Well, I agree with the beginning and end of the noble Lord’s question. As he knows, we have had debate and discussion about the defence investment plan, and we will continue to do so. We have heard the Prime Minister talk about the importance of defence and the noble Lord will know that, as it stands, we have a defence investment programme and a commitment to raise the £4.7 billion in the 2026 Budget. He will also know that defence and security will be the number one priority of the 2027 spending review. It is then that further discussions will no doubt take place about how we move forward with the defence investment plan we currently have.

Well, I agree with the beginning and end of the noble Lord’s question. As he knows, we have had debate and discussion about the defence investment plan, and we will continue to do so. We have heard the Prime Minister talk about the importance of defence and the noble Lord will know that, as it stands, we have a defence investment programme and a commitment to raise the £4.7 billion in the 2026 Budget. He will also know that defence and security will be the number one priority of the 2027 spending review. It is then that further discussions will no doubt take place about how we move forward with the defence investment plan we currently have.

I say to my noble friend Lord West that there are discussions with a wide range of people. The confirmation of the GCAP within the DIP was a hugely significant event and a number of discussions are ongoing at the present time with a small number of different countries on how that develops and is taken forward. That is all I wish to say at the present time.

I say to my noble friend Lord West that there are discussions with a wide range of people. The confirmation of the GCAP within the DIP was a hugely significant event and a number of discussions are ongoing at the present time with a small number of different countries on how that develops and is taken forward. That is all I wish to say at the present time.

I agree with that. The defence and security partnership signed in May 2025 between the EU and the UK was a significant step forward. There will be a further summit, as and when it is arranged. For obvious reasons, it had to be postponed, but, as the noble Lord pointed out, it is a significant event, and we will continue to pursue that.

I agree with that. The defence and security partnership signed in May 2025 between the EU and the UK was a significant step forward. There will be a further summit, as and when it is arranged. For obvious reasons, it had to be postponed, but, as the noble Lord pointed out, it is a significant event, and we will continue to pursue that.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what recent steps they have taken to explore the UK’s participation in the EU’s Security Action for Europe programme.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what recent steps they have taken to explore the UK’s participation in the EU’s Security Action for Europe programme.

To ask His Majesty's Government what the division of funding is between the Light Mobility Vehicle programme and the Heavy Protected Mobility programme; what is the procurement timeline for the Light Mobility Vehicle programme; and what is the planned maximum number of vehicles to be procured as part of the...

To ask His Majesty's Government what the division of funding is between the Light Mobility Vehicle programme and the Heavy Protected Mobility programme; what is the procurement timeline for the Light Mobility Vehicle programme; and what is the planned maximum number of vehicles to be procured as part of the...

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the planned out-of-service dates for the current Typhoon fleet; and whether they plan to purchase any Tranche 4 or Tranche 5 Typhoon fighter aircraft.

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the planned out-of-service dates for the current Typhoon fleet; and whether they plan to purchase any Tranche 4 or Tranche 5 Typhoon fighter aircraft.

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication of the Defence Investment Plan, (1) how many new Chinooks they will purchase, and (2) when they will purchase them.

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication of the Defence Investment Plan, (1) how many new Chinooks they will purchase, and (2) when they will purchase them.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the planned purchase of 23 new medium helicopters is the first batch of acquisition or the total number of helicopters to be acquired.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the planned purchase of 23 new medium helicopters is the first batch of acquisition or the total number of helicopters to be acquired.

To ask His Majesty's Government what joint work is being undertaken between the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS bodies to assess and strengthen the resilience of the UK's blood supply in support of national defence planning.

To ask His Majesty's Government what joint work is being undertaken between the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS bodies to assess and strengthen the resilience of the UK's blood supply in support of national defence planning.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the resilience of the UK's blood supply to support military operations during a prolonged conflict or major national emergency.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the resilience of the UK's blood supply to support military operations during a prolonged conflict or major national emergency.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total cost of the operation of the Red Arrows display team visit to the United States of America, and whether it is funded in total or in part by the American government.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total cost of the operation of the Red Arrows display team visit to the United States of America, and whether it is funded in total or in part by the American government.

