Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the cost-effectiveness of annual funding allocations to UK Defence Innovation.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is backing UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) with £1.6 billion of investment over the next four years, providing long-term funding certainty.

The MOD assesses the cost-effectiveness of funding allocated to UKDI against its contribution to Defence outcomes, alignment with strategic priorities, affordability, deliverability, and wider benefits such as speed, resilience, economic growth and international influence. UKDI is supported by a ringfenced annual budget of over £400 million and is focused on accelerating innovative technologies into deployable military capability.

Success is measured by the extent to which useful technologies reach military users more quickly and at greater scale, rather than by the number of competitions or contracts awarded. Projects are assessed against UKDI's strategic objectives and thematic priorities, with regular monitoring and evaluation used to inform evidence-based investment decisions and ensure value for money.