To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, page 26, how much he has budgeted for investment in weapons and sensor payloads for underwater drones as part of AUKUS Pillar 2.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, page 26, how much he has budgeted for investment in weapons and sensor payloads for underwater drones as part of AUKUS Pillar 2.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expected rollout date is for the 12 next-generation of SSN-AUKUS (SSN-A) nuclear powered conventional attack submarines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expected rollout date is for the 12 next-generation of SSN-AUKUS (SSN-A) nuclear powered conventional attack submarines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the investment value for AUKUS Pillar 2.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the investment value for AUKUS Pillar 2.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, page 30, by when will he make a decision on the size of the SSN-AUKUS class.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, page 30, by when will he make a decision on the size of the SSN-AUKUS class.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Prime Minister has taken to support the delivery of AUKUS in 2026.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Prime Minister has taken to support the delivery of AUKUS in 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times he has held meetings on the AUKUS programme since 5 July 2024.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times he has held meetings on the AUKUS programme since 5 July 2024.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his (a) United States and (b) Australian counterpart on Pillar 2 of the AUKUS programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his (a) United States and (b) Australian counterpart on Pillar 2 of the AUKUS programme.

Lords statement on the defence investment plan.

Lords statement on the defence investment plan.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for both the briefing and prior sight of the defence investment plan, which he provided to me and my colleague, the noble Earl, Lord Minto, yesterday. I doubt any plan was so dogged by delay and preceded by such drama as this one, but...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for both the briefing and prior sight of the defence investment plan, which he provided to me and my colleague, the noble Earl, Lord Minto, yesterday. I doubt any plan was so dogged by delay and preceded by such drama as this one, but...

My Lords, this is clearly a very delayed and extremely underfunded plan. As we have heard, at £15 billion it falls well short of the £28 billion requested by the defence chief to keep our country secure. But we know that it actually falls even shorter than that, as nearly...

My Lords, this is clearly a very delayed and extremely underfunded plan. As we have heard, at £15 billion it falls well short of the £28 billion requested by the defence chief to keep our country secure. But we know that it actually falls even shorter than that, as nearly...

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Fox, and the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, for their contributions and important questions.

I will start by dealing with the question of spending, which goes to the heart of what both noble Lords were saying. Let me put on record some of the things that...

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Fox, and the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, for their contributions and important questions.

I will start by dealing with the question of spending, which goes to the heart of what both noble Lords were saying. Let me put on record some of the things that...

My Lords, all European countries are struggling with coming to terms with new realities and what that requires for their defence and equipment to be appropriate to modern warfare. However, irrespective of the money and the percentages spent, if we do not start the national conversation—which we have been talking...

My Lords, all European countries are struggling with coming to terms with new realities and what that requires for their defence and equipment to be appropriate to modern warfare. However, irrespective of the money and the percentages spent, if we do not start the national conversation—which we have been talking...

Indeed, we will come forward with proposals and plans with respect to a national conversation. The noble Baroness is right in her suggestion. We can see—many Members of this House will know this—that some of the ways in which the Government have asked different departments to contribute to this uplift...

Indeed, we will come forward with proposals and plans with respect to a national conversation. The noble Baroness is right in her suggestion. We can see—many Members of this House will know this—that some of the ways in which the Government have asked different departments to contribute to this uplift...

My Lords, I welcome part of this plan—it obviously has some holes in it, as we have already heard. I also welcome, as I do every time I hear the Minister speak, a great deal of his comments and his profound thinking. However, I wonder today whether the brief he...

My Lords, I welcome part of this plan—it obviously has some holes in it, as we have already heard. I also welcome, as I do every time I hear the Minister speak, a great deal of his comments and his profound thinking. However, I wonder today whether the brief he...

I thank the noble Lord for his question and his comments, which come from a great knowledge and experience, and I thank him for his remarks about me. Just to reiterate, the GCAP programme is extremely important, and as he just said, that is outlined in the money allocated within...

I thank the noble Lord for his question and his comments, which come from a great knowledge and experience, and I thank him for his remarks about me. Just to reiterate, the GCAP programme is extremely important, and as he just said, that is outlined in the money allocated within...

First, I welcome this Statement, which this House has been waiting on for some time, and share my concerns about the funding, which I hope will be sorted out under new leadership. However, I welcome the fact that there is an emphasis on innovation and supporting small businesses, and I...

First, I welcome this Statement, which this House has been waiting on for some time, and share my concerns about the funding, which I hope will be sorted out under new leadership. However, I welcome the fact that there is an emphasis on innovation and supporting small businesses, and I...

I cannot give the noble Baroness an assurance about what the Republic will pay for, but let me just say that there has been improved and increasing co-operation between the Republic and ourselves where it is in both our interests to do so. She will know that underwater cables and...

I cannot give the noble Baroness an assurance about what the Republic will pay for, but let me just say that there has been improved and increasing co-operation between the Republic and ourselves where it is in both our interests to do so. She will know that underwater cables and...

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