The Security and Defence Partnership agreed with the European Union on 19 May 2025 is an example of this Government delivering on our manifesto commitments to strengthen European security, support growth and reinforce NATO.

The work and costs involved in negotiating and implementing the Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union are carried out as part of officials' routine duties. As such, the costs specific to negotiating and implementing the SDP cannot be calculated separately.

We will continue to prioritise engagement and cooperation on the issues that are most important in helping to safeguard European security and prosperity – all in support of this Government’s NATO First defence policy. Any commitments made will be in support of our defence objectives and will provide value for the UK taxpayer.

The Defence Counter Intelligence Unit (DCIU) will develop in maturity to meet the threat that Defence faces, and it is planned to be fully operational in 2027. The establishment of the DCIU is being delivered within existing resources. The DCIU will be part of Defence Intelligence, and led by an appropriate member of the Senior Civil Service or Military Equivalent.

The contract awarded for Defence Reform has a value of £15.8 million (excluding VAT). Further details are available on the GOV.UK Contract Finder.

The Department is currently working to determine the estimated cost of implementing Defence Reform across Defence. At present, a total cost figure is not yet available.

The Strategic Defence Review recommends that a new Defence Uncrewed Systems Centre (DUSC) should be established at IOC by Feb 26, with centralised authority to accelerate the adoption of Uncrewed System technologies across all three services. Cost, staffing, governance and basing options are currently under development in tandem with the Defence Investment Plan due to be published in the Autumn.

The new Defence Counter Intelligence Unit’s (DCIU) mandate is to protect UK Defence from intelligence and espionage threats, at home and overseas, by bringing together expertise and specialist capabilities alongside the UK Intelligence Community. The DCIU will be led by a One Star equivalent Senior Civil Servant. We do not comment on the proportion of manpower figures or specific locations to safeguard national security and strategic Defence interests. The costs relating to the formation and running of the unit are ongoing and will form part of the Defence Investment Plan, due to be published later this year.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 June 2025, to Questions 59137, 59138, 59140 and 59143, and to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Obese-Jecty) to Question 59406.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-06-11/59137

This evolution of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is in the initial stages of planning and therefore requires substantial design work. The outcome of this, and subsequent details within, will be announced in due course.

The Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force (DCEMF) remains in internal planning and design stages, with options presented to Defence but not yet endorsed by Military Strategic Headquarters. Resource and capability decisions are subject to the Defence annual planning cycle and the Defence Investment Plan, which will ultimately shape the design of the DCEMF and the speed, scale, and nature of implementation. I hope that the Hon. Gentleman will understand that until these processes are complete, details such as basing, costs, and workforce mix remain undecided and would be speculative.

The Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force (DCEMF) remains in internal planning and design stages, with options presented to Defence but not yet endorsed by Military Strategic Headquarters. Resource and capability decisions are subject to the Defence annual planning cycle and the Defence Investment Plan, which will ultimately shape the design of the DCEMF and the speed, scale, and nature of implementation. I hope that the Hon. Gentleman will understand that until these processes are complete, details such as basing, costs, and workforce mix remain undecided and would be speculative.

The Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force (DCEMF) remains in internal planning and design stages, with options presented to Defence but not yet endorsed by Military Strategic Headquarters. Resource and capability decisions are subject to the Defence annual planning cycle and the Defence Investment Plan, which will ultimately shape the design of the DCEMF and the speed, scale, and nature of implementation. I hope that the Hon. Gentleman will understand that until these processes are complete, details such as basing, costs, and workforce mix remain undecided and would be speculative.

In response to the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recommendations, and as part of Defence Reform, the department is currently making substantive changes to the end-to-end process for Science, Technology, Innovation, Integration, Acquisition and Support. These changes will ensure Defence: better adopts leading edge research from academia, allies and wider government; works more closely with UK based industry especially SMEs to mature leading edge technology; better leverages the UK’s leading financial sector for the benefit of defence; and catalyses UK based industry to execute differentiating innovation; all at a pace to enable us to react to the threats faced by the nation.

The DRE will be formed by an evolution of Dstl and Defence Science and Technology. There is still design work to be completed and will be announced in due course. The intention remains to focus the organisation on that work that must be done in Government for UK defence and security, including: early-stage research that must be led by officials; maintaining critical national capabilities in essential areas such as chemical and biological defence, novel and unconventional weapons, explosives and energetics and counter-terrorism technology where the market cannot sustain; and ensure Ministry of Defence is an intelligent customer for Science and Technology.

The SDR stated that the department may wish to keep the Dstl brand. Dstl is a widely respected brand internationally and nationally.

Under Defence Reform, the Department's investment funding has been brought together in one place under the National Armaments Director Group from this financial year. Further details of this invest budget will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan this autumn.

Defence Reform is delivering meaningful change through a phased approach over the course of this Parliament to reform Defence. However, it is too early to capture the required level of investment in this programme of work, which we expect will deliver net benefits through changes such as more efficient procurement processes, including a reduction in waste.

Defence Reform is delivering meaningful change through a phased approach over the course of this parliament to reform Defence. However, it is too early to capture the required level of investment in this programme of work, which we expect will deliver net benefits through changes such as more efficient procurement processes, including a reduction in waste.

A temporary team was established in Autumn 2024 to lead Defence Reform activity. The team is expected to continue for the duration of the transformation work, and resource and budget will flex to meet the requirements of the programme.

A Written Ministerial Statement setting out the key areas and features of Defence Reform was released to the House today.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 September 2024 to Question 4231.

The Ministry of Defence regularly monitors risks and issues facing our suppliers as part of our supply chain resilience work. We have not made a specific estimate of financial costs over the past 12 months.

The Strategic Defennce Review will be conducted in the most cost-effective way possible, within existing budgets. The ultimate outcome of the review is to identify where reprioritisation of roles, capabilities, activities, and support may be made in the current Defence programme, to allow new investment, achieve better value for money, and secure greater economic gain for the UK.