My hon Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Procurement (Mr Stuart Andrew) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I am today laying before the House a Departmental Minute to advise that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has received approval from Her Majesty’s Treasury to recognise a...

My hon Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Procurement (Mr Stuart Andrew) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I am today laying before the House a Departmental Minute to advise that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has received approval from Her Majesty’s Treasury to recognise a...

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have a comprehensive cyber security assessment procedure for proposed weapon systems that operate at a high level of complexity.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have a comprehensive cyber security assessment procedure for proposed weapon systems that operate at a high level of complexity.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Ministry of Defence has a plan agreed with industry to maintain the UK-based capability to develop and deliver the equipment required by the armed forces in the future.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Ministry of Defence has a plan agreed with industry to maintain the UK-based capability to develop and deliver the equipment required by the armed forces in the future.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to increase UK arms production.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to increase UK arms production.

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat a Statement made earlier today in

another place by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence on the modernising defence programme. The Statement is as follows:

“Mr Speaker, in July I made a Statement setting out...

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat a Statement made earlier today in

another place by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence on the modernising defence programme. The Statement is as follows:

“Mr Speaker, in July I made a Statement setting out...

My Lords, I am grateful to both noble Lords for their questions and comments, which, in some respects, have covered similar ground. I will endeavour to reply to as many of the points as I can.

It is a little unfair to level at the Government the accusation that we have...

My Lords, I am grateful to both noble Lords for their questions and comments, which, in some respects, have covered similar ground. I will endeavour to reply to as many of the points as I can.

It is a little unfair to level at the Government the accusation that we have...

My Lords, I can deal very quickly with the second part of the noble and gallant Lord’s question. The Ministry of Defence stands ready to support other government departments if called upon, and if we find that the resources of those departments are insufficient in themselves. Having said that, we...

My Lords, I can deal very quickly with the second part of the noble and gallant Lord’s question. The Ministry of Defence stands ready to support other government departments if called upon, and if we find that the resources of those departments are insufficient in themselves. Having said that, we...

My Lords, the defence transformation fund means that £160 million will be available next year from within the MoD’s existing budget, and we are looking to make a further £340 million available as part of the spending review. That will be part of our bid. The transformation fund has been...

My Lords, the defence transformation fund means that £160 million will be available next year from within the MoD’s existing budget, and we are looking to make a further £340 million available as part of the spending review. That will be part of our bid. The transformation fund has been...

My Lords, if it is possible for the Ministry of Defence to share that document, I will certainly do as the noble Lord asks. In answer to his first question, there are two things to say about the MDP. First, this has been a major and very thorough piece of...

My Lords, if it is possible for the Ministry of Defence to share that document, I will certainly do as the noble Lord asks. In answer to his first question, there are two things to say about the MDP. First, this has been a major and very thorough piece of...

We have not hedged all our defence budget, but we have hedged a substantial proportion of it, particularly that which is payable in dollars. I was speaking to our finance director last week about this. Although she could never be sanguine about the way the pound is moving, she is...

We have not hedged all our defence budget, but we have hedged a substantial proportion of it, particularly that which is payable in dollars. I was speaking to our finance director last week about this. Although she could never be sanguine about the way the pound is moving, she is...

I am afraid I do not have the information in my brief to answer the last part of the noble Lord’s question, but the target we set ourselves in 2015 was £7.4 billion of efficiency savings. We have achieved

70% of our target; we have achieved £5 billion. That was...

I am afraid I do not have the information in my brief to answer the last part of the noble Lord’s question, but the target we set ourselves in 2015 was £7.4 billion of efficiency savings. We have achieved

70% of our target; we have achieved £5 billion. That was...

I am sorry that the noble Lord feels that way. I gently put it to him that the size of the document belies the depth and significance of its content. This was never going to be about a catalogue of future assets or platforms or number of ships in the...

I am sorry that the noble Lord feels that way. I gently put it to him that the size of the document belies the depth and significance of its content. This was never going to be about a catalogue of future assets or platforms or number of ships in the...

Yes, gladly, my Lords.

Yes, gladly, my Lords.

Lords statement on the modernising defence programme.

Lords statement on the modernising defence programme.

My hon Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Procurement (Stuart Andrew) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I am pleased to place in the Library of the House this year’s financial summary of the Defence Equipment Plan. This is the seventh consecutive annual publication of the equipment...

My hon Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Procurement (Stuart Andrew) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I am pleased to place in the Library of the House this year’s financial summary of the Defence Equipment Plan. This is the seventh consecutive annual publication of the equipment...

My hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement (Mr Guto Bebb) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I am pleased to place in the Library of the House this year’s financial summary of the Defence Equipment Plan. This is the sixth consecutive annual publication of the equipment plan summary,...

My hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement (Mr Guto Bebb) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I am pleased to place in the Library of the House this year’s financial summary of the Defence Equipment Plan. This is the sixth consecutive annual publication of the equipment plan summary,...

My Lords, I begin by congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Soley, on securing this important debate and by thanking all noble Lords who have spoken for their thoughtful and informed contributions. The wording of the noble Lord’s Motion reminds us of our nation’s proud history as a global force for...

My Lords, I begin by congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Soley, on securing this important debate and by thanking all noble Lords who have spoken for their thoughtful and informed contributions. The wording of the noble Lord’s Motion reminds us of our nation’s proud history as a global force for...

Opinions can differ about what that ceiling should be. All I can tell the noble Lord, Lord West, is that the Navy tells us that it is working towards a target that it believes is credible and workable.

Turning to the comments of the noble Earl, Lord Cork and Orrery, between...

Opinions can differ about what that ceiling should be. All I can tell the noble Lord, Lord West, is that the Navy tells us that it is working towards a target that it believes is credible and workable.

Turning to the comments of the noble Earl, Lord Cork and Orrery, between...

The noble Lord need have no concern, I shall do that, as I always do.

2.05 pm

The noble Lord need have no concern, I shall do that, as I always do.

2.05 pm

Lords motion to take note of the case for maintaining the United Kingdom defence forces at a sufficient level to contribute to global peace, stability and security. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of the case for maintaining the United Kingdom defence forces at a sufficient level to contribute to global peace, stability and security. Agreed to on question.