Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the hearing of the Defence Committee on 7 July 2026, HC 530, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the delay in appointing the National Arms Director on the timeline for the delivery of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026.

The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is backed by £298 billion of investment over the next four years. The Plan will transform our Armed Forces, delivering on the vision of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review. There was no impact on the DIP from the timing of the appointment of the National Armament Director (NAD); both Rupert Pearce and the former Acting NAD, Andy Start, were involved in the development of the DIP and there was no gap between their tenures.