Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any revised financial commitments related to the Chagos negotiations will be included in the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
The FCDO and the MOD are the lead departments for this agreement. Any financial obligations, including departmental budgetary responsibilities, will be managed responsibly within the government’s fiscal framework through the upcoming Spending Review.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will the Defence Growth Board report to (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (b) the Secretary of State for Defence or (c) Parliament; and how will its performance be measured.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
The Defence Growth Board has been created to maximise Defence’s contribution to the Government’s first priority, the Growth Mission. It will be co-chaired by both the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Defence. Membership also includes the Secretary of State for Business and Trade with support from Departmental officials.
The aim of the Defence Growth Board is to oversee the integration of economic growth considerations into Defence. The Board will also oversee the delivery of the relevant recommendations that emerge from the Strategic Defence Review where they relate to growth and industrial strategy. Progress of the specific issues which come to the Board will be measures under milestones agreed between the Ministry of Defence and HM Treasury.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the Defence Growth Board fits into the upcoming Strategic Defence Review.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
The Defence Growth Board has been created to maximise Defence’s contribution to the Government’s first priority, the Growth Mission. It will be co-chaired by both the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Defence. Membership also includes the Secretary of State for Business and Trade with support from Departmental officials.
The aim of the Defence Growth Board is to oversee the integration of economic growth considerations into Defence. The Board will also oversee the delivery of the relevant recommendations that emerge from the Strategic Defence Review where they relate to growth and industrial strategy. Progress of the specific issues which come to the Board will be measures under milestones agreed between the Ministry of Defence and HM Treasury.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what her planned timetable is for the Defence Growth Board to create growth.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
The Defence Growth Board has been created to maximise Defence’s contribution to the Government’s first priority, the Growth Mission. It will be co-chaired by both the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Defence. Membership also includes the Secretary of State for Business and Trade with support from Departmental officials.
The aim of the Defence Growth Board is to oversee the integration of economic growth considerations into Defence. The Board will also oversee the delivery of the relevant recommendations that emerge from the Strategic Defence Review where they relate to growth and industrial strategy. Progress of the specific issues which come to the Board will be measures under milestones agreed between the Ministry of Defence and HM Treasury.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who the membership of the Defence Growth Board will be.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
The Defence Growth Board has been created to maximise Defence’s contribution to the Government’s first priority, the Growth Mission. It will be co-chaired by both the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Defence. Membership also includes the Secretary of State for Business and Trade with support from Departmental officials.
The aim of the Defence Growth Board is to oversee the integration of economic growth considerations into Defence. The Board will also oversee the delivery of the relevant recommendations that emerge from the Strategic Defence Review where they relate to growth and industrial strategy. Progress of the specific issues which come to the Board will be measures under milestones agreed between the Ministry of Defence and HM Treasury.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the projected cost of establishing and operating the Defence Growth Board is; and how it will be funded within the constraints of the fiscal rules and his Department's existing budget.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
The Defence Growth Board is an internal cross-departmental board. It has been created to maximise Defence’s contribution to the Government’s first priority, the Growth Mission, through providing a mechanism for Ministers to drive the integration of economic growth considerations into Defence. It will have no cost associated with its establishment or operation.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, on what percentage of economic growth in the economy is the increase in Defence spending based.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
The increase in defence spending is based on OBR forecasts of GDP growth. Further detail will be made available on 26 March alongside the OBR’s next forecast in the usual way.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Prime Minister's statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, what steps the Government plans to take to fund the £13.4 billion annual uplift in defence funding beyond the £5.3 billion reallocated from the reduced aid budget.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
£13.4bn represents the forecast increase in total NATO qualifying defence spending from 2024-25 to 2027-28. This increase comprises the reallocated ODA funding, as well as forecast increases to existing NATO qualifying spend over that timeframe.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, what proportion of additional defence spending will be funded by transfers from the overseas aid budget.
Answered by Darren Jones - Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
Tuesday’s announcement is fully funded - we are reducing ODA to the equivalent of 0.3% of GNI to fund the additional spend required to ensure we spend 2.5% of GDP on defence spending in 2027-28.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations her Department has received from the Ministry of Defence on security concerns related to the involvement of Mingyang Smart Energy in the Green Volt North Sea wind farm project; and what consideration has been given to these concerns in the decision-making process.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Government is committed to attracting investment into the UK to support our growth and clean energy missions. The UK is one of the most attractive global investment destinations for renewable energy and significant deployment acceleration to 2030 will be required.
While we cannot comment on individual cases, the Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure extremely seriously. Delivering our Clean Power 2030 target will boost energy security, whilst creating good jobs and protecting consumers. We will protect national security wherever we identify concerns.