Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 28 August 2026 to Question 17650 on National Security: Finance, whether there is a long list of items of spending which are eligible to be scored as (i) defence and (ii) security spending for the purposes of NATO targets.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 20 July 2026 to Question UIN 17650, which set out the definition for the 1.5% security spending. NATO’s definition sets out that spend should be to protect our critical infrastructure, defend our networks, ensure our civil preparedness and resilience, unleash innovation and strengthen our defence industrial base. Further definitions of qualifying spend is classified.

In relation to the core defence spending, NATO’s definition of what qualifies can be found at the following link: https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/introduction-to-nato/defence-expenditures-and-natos-5-commitment.