2025 was published on 24 June 2025. It confirms that by combining an increase in funding with recognition of the vital contribution the Single Intelligence Account plays to our national defence, the UK will spend 2.6% on NATO qualifying defence spending from 2027.The inclusion of departmental spending that falls under NATO qualifying defence spending definitions will continue to be periodically reviewed in line with NATO guidance.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 45, clause 15, of the National Security Document 2025: Security for the British people in a dangerous world, whether the announced 2.6 per cent of defence spending from 2027 will be classified as core defence spending.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The National Security Strategy 2025 was published on 24 June 2025. It confirms that by combining an increase in funding with recognition of the vital contribution the Single Intelligence Account plays to our national defence, the UK will spend 2.6% on NATO qualifying defence spending from 2027. This will be classified as core spending.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown of the £7bn announced for defence housing that will be spent on (a) Service Family Accommodation and (b) Single Living Accommodation.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence is currently undertaking an extensive review of its entire Military Accommodation portfolio, including how the department will make best use of the properties that have been reacquired from Annington, and which homes and locations can most benefit from investment.
The Defence Housing Strategy, to be published later this year, will set out wider plans to improve the standard of Service family homes. The sites that will be refurbished are being worked through carefully, with the ambition to fairly make improvements across the devolved nations within the UK. It is too early to say where funding will be spent.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the merits of continuing to fund (a) Strategic Environment Assessments, (b) Habitat Regulations Assessment screening, (c) the costs of Independent Examination and (d) Neighbourhood Plan Referendums.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Following the Spending Review, my Department announced that it is unable to commission new neighbourhood planning support services for 2025 onwards.
We will ensure that local planning authorities continue to be appropriately funded for their neighbourhood planning function, including funding for neighbourhood planning examinations and conducting referenda.
Local planning authorities can continue to provide other forms of support to neighbourhood planning groups, including in relation to carrying out strategic environment assessments and habitats regulation assessments where they are needed.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of force protection at (a) RAF Brize Norton and (b) all other UK military bases (i) on the UK mainland and (ii) overseas.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
As per my statement on 23 June 2025, an investigation is underway into the incident. The Strategic Defence Review identified Brize Norton as needing investment. After many years of under-investment and hollowing out under the previous administration, we have identified this as an area requiring greater focus.
Immediate measures were put in place following the incident to enhance existing security arrangements at RAF Brize Norton, with increased vigilance at all other sites. You will appreciate that we will not comment on the specifics of those arrangements. We have also directed a full review of security arrangements across all Defence sites.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to reinforce the internal fencing at (a) RAF Brize Norton and (b) all other UK military bases (i) on the UK mainland and (ii) overseas.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
As per my statement on 23 June 2025, an investigation is underway into the incident. The Strategic Defence Review identified Brize Norton as needing investment. After many years of under-investment and hollowing out under the previous administration, we have identified this as an area requiring greater focus.
Immediate measures were put in place following the incident to enhance existing security arrangements at RAF Brize Norton, with increased vigilance at all other sites. You will appreciate that we will not comment on the specifics of those arrangements. We have also directed a full review of security arrangements across all Defence sites.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to reinforce the perimeter at (a) RAF Brize Norton and (b) all other UK military bases (i) on the UK mainland and (ii) overseas.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
As per my statement on 23 June 2025, an investigation is underway into the incident. The Strategic Defence Review identified Brize Norton as needing investment. After many years of under-investment and hollowing out under the previous administration, we have identified this as an area requiring greater focus.
Immediate measures were put in place following the incident to enhance existing security arrangements at RAF Brize Norton, with increased vigilance at all other sites. You will appreciate that we will not comment on the specifics of those arrangements. We have also directed a full review of security arrangements across all Defence sites.