To ask His Majesty's Government how many aircraft, specifying the type, and how many personnel have been deployed as part of the Red Arrows display team visit to the United States of America.

To ask His Majesty's Government how many aircraft, specifying the type, and how many personnel have been deployed as part of the Red Arrows display team visit to the United States of America.

Lords motion to take note of the future capability of the United Kingdom's armed forces in light of the current international situation. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of the future capability of the United Kingdom's armed forces in light of the current international situation. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, the Government are working hard to deliver for the UK shipbuilding sector. Since 2024, 1,000 jobs have been saved at Harland & Wolff’s yards

in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, a £10 billion frigate deal was agreed with Norway—the largest of its kind in UK history—and millions have been invested in critical infrastructure, all delivered through close collaboration between government and industry. The National Shipbuilding Office plans to publish a new shipbuilding and maritime technology action plan this year, going beyond the national shipbuilding strategy to set out our bold vision for the sector and to maximise its high-growth potential.

My Lords, the Government are working hard to deliver for the UK shipbuilding sector. Since 2024, 1,000 jobs have been saved at Harland & Wolff’s yards

in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, a £10 billion frigate deal was agreed with Norway—the largest of its kind in UK history—and millions have been invested in critical infrastructure, all delivered through close collaboration between government and industry. The National Shipbuilding Office plans to publish a new shipbuilding and maritime technology action plan this year, going beyond the national shipbuilding strategy to set out our bold vision for the sector and to maximise its high-growth potential.

As always, the points that my noble friend raises on these matters are incredibly important. He will know, from his vast experience and the work he does, that we must have cultural change to rebuild the British shipbuilding industry and re-establish the sovereign capability. He will know from the region he represented with distinction for many years in Parliament, and now as a Member of this House still living in that area, the importance of the north-east for shipbuilding. We must have a situation in which buying British is first choice and our shipyards are first preference for the building of our ships, including for our Navy. My noble friend also makes the point that we need other departments to consider that as fully as they can.

As always, the points that my noble friend raises on these matters are incredibly important. He will know, from his vast experience and the work he does, that we must have cultural change to rebuild the British shipbuilding industry and re-establish the sovereign capability. He will know from the region he represented with distinction for many years in Parliament, and now as a Member of this House still living in that area, the importance of the north-east for shipbuilding. We must have a situation in which buying British is first choice and our shipyards are first preference for the building of our ships, including for our Navy. My noble friend also makes the point that we need other departments to consider that as fully as they can.

The noble Lord will know as well as I do that if you went to Belfast a few years ago, as I did many times, you saw a derelict shipyard with nothing there. Now, you see investment going into Harland & Wolff and orders being placed there for the building of ships. It is a great credit to the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Belfast that this is happening. The Government are investing in shipbuilding.

On skills, which the noble Lord mentioned, he will know that Northern Ireland was given a growth deal, which can be used for skills. He will also know that just a couple of days ago, Queen’s University Belfast

became part of the Defence Universities Alliance, which will also help with that. The blunt reality is that we need to invest money in our shipyards across the UK. We are doing that in Belfast, as well as other areas in the country.

The noble Lord will know as well as I do that if you went to Belfast a few years ago, as I did many times, you saw a derelict shipyard with nothing there. Now, you see investment going into Harland & Wolff and orders being placed there for the building of ships. It is a great credit to the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Belfast that this is happening. The Government are investing in shipbuilding.

On skills, which the noble Lord mentioned, he will know that Northern Ireland was given a growth deal, which can be used for skills. He will also know that just a couple of days ago, Queen’s University Belfast

became part of the Defence Universities Alliance, which will also help with that. The blunt reality is that we need to invest money in our shipyards across the UK. We are doing that in Belfast, as well as other areas in the country.

One of the things we are doing was announced yesterday by my colleague from the other place in Faslane: £26 billion of investment over the next 10 years into naval bases across the whole UK, so that we can improve the availability of our ships. We also need investment in our shipyards, which is taking place. That is one of the ways we are seeking to do this. We will improve availability, but it will take some time. On the Type 45 destroyers and their replacement, we are looking to the Navy of the future, which will have air defence and ways of dealing with the threats we face—but in a different way from simply replacing our existing warships.

