Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, following the publication of the Defence Investment Plan, when does he plan to table the Defence Readiness Bill.

The Defence Investment Plan provides Defence with an additional £15 billion over four years and brings together investment across equipment, infrastructure, people, nuclear, innovation and readiness within a single plan rather than a standalone equipment programme.

Similarly, Defence Readiness legislation is an integral pillar of our work to boost resilience and readiness. In line with the recommendation in the Strategic Defence Review, the Government intends to bring forward this legislation later in this Parliament.

The legislation will help ensure that the Government has the necessary powers to respond to the growing threat posed by sub-threshold and hybrid attacks. It will also provide a framework of reserve powers that can be activated, if required, to support an effective response during a national crisis and in the event of escalation towards conflict.