Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what work is being done in conjunction with other departments to explore new financing methods for defence equipment procurement.

We have established a Defence Investors Advisory Group to support the development of the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy (DFIS). As part of this work, we are exploring potential new financing options and how these could apply to specific opportunities identified through the Defence Investment Plan. No decisions on new financing methods have yet been taken.

We are working closely with other Government Departments and assessing the fiscal, regulatory and industrial implications of new financing methods to support defence equipment procurement.