The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is Government policy. The DIP is a Government document which was laid before Parliament on 30 June 2026 and summarises the major investment choices the Government has made for UK Defence.

The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is Government policy. The DIP is a Government document which was laid before Parliament on 30 June 2026 and summarises the major investment choices the Government has made for UK Defence.

The Royal Navy will continue to deploy warships globally in support of the United Kingdom’s defence, security and international engagement objectives. Royal Navy vessels routinely exercise their navigational rights in accordance with international law, including the right of innocent passage where applicable, and undertake port visits and defence engagement activities with allies and partners around the world.

Recent examples of Royal Navy global deployments include HMS Medway operating in the South Atlantic, HMS Trent conducting security and defence engagement activity in the United States and the Caribbean, HMS Spey and HMS Tamar maintaining the United Kingdom's persistent Indo-Pacific presence, and the UK Carrier Strike Group led by HMS Prince of Wales undertaking operations with NATO Allies in the North Atlantic and High North. These activities demonstrate the routine global nature of Royal Navy deployments in support of defence, security and international engagement objectives.

The 117 personnel deployed to the United States of America as part of the Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team were transported through a mix of military support aircraft, primarily A400M, and civilian aircraft. No other aircraft were deployed for the duration of the tour.

The UK and France continue to lead the Multinational Military Mission to coordinate international efforts to support restoration of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. This includes mine clearance operations that can only begin once there is a stable security environment.

The Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 jobs across the length and breadth of the UK. The greatest proportion of these are in England, including over 9,000 jobs across Lancashire, where the majority of the production and final assembly of each Typhoon fighter jet takes place, over 2,000 in the South East, and more than 1,800 in the East Midlands. The programme also supports over 1,400 jobs in Scotland and more than 600 in Wales. Just under 100 jobs are supported in Northern Ireland.

The Deputy Chief of the General Staff has directed Corps and Regimental Colonels to conduct a full review of all Army associations with private members’ clubs, to ensure their rules, policies and culture align with Army values, including equality and respect. Given the breadth of the Army’s regimental structure and the potentially extensive range of historic affiliations, this work is substantial and remains ongoing.

The Government is deeply grateful to all those who participated in the UK nuclear testing programme. We recognise their service and the huge contribution they have made to the UK’s security.

There is no specific compensation scheme for Nuclear Test Veterans and their families. Any veteran, including those of the nuclear tests, who believes they have suffered ill-health due to service has the right to apply for no-fault compensation under the War Pension Scheme if they served before 6 April 2005. War pensions are payable in respect of illness or injury as a result of service in the Armed Forces, with the benefit of reasonable doubt always given to the claimant. Decisions are medically certified and follow consideration of available service and medical evidence and carry full rights of appeal to an independent tribunal.

LED lighting is increasingly used across Royal Navy vessels reflecting its reliability, reduced maintenance requirements and improved energy efficiency. While the introduction of LED lighting within the Royal Navy is kept under constant review, lighting systems installed on Royal Navy vessels are required to comply with relevant safety and engineering standards and are designed to support the operational and welfare needs of personnel serving on board.

The Defence Housing Strategy review team assessed a range of organisational and delivery models to identify the approach best able to improve outcomes for Service Personnel and their families, deliver value for money, and support the long-term renewal of the Defence housing estate.

The assessment, which is summarised in the published Defence Housing Strategy, found that transferring Defence housing to a housing association would be most likely to delay improvements, increase costs, reduce operational effectiveness and undermine Crown tenancy arrangements. Additionally, expert financial advice indicated that borrowing through the private sector, outside the public sector borrowing limits, was not a feasible funding route.

The Defence Housing Strategy recommended establishing the Defence Housing Service as a professional, arms-length organisation focused on the specific needs of Service Personnel and their families and that the direct partnership with the military to support this can only be achieved within a public body. The Government supported this recommendation and is progressing legislation to create the Defence Housing Service through the Armed Forces Bill.