One of the things we are doing was announced yesterday by my colleague from the other place in Faslane: £26 billion of investment over the next 10 years into naval bases across the whole UK, so that we can improve the availability of our ships. We also need investment in our shipyards, which is taking place. That is one of the ways we are seeking to do this. We will improve availability, but it will take some time. On the Type 45 destroyers and their replacement, we are looking to the Navy of the future, which will have air defence and ways of dealing with the threats we face—but in a different way from simply replacing our existing warships.

We have not rejected the core conclusions of that report. The noble Earl is absolutely right that we need investment, and the Government have announced huge amounts of it. I cannot read them all out, but on pages 35 and 36 he will see sums of money, labelled against numerous types of ship, that will be invested in the shipyards. He is quite right that we need a steady drum beat of orders. As a proud Scotsman—with his Scottish noble friend, the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, sitting behind him—he will no doubt be as pleased as I am that 13 ships are to be built on the Clyde over the next few years. He will also know that only yesterday we announced with the Netherlands eight amphibious transport ships, all to be built in the UK. It is not a bad start.

We have not rejected the core conclusions of that report. The noble Earl is absolutely right that we need investment, and the Government have announced huge amounts of it. I cannot read them all out, but on pages 35 and 36 he will see sums of money, labelled against numerous types of ship, that will be invested in the shipyards. He is quite right that we need a steady drum beat of orders. As a proud Scotsman—with his Scottish noble friend, the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, sitting behind him—he will no doubt be as pleased as I am that 13 ships are to be built on the Clyde over the next few years. He will also know that only yesterday we announced with the Netherlands eight amphibious transport ships, all to be built in the UK. It is not a bad start.

I agree with the points that my noble friend makes. As I said in answer to the noble Earl, Lord Minto, that is what we are doing. We are steadily improving the drum beat that my noble friend talks about. We also need to ensure that we have the Navy that we need in the future. It will be a different type of Navy. Of course we will need warships and platforms; that is the point about the common combat vessel. Of course we will need such vessels, but they will launch from them uncrewed vessels above, on the surface of and below the water. When they are integrated on the digital platforms that we will have, they will give us huge capability to defend ourselves, our allies and our partners across the world.

I agree with the points that my noble friend makes. As I said in answer to the noble Earl, Lord Minto, that is what we are doing. We are steadily improving the drum beat that my noble friend talks about. We also need to ensure that we have the Navy that we need in the future. It will be a different type of Navy. Of course we will need warships and platforms; that is the point about the common combat vessel. Of course we will need such vessels, but they will launch from them uncrewed vessels above, on the surface of and below the water. When they are integrated on the digital platforms that we will have, they will give us huge capability to defend ourselves, our allies and our partners across the world.

I agree with the point about the brilliance of our engineers and technicians and our ability to build ships. It would be great to see them supporting shipyards around the world and the building of ships, but I think this House wants to see the re-establishment of our own sovereign capability and that of our own shipyards around the UK to build the ships that we need. That is what the Government are seeking to do, whether in the north-east, Scotland, Wales or England. Only yesterday I met a shipbuilder who is chief executive of a company that is starting to build ships on the Isle of Wight, OCEA. That is the sort of small or medium-sized business that we need to support alongside the big prime contractors. The intention of this Government is to re-establish the UK shipbuilding industry. I think that is an endeavour we can all get behind.

I agree with the point about the brilliance of our engineers and technicians and our ability to build ships. It would be great to see them supporting shipyards around the world and the building of ships, but I think this House wants to see the re-establishment of our own sovereign capability and that of our own shipyards around the UK to build the ships that we need. That is what the Government are seeking to do, whether in the north-east, Scotland, Wales or England. Only yesterday I met a shipbuilder who is chief executive of a company that is starting to build ships on the Isle of Wight, OCEA. That is the sort of small or medium-sized business that we need to support alongside the big prime contractors. The intention of this Government is to re-establish the UK shipbuilding industry. I think that is an endeavour we can all get behind.