Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the increase in (a) direct and (b) indirect costs to his Department of the 1.2% rise in employer national insurance contributions announced in the budget.

The changes to employer national insurance contributions from April are expected to increase Departmental costs c.£216million in financial year 2025-26.

The Chancellor has agreed to provide funding to the public sector to support with the cost of employer national insurance contributions, which will be confirmed at a future date.