The total cost of the 2024 repurchase of 36,347 Service Family Accommodation properties from Annington Property Ltd, was £5.99 billion with additional transaction, advisory and legal costs of £ 6.6 million. The accounting for Annington Deal was completed in financial year 2024-25 in Ministry of Defence (MOD) accounts. How it was accounted for in national accounts is a matter for His Majesty’s Treasury.

Eliminating the liabilities associated with the leases created budgetary headroom to partially fund the purchase, meaning that the public expenditure impact of the measure, and the impact on public sector net debt, was confined to £1.7 billion. There is no debt in the MOD and therefore no debt to transfer to the Defence Housing Service.

The Ministry of Defence will publish its delivery timeline for the £9.2 billion Defence Housing Strategy over the next 12 months, in direct alignment with the National Audit Office recommendations. The revenue and capital budget allocation will be further refined to meet our commitments for the Defence Housing Strategy.

The UK continues to engage closely with the United States and Mauritius on the way forward for the UK-Mauritius Agreement. The existing Exchange of Notes between the UK and the USA remains in force and there has been no change to the day-to-day operation of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.

The Ministry of Defence will procure body armour in accordance with the UK Procurement Act 2023. This allows for the encouragement of manufacturing in the UK while ensuring Service personnel have the protection they require and providing value for money for taxpayers.

Taskforce Kindred requirements are normally advertised on the Defence Sourcing Portal, as well as the UK Defence Innovation "Innovation Support to Operations" Portal.

In addition to considering enquiries into the Ministry of Defence, Taskforce Kindred regularly engages with industry via forums such as tradeshows, conferences, and UK trade association events.

Taskforce Kindred receives a significant volume of offers of capability support for Ukraine. We work closely with Ukrainian partners to prioritise these to ensure we are delivering capability that best aligns with Ukraine's needs within the resources we have available. We do not hold the data to give an accurate figure for what proportion we have supported, but as is common across innovation the number that make it through to the battlefield is in the minority.

This Government is committed to creating the right conditions in the UK for a competitive and sustainable steel industry. The sector provides vital support to the UK’s defence capabilities, including specialist cast and forged steel components for a range of defence programmes. The department publishes its future pipeline for steel requirements, enabling UK steel manufacturers to better plan and bid for upcoming contracts.

The National Security Strategy, Strategic Defence Review, and Defence Industrial Strategy set out how a strong industrial base is critical for maintaining our national security infrastructure. While steel used in our major Defence programmes is generally sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers, Ministry of Defence (MOD) procurement activity will continue to apply PPN 022, a policy aimed at increasing the use of British-produced steel in public contracts. The MOD also supports the recently published UK Steel Strategy which sets out a long-term plan to revitalise the UK steel sector and restore domestic production to sustainable levels.

The Department’s priority is to ensure all Service personnel receive appropriate and equitable levels of protection.

While there is currently no evidence demonstrating a causal link between the in-service body armour system and an increased incidence of injury among female personnel, we will continue the procurement of Tactical Ballistic Plates, which will replace the in-service OSPREY and Enhanced Combat Body Armour plates. These will be available in four sizes to provide an improved fit for a wider range of personnel and reduced weight for most users. Additionally, we have initiated a Complex Geometry Body Armour project with potential delivery from 2029, subject to trials and validation. This is likely to include the development of an appropriate testing regime and Human Factors Integration work to ensure this capability delivers improved fit and operational effectiveness for Servicewomen.

I refer the noble lady to the answer given to Question 118566 in the House of Commons on 16 March 2026.

The size and composition of the Royal Navy are kept under continuous review to ensure the force can meet Defence tasks and operational commitments.

The Ministry of Defence is aware of increases in global tungsten prices and continues to monitor developments in critical mineral markets. Tungsten is used in a range of defence and industrial applications, including specialist components, advanced materials and manufacturing tooling. The Ministry of Defence is working with the Department for Business and Trade along with other departments to improve understanding of demand for critical minerals, including tungsten and assess the implications of international market developments.