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Written question asked by James Cartlidge (Conservative) on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 January 2026. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 January 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.


Weapons: Lasers

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his timetable for publishing the Defence Investment Plan on the procurement of directed energy weapons.

Answer

Defence continues to manage its capabilities and programmes to ensure they are not unnecessarily impacted or delayed whilst the upcoming Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is developed. The Department is working flat out to deliver the DIP, which will be published as soon as possible. The DIP is the first time in 18 years Defence has completed a single, comprehensive review of programmes and is backed by the Government’s largest sustained increase in defence investment since the end of the Cold War, spending £270 billion on defence in this Parliament alone.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
107400
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Lasers Procurement Weapons
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk