Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Committee session on the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) on 7 July 2026, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its policies of General Sir Richard Barrons' comments that the defence industry has been depleted due to the delay in the DIP.

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.