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Written question asked by Mike Wood (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 September 2025. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 September 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Defence: Innovation and Research

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 16 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, whether the (a) Defence Research and Evaluation organisation and (b) UK Defence Innovation will be public sector arm’s length bodies.

Answer

A decision on the delivery model for a Defence Research and Evaluation (DRE) organisation has not yet been made and will be aligned with the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group organisational design as part of Defence Reform. Details of which will be announced in due course. The Strategic Defence Review stated that in forming the DRE the Department may wish to keep the Dstl brand. Dstl is a widely respected brand internationally and nationally. Dstl has been part of the NAD Group since April, and Dstl’s CEO reports to the National Armaments Director. Dstl is an Arms Length Body (ALB), but its status is being reviewed as part of a review of ALBs and the work to form the NAD Group.

The UK Defence Innovation organisation will not be an ALB. It will report to the National Armaments Director as part of the wider NAD Group.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
75996
Session
2024-26
Related items
Deposited Paper DEP2025-0341
Monday, 2 June 2025
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Subjects
Defence Innovation Research Arms length bodies UK Defence Innovation
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk