Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Command Paper, published March 2021, how much of the £6.6 billion allocated for research, development, and experimentation over four years has been spent in the last year.

Supplementary estimates were published on 22 February 2022 which show our current in-year (financial year 21/22) forecast of £1.5 billion on capital research and development. The department is currently forecasting to exceed the ringfence over four years. The final annual spend will be confirmed in the Annual Report and Accounts.