Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February to Question 108700 on Strategic Defence Review, if he will publish a breakdown of the £270 billion to be spent on Defence in this Parliament as a percentage of GDP for each remaining year of the current Parliament.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The annual breakdown of the £270 billion is below:
Year | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
MOD Settlement (TDEL) | 62.2 | 65.5 | 71 | 73.5 |
% of GDP | 2.01% | 2.03% | 2.13% | 2.13% |
The Government will be spending 2.6% of GDP on defence in 2027.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the lead reviewers of the Strategic Defence Review were asked to provide costings for their recommendations.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was presented to the Department by the external reviewers, who were working to the Terms of Reference that the review be deliverable and affordable within the fiscal envelope available to Defence
The Department is now working on the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which will take the SDR’s strategic direction and its costed recommendations, including on capabilities, and turn that into a delivery plan to ensure we deliver an affordable programme that delivers on the SDR. Defence spending will see a major sustained increase over the next decade.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Strategic Defence Review was costed before publication.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was presented to the Department by the external reviewers, who were working to the Terms of Reference that the review be deliverable and affordable within the fiscal envelope available to Defence
The Department is now working on the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which will take the SDR’s strategic direction and its costed recommendations, including on capabilities, and turn that into a delivery plan to ensure we deliver an affordable programme that delivers on the SDR. Defence spending will see a major sustained increase over the next decade.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in what month the first relocations to the UK took place (a) among the 217 principal applicants found newly eligible as a result of the data incident under Category 1 of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and (b) under the Afghanistan Response Route.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Following the February 2022 data incident, the first relocation to the UK of an individual from within the 217 principal applicants found eligible under Category 1 of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) occurred in January 2024.
Under the Afghan Response Route, the first eligible person was relocated to the UK in July 2024. There are various factors which make individuals and their families travel ready. This can mean there is time between eligibility being granted, and people being relocated.
Although there was one individual that arrived in November 2023, they arrived as an Additional Family Member (AFM) but were subsequently found eligible under Category 1 under ARAP, as part of the 217 cohort.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) reviewed the eligibility of individuals affected by the Data Incident under ARAP. On 12 October 2023, the then Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Grant Shapps, directed officials to retake decisions for a small cohort of individuals under Category 1 who worked directly for HMG but who were previously found ineligible for ARAP. Category 1 assesses threat and is for those directly employed by HMG. The MOD acted quickly to review these cases, which ultimately resulted in 217 principal applicants being found newly eligible under Category 1 of ARAP. The data incident changed the view of threat at that time.
Asked by: Mel Stride (Conservative - Central Devon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any of the spending included by the government in its calculation of spending 2.6% of GDP on NATO qualifying defence spending by 2027 includes financial transactions.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence's financial transactions support the retention of critical sovereign manufacturing capabilities and support our strategic objectives. As an integral part of the UK's national security they are included in the NATO qualifying defence spending figures.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the latest estimated date is for achieving Full Operating Capability on Ajax.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Safety investigations and a Ministerial Review into the Armoured Cavalry Programme (commonly known as Ajax) remain ongoing. However, on current plans, Full Operating Capability for the Armoured Cavalry Programme is still expected to be achieved by the end of 2029.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026, to question 110946 on Navy: Artificial Intelligence, what progress has he made in establishing a Royal Navy Targeting organisation to represent the maritime component of the Integrated Force.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Maritime Fighting Web and the Digital Targeting Web are both elements of Defence’s broader programme to improve data‑driven decision making and effects delivery across the Integrated Force. The initiatives are designed for seamless integration to enable rapid maritime awareness, threat assessment, and coordinated action
The Royal Navy is progressing plans to strengthen its dedicated maritime targeting function, so that it can more effectively contribute to joint and multi‑domain targeting activity and support an Integrated Force able to operate at greater speed, precision and scale. All future capabilities are dependent on the outcome of Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026, to question 110946 on Navy: Artificial Intelligence, what assessment has he made of the potential level of need for integration between the Maritime Fighting Web and the Digital Targeting Web.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Maritime Fighting Web and the Digital Targeting Web are both elements of Defence’s broader programme to improve data‑driven decision making and effects delivery across the Integrated Force. The initiatives are designed for seamless integration to enable rapid maritime awareness, threat assessment, and coordinated action
The Royal Navy is progressing plans to strengthen its dedicated maritime targeting function, so that it can more effectively contribute to joint and multi‑domain targeting activity and support an Integrated Force able to operate at greater speed, precision and scale. All future capabilities are dependent on the outcome of Defence Investment Plan.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has deployed (a) military police and (b) other personnel to Cameron Barracks.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is supporting the Home Office in the generation of additional asylum accommodation to reduce the use of hotels. The MOD takes its duty of care to service families seriously and supporting the families of those who serve is of the utmost importance. A Royal Military Police presence has been temporarily introduced at Cameron Barracks to reassure military personnel and families onsite. No other additional personnel have been deployed alongside this presence.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will make an estimate of the cost of an “iron dome” air defence system for the UK.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Iron Dome is Israel's approach to Integrated Air and Missile Defence, and based upon the threat Israel faces, its geography and capability. Capable and effective Integrated Air and Missile Defence for the UK will be accomplished as part of a NATO endeavour. The Strategic Defence Review considered similar factors for the UK Homeland and announced up to £1 billion investment in air and missile defence of the UK.