UK Homeland Defence

Lord Fox Excerpts

Monday 23rd March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

It is very urgent to have that conversation. I think everybody understands and accepts that. I go back to the noble Lord’s point about defence spending; it requires that conversation, so that will take place. To pick up the other point, I have said time and again from this Dispatch Box that NATO, we and many of our friends and allies need to rediscover the theory of deterrence. You prevent war by preparing for war. You prevent war by people believing that you will actually respond if they break international law. That is a really important point. The rediscovery of deterrence is important. My noble friend’s point about having a national conversation is really important.

[Lord Fox (LD)]

My Lords, the Minister has mentioned defence spending on a number of different occasions without mentioning the defence investment plan. It would be remiss of your Lordships if we did not go back to the Minister and ask: when will this plan be published? Our credibility in NATO requires us to demonstrate the spending that has been announced, so when will the plan be published?

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

I was hoping the noble Lord was going to start with the Leonardo announcement, which he pressed me for in terms of spending; we pocketed that one and moved on. Leonardo was a huge investment that the noble Lord was demanding I do something about. I went back, argued with the department and talked to other Ministers. There is a point about the defence investment plan, and I have answered the questions of the noble Baroness with respect to that. But let us be clear: defence is not standing still. There are many projects.

In Scotland, on the Clyde and in Rosyth, there are ships being built. Billions of pounds are being spent on Plymouth dockyards and on renovating military housing. There is the contract with Leonardo helicopters I announced earlier. Of course, there is a debate about what the total outlay by the Government should be, and we heard from the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Stirrup, and my noble friend Lord West about those matters, but the belief that the Government are not spending anything and not doing anything is something we should dispel, because billions of pounds-worth of investment are being put into the defence of this country, including, as we progress, into the air and missile defence of the country. That is something we can also be proud of and talk about, as well as the challenges we face.