Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 2 of the Written Statement of 12 January 2021 on Equipment plan, HCWS700, what the timeframe is in years of the once in a generation modernisation of the armed forces; and what assessment he has made of the implications for defence spending of that timeframe.
Answer
This is the largest investment into the UK's Armed Forces since the end of the Cold War some thirty years ago. This record multi-year settlement provides an additional investment of £16.5 billion over four years. Combined with the manifesto commitment of a 0.5% uplift, the total increase for Defence is over £24 billion. The Defence Secretary will set out further details of Defence's programme in the coming months.