New Medium Helicopter Contract

Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton Excerpts

Wednesday 14th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

The noble Lord and I have spoken about this. I understand exactly the points that he has made with such passion, force and logic. I cannot say any more than that the final decision will be contained within the defence investment plan. The only thing that I will say to him is that we are spending billions of pounds on the defence industry, and that amount of money is increasing. Many noble Lords say it is not enough, but it is a hugely significant sum. I quoted the total CDEL figure last time and I will quote it again: in 2024-25, the total CDEL figure was £22.7 billion but in 2028-29 it will be £31.5 billion—a nearly £10 billion increase—and we are doing all that we can to ensure that as much of that money as possible is spent within the UK on the British defence industry. On the noble Lord’s specific question, as I said to the noble Baroness, I understand the importance of that factory and the jobs that depend on it, but the final decision will have to wait for the defence investment plan.

[Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Con)]

My Lords, I declare my interest as director of the Army Reserve. Successive Governments have rightly linked defence investment to economic growth. Of course, a key element of that is the export element. However, we have a history of procuring the exquisite, which naturally limits its exportability. I simply ask the Minister whether this particular contract is reliant on the export element, or will the domestic procurement mean that it can stand in its own right?