Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 April 2026
Letter dated 31st March from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury regarding providing oral evidence to the Defence Select Committee
From: Defence Committee
Summary
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury declines an invitation from the Defence Committee to provide oral evidence on defence spending, dated 31 March 2026. He argues that the Chancellor and Treasury account to the Treasury Committee for spending decisions, whilst the Defence Secretary is accountable to the Defence Committee for departmental spending, making the Defence Secretary the appropriate witness for the Committee's questions.
Key findings
- Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray declined the Defence Committee's invitation for him or the Chancellor to give evidence on defence spending matters
- Murray stated that Treasury accountability for spending decisions runs to the Treasury Committee, not the Defence Committee
- Murray argued that the Defence Secretary and his department are the appropriate channel for Defence Committee scrutiny of defence spending
- Murray reaffirmed commitment to supporting the Armed Forces whilst declining to appear in person
Tone
ProceduralTopics
public-financedefence-spendingparliamentary-accountability
Key actors
James Murray, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Defence Secretary, Tan Dhesi, Defence Committee, Treasury Committee
Notable line
“… the Defence Secretary and his department are the right place to direct your questions to on these matters.”
Key Quotes
“The Chancellor and I account to the Treasury Committee for the spending decisions that we take. The Defence Secretary is accountable to your Committee for the spending of his department.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