Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 April 2026 · HC 1770
Letter from the Prime Minister relating to his appearance before the Committee on 23 March 2026, dated 13 April 2026
From: Liaison Committee (Commons)
Inquiry: The work of the Prime Minister
Summary
Prime Minister Keir Starmer responds to commitments made during his 23 March 2026 appearance before the Liaison Committee. He provides updates on Defence Investment Plan publication timelines, armed forces recruitment and retention improvements (first net increase since 2021), grid infrastructure acceleration measures, sovereign capability strategy, and UK policy on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories including sanctions against Israeli ministers.
Key findings
- Defence Investment Plan will be published 'as soon as possible' after finalisation; Ministry of Defence has signed 1,200 major contracts since this Government took office, with 84% of annual spend going to British-based industries.
- Armed forces recruitment now exceeds outflow for first time since 2021; intake increased 13.3% and outflow decreased 8.1% in past 12 months; military awarded average 6% pay rise with new recruits receiving 35% rise.
- Government committed to grid infrastructure transformation; £70 billion of agreed transmission network investment over next five years; establishing Connections Acceleration Service and reforming grid connections process.
- Will not publish list of sovereign capabilities due to national security and economic risks; instead relies on Industrial Strategy signalling eight priority high-growth sectors and National Security and Investment Act 2021 framework covering 17 sensitive economy areas.
- UK recognises Israeli settlements as illegal under international law; has sanctioned Israeli Ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich for incitement of violence; HMRC enforces tariff exclusions for settlement goods and recommends labelling to prevent consumer deception.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Keir Starmer, Tan Singh Dhesi, Liam Byrne, Debbie Abrahams, Andy Slaughter, Sarah Champion, Ben-Gvir, Naftali Smotrich
Notable line
“… publishing a list is not the right approach for either our national security or our economic growth.”
Key Quotes
“The UK is clear that Israel's illegal settlements and decisions designed to further them are a flagrant violation of international law.”
“For the first time since 202 1 , more people are j oining the armed forces than are leaving.”
“We have committed to spending 2.5% of GDP in 2027, with £270 billion of investment across this Parliament.”
“… publishing a list is not the right approach for either our national security or our economic growth.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