Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how will UK MOD protect AI IP while maximising dual-use frontier technology.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The UK MOD has an established policy for addressing Intellectual Property (IP), and all MOD projects are expected to set out a clear IP Strategy to ensure that IP is adequately protected, whilst securing maximum impact for our armed forces and value for money for the taxpayer.
The MOD will apply this policy to AI projects in the following ways:
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 26 of his Department's Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, what (a) definition and (b) measures of success does his Department have for its intention to outpace threats.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Investment Plan outlines how Defence will outpace threats through sustained investment in warfighting readiness, the rapid introduction of new capabilities, and the integration of advanced and emerging technologies across the force. This requires a model of constant innovation and there is therefore no end state for the Integrated Force.
Evidence gathered through force testing events, as well as lessons identified from contemporary conflicts, will ensure we constantly evaluate the impact of changing technology on our force design and the threat trajectory of our adversaries. The Secretary of State will receive an annual statement detailing how the integrated force model has changed in response to ensure accountability for the continual adaptation of the Integrated Force over time.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 45 of his department's Defence Investment Plan, published 30 June 2026, whether the £70 billion for new capabilities in the air domain from 2030 and 2035 is currently planned in the budget.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Investment Plan restated the government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 3% in the next Parliament, with funding and plans to be set out at the next spending review where defence will be the number one priority. Consistent with these ambitions, the Defence Investment Plan specifies the plan to invest at least £70 billion in new air domain capabilities between 2030 and 2035. These figures reflect current planning assumptions and future investment requirements, with expenditure continuing to be considered through the Ministry of Defence’s regular planning and budget-setting processes.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans that the £200 million of additional investment into counter drone technology will produce a capability that is operationally ready.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The pace of development and technological innovation of uncrewed aerial systems means the threat is in a state of constant change. To keep pace with the rapid evolution of the threat, counter drone capability needs to focus on spiral development, flexibility and modularity. The additional investment into counter drone technology will build on capability already in use and operationally proven and will ensure our Armed Forces are equipped with capability that keeps pace with the rapid evolution of the threat. We do not release details of in service dates for individual capabilities and protection areas where it would compromise operational security.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 42 of his department's Defence Investment Plan, published 30 June 2026, whether the £36 billion planned to be invested in the land domain between 2030 and 2035 is in the current budget.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The £36 billion of planned investment in the land domain between 2030 and 2035 reflects the Department's current planning assumptions for the period beyond the present Spending Review settlement.
Detailing funding for investments beyond 2029-30 will be set out as part of future Spending Reviews and subsequent budget-setting processes in the usual way.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 37 of his Department's document entitled Defence Investment plan, published 30 June 2026, if he will set out the novel funding mechanisms to increase the resilience and protection of critical underwater infrastructure.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As set out in the Defence Investment Plan, the Ministry of Defence will invest £330 million over the next four years in critical underwater infrastructure protection, including enhanced capabilities for RFA PROTEUS. We will also explore opportunities to partner with industry and investors on commercially provided solutions to increase the resilience and protection of associated capabilities. The timelines associated with programme delivery remain will be determined as specific capability solutions are down selected.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 41 of his Department's Defence Investment Plan, published 30 June 2026, what are the next generation of uncrewed aerial systems to replace legacy Watchkeeper drones.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Project CORVUS aims to provide a replacement to the Army’s Watchkeeper Uncrewed Aerial System, which is being retired from service with an Out of Service Date of March 2027.
Project CORVUS is subject to ongoing competition, and it would therefore be inappropriate to provide further detail at this stage.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to work with NATO Allies on interoperability.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The Government is committed to a NATO-first approach and is working with Allies to strengthen interoperability across the Alliance. The Strategic Defence Review directed Defence to establish a roadmap for delivering deeper interoperability with NATO Allies.
In response, Defence has developed the UK's Interoperability Roadmap, which we are now implementing, and which aligns with NATO's Interoperability Plan. The Roadmap focuses on improving the ability of the Armed Forces to operate seamlessly with Allies through common standards, digital integration, training, exercises and capability development.
The Defence Investment Plan reinforces this approach, placing NATO requirements and interoperability at the heart of UK capability planning by prioritising a transformed, NATO-first Integrated Force capable of deterring and fighting alongside Allies in the Euro-Atlantic.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 37 of his Department's document entitled Defence Investment plan, published 30 June 2026, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of increased deployments to the High North on the capacity of Royal Marines; and what plans he has to (a) increase the number of Royal Marines and (b) cancel other commitments.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The Royal Marines are the UK's specialists in amphibious, extreme cold weather and mountainous warfare. The Royal Navy has prioritised Commando Force outputs, with High North warfighting and wider Euro-Atlantic activity identified as a core task. As the Royal Marines' most demanding operational role, prioritising High North warfighting ensures the Commando Force remains ready to undertake a broad range of Defence tasks. Having deployed regularly to the High North for decades, they are able to meet these commitments within existing workforce capacity.
There are currently no plans to cancel other commitments as a result of increased activity in the High North and remain capable of delivering homeland defence, crisis response, maritime special operations, and other sovereign tasks as required.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 40 of the DIP, what metric he plans to use to test the lethality of the Army.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The Defence Investment Plan sets out the ambition for the British Army to become ten times more lethal by 2035. This increase in lethality is not a single moment but a trajectory, assessed through the Army's ability to generate combat effects faster and more effectively than potential adversaries.
Progress is tracked against Army Command Plan milestones that reflect the transformation of fighting power. This approach, supported by investments in systems such as Project ASGARD, Challenger 3, and RCH-155, ensures the Army delivers a more lethal, tech-enabled force capable of deterring threats and defending the UK and NATO territory.