Written question asked by Lord Stevens of Ludgate (UK Independence Party) on Monday, 9 May 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 May 2016. It was answered by Earl Howe (Conservative) on Thursday, 12 May 2016 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

UK Membership of EU

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Prime Minister’s comments regarding the stability of peace in Europe if the UK leaves the EU, what steps they have taken to strengthen the armed forces.

Answer: The Government believes that the UK should remain in a reformed EU. As the Prime Minister has said, our EU membership helps keep the UK safer and stronger. We have the largest defence budget in the EU and the second largest in NATO. In addition, we have committed to spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence over the course of this Parliament, and the Ministry of Defence's budget will rise by 0.5 per cent above inflation every year to 2020-21. We are maintaining the size of the Army, and we are increasing the size of the Royal Navy, the RAF and the reserves.

Secondary information