Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the decision was made to make advanced payments to General Dynamics with regards to the Ajax contract.

Payments are made quarterly in arrears following the completion of milestones to the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) satisfaction. While the MOD has powers under Cabinet Office guidance to make advanced payments during Covid to support suppliers throughout the pandemic no such advance payments have been made under this contract.