Written questions by Byrne.

With reference to the policy papers entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 30 June 2025, and Budget 2025, published on 28 November 2025, what their Department’s capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be in each year of the Spending Review period; how much capital funding has been allocated to each of their Department’s programmes; and how much and what proportion of the capital DEL allocation remains unallocated in each year.

The Ministry of Defence's Capital Departmental Expenditure Limits over the course of the Spending Review were published following the completion of the Spending Review earlier this year.Funding against individual programmes will be established as part of the ongoing work on the Defence Investment Plan.

With reference to (a) page 7 and (b) recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what (i) mechanisms and (ii) training he will put in place so that the new Defence Exports Office (A) has access to appropriate legal advice and (B) is fully aware of its legal obligations.

This Government endorses the Strategic Defence Review’s (SDR) vision and accepts all 62 recommendations. The implementation of the Review’s recommendations will form part of the main business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort. Any changes required to staff training and processes will be considered as part of the implementation work All exports promoted by the Ministry of Defence or His Majesty's Government (HMG) will continue to be done in accordance with HMG's legal obligations, where there are already robust checks and balances in place across HMG decision making processes.

With reference to the Prime Minister’s written ministerial statement of 3 June 2025 on Machinery of Government: Cyber-security and Defence Exports HCWS679, and (a) page 7 and (b) recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, if the new defence exports office will replace UK defence and security exports.

As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, improving exports is vital to national security and growth at home. We are creating a single Departmental lead through the transfer of responsibility for defence exports, comprising the majority of UK Defence and Security Exports, from the Department of Business and Trade to the Ministry of Defence. A new team under the National Armaments Director will drive forward export campaigns.

With reference to recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what role the National Armaments Director will have in (a) considering, (b) advising on and (c) deciding export licence applications.

This Government endorses the Strategic Defence Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations. The implementation of the Review’s recommendations will form part of the main business of the Department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort.

With reference to (a) page 7 and (b) recommendation 12 on page 63 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what input other Government (i) departments and (ii) agencies will have into the export decisions of the new defence exports office.

The Strategic Defence Review was clear that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) must coordinate with other Government Departments to achieve export goals. Inputs from other Government Departments will be critical to ensure success, from the views of Ambassadors, Trade teams and Defence Attaches in our overseas embassies to the export licensing community in the FCDO, MOD and other Government Departments.

With reference to page 7 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what the remit is of the new defence exports office; and when that office will be operational.

With the creation of the National Armaments Group on 31 March 2025 and the transfer of Ministerial responsibility for defence exports to the Ministry of Defence on 31 July, Whitehall teams specialising in defence exports are being brought together for the first time. The new team will have responsibility for supporting defence exports, including supporting a new framework for an enhanced Government-to-Government mechanism to support defence exports.

With reference paragraph 4.51 of the Autumn Budget 2024, what his Department's priorities are for the planned £20 billion spending with UK industry in 2025-26.

Funding for the Ministry of Defence for financial year 2025-26 has not yet been allocated to specific programmes or activities. The Department is still in the process of setting budgets internally.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of defence spending on (a) economic growth and (b) regional growth in each of the next five years.

The Government is bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy that aligns our security and economic priorities. The strategic aim of the Defence Industrial Strategy is to make sure the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are addressed. Defence has a key role to play in delivering the Government's Growth Mission, by setting the conditions necessary for economic growth and by growing a better, more integrated, more innovative, and more resilient defence sector. An important part of this work is understanding and developing the impact defence spending has on the nations and regions of the UK.

What steps his Department plans to take to meet the NATO defence industrial capacity expansion pledge; and how this will be incorporated into developing the new Defence Industrial Strategy.

This Government is committed to bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy which ensures the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned. Our NATO-first approach will be a vital part of our new Defence Industrial Strategy, with NATO’s industrial and operational requirements and integration with our allies and partners at the heart of our defence plans. The Department is taking steps to meet the NATO defence industrial capacity expansion pledge, including through our NATO Multinational Procurement Initiatives through which we are encouraging more joint procurement amongst NATO allies.

What progress his Department has made on commissioning a new Defence Industrial Strategy.

This Government is committed to bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy which ensures the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned. The development of the Defence Industrial Strategy will explore how to establish a better, more innovative and more resilient defence sector, enabling the UK to innovate, deter its adversaries and seize opportunities presented by the technologies of the future. The Defence Industrial Strategy will be developed at pace in parallel with, but separate from, the Strategic Defence Review and will be published in 2025.