Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Joint statement from Finland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom on joint defence financing and procurement, published on 17 March 2026, whether the new finance mechanism will sit within her Department.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The mechanism the Chancellor announced on 17 March will increase the availability of munitions and other critical capabilities when we need them most.
Similar to other international financial institutions, we expect that capital will be paid in based on countries’ GDP share, and that this will leverage many multiples more capital via private sector funding. The precise set-up is now being explored, and HMT and MOD are working together with finance and defence ministries across partner countries.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Joint statement from Finland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom on joint defence financing and procurement, published on 17 March 2026, whether the new finance mechanism will be used to stockpile munitions.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The mechanism the Chancellor announced on 17 March will increase the availability of munitions and other critical capabilities when we need them most.
Similar to other international financial institutions, we expect that capital will be paid in based on countries’ GDP share, and that this will leverage many multiples more capital via private sector funding. The precise set-up is now being explored, and HMT and MOD are working together with finance and defence ministries across partner countries.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Joint statement from Finland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom on joint defence financing and procurement, published on 17 March 2026, what the cost is of creating the new finance mechanism.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The mechanism the Chancellor announced on 17 March will increase the availability of munitions and other critical capabilities when we need them most.
Similar to other international financial institutions, we expect that capital will be paid in based on countries’ GDP share, and that this will leverage many multiples more capital via private sector funding. The precise set-up is now being explored, and HMT and MOD are working together with finance and defence ministries across partner countries.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to reduce the quantity of military equipment used at the Global Hub Oman in the next three years.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
There are no plans to reduce equipment holdings at the Global Hub Oman over the next three years.
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 response of the Permanent Secretary to Question 33 in the Defence Committee Session on MoD Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25, HC 1779 on 17 March 2026, whether the Integrated Force Plan will be published alongside the Defence Investment Plan.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Integrated Force Plan is a constituent part of the Defence Investment Plan (DIP). As has been outlined to the hon. Gentleman a number of times, the Department is working to finalise the DIP as soon as possible. It will be published when it is ready.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q33 of the oral evidence given by her Department's Permanent Secretary to the Defence Committee on 17 March 2026, HC 1779, whether he will publish the terms of reference for the Integrated Force Plan.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Integrated Force Plan is a constituent part of the Defence Investment Plan (DIP). As has been outlined to the hon. Gentleman a number of times, the Department is working to finalise the DIP as soon as possible. It will be published when it is ready.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q33 of the oral evidence given by her Department's Permanent Secretary to the Defence Committee on 17 March 2026, HC 1779, when the Integrated Force Plan will be published.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Integrated Force Plan is a constituent part of the Defence Investment Plan (DIP). As has been outlined to the hon. Gentleman a number of times, the Department is working to finalise the DIP as soon as possible. It will be published when it is ready.
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 oral statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 9 March 2026 on Middle East: Economic Update, Official Report, columns 43-45, how much money has been allocated to his Department from the special reserve.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department's operational spend will be set out in its Annual Report and Accounts.
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 oral statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 9 March 2026 on Middle East: Economic Update, Official Report, columns 43-45, whether money allocated to his Department by the special reserve will be spent on deploying Royal Navy assets to the Middle East.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Yes.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2026 to Question 116970 on Autonomous Weapons: Procurement, how many further phases will take place if procurement is progressed.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The low-cost air defence effector project under the LEAP initiative, as announced on 20 February, is now entering the international industrial selection phase in each of the E5 nations. This will be followed by a multilateral phase. Once the multilateral phase is complete the E5 nations will decide whether to proceed to a full demonstration and manufacture phase.