Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the time taken to publish the Defence Investment Plan on employment and national security.

As I set out to the House today we will publish the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) before the NATO summit.

The DIP is the next step in turning the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) into action. The plan is intended to grow the UK defence industrial base and support jobs, innovation and exports. Unlike previous plans, the DIP will detail the prioritised capabilities and infrastructure the UK needs to respond to emerging threats.

Whilst we are finalising the DIP, we are getting on with the things we know we need to do. Since July 2024 this Government has signed more than 1,400 major contracts, with 94% of that spend going to UK-based companies.