Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether their policy has changed as regards plans for defence spending, given that the Spring Budget stated an aspiration to invest 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product in defence but this is not mentioned in the Autumn Statement.

I refer the noble Lord to the reply given by my hon. Friend, Minister of State for Defence (James Cartlidge), in the House of Commons on 27 November 2023 to the right hon. Member for Wentworth and Deane (Mr John Healey) in response to Question number 3090.