To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the European Union on defence co-operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the European Union on defence co-operation.

The hon. Member obviously did not pay as much attention as he should have to what I said yesterday on the plan, the capability, the record investment that we are putting in and how we are funding it. I do agree that we need to work more closely with the EU on defence and security, as well as on trade and the economy. That is precisely what we agreed at the EU-UK summit last year, and we have been building on that. I am proud to say that in the last two years, the relationship between the UK and the EU has been transformed into a much better, trusted relationship. It is very important that, as Prime Minister, I leave the country in a better state than I found it, and I do.

The hon. Member obviously did not pay as much attention as he should have to what I said yesterday on the plan, the capability, the record investment that we are putting in and how we are funding it. I do agree that we need to work more closely with the EU on defence and security, as well as on trade and the economy. That is precisely what we agreed at the EU-UK summit last year, and we have been building on that. I am proud to say that in the last two years, the relationship between the UK and the EU has been transformed into a much better, trusted relationship. It is very important that, as Prime Minister, I leave the country in a better state than I found it, and I do.

Q12

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Mr Joshua Reynolds (Maidenhead) (LD):

Yesterday the Prime Minister visited Maidenhead to announce his new defence investment plan. However, we now know that he is leaving it to his successor to decide how to fund the majority of it. We cannot fund our armed forces without growth, and we cannot get growth in Britain without dismantling the red tape that businesses face and trading closer with our closest neighbours. Does the Prime Minister agree we can properly fund our forces with a new growth and defence partnership with Europe, and will he urge his successor to drop Labour’s red lines to get it done?

Q12

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Mr Joshua Reynolds (Maidenhead) (LD):

Yesterday the Prime Minister visited Maidenhead to announce his new defence investment plan. However, we now know that he is leaving it to his successor to decide how to fund the majority of it. We cannot fund our armed forces without growth, and we cannot get growth in Britain without dismantling the red tape that businesses face and trading closer with our closest neighbours. Does the Prime Minister agree we can properly fund our forces with a new growth and defence partnership with Europe, and will he urge his successor to drop Labour’s red lines to get it done?

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 28 May 2026 to question 2968 on Defence: Space Technology, which EU member states is his department exploring opportunities for engagement with.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 28 May 2026 to question 2968 on Defence: Space Technology, which EU member states is his department exploring opportunities for engagement with.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic engagement the UK has undertaken with EU partners to clarify the governance, membership criteria, and decision-making structures of the UK/EU–Ukraine Defence Innovation Corridor and what formal role the UK Government intends to play within it; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic engagement the UK has undertaken with EU partners to clarify the governance, membership criteria, and decision-making structures of the UK/EU–Ukraine Defence Innovation Corridor and what formal role the UK Government intends to play within it; and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential for the UK/EU–Ukraine Defence Innovation Corridor to generate inward investment and export contracts for UK companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential for the UK/EU–Ukraine Defence Innovation Corridor to generate inward investment and export contracts for UK companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (CP1338), published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made in enabling closer cooperation with the EU on space security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the fourth report of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (CP1338), published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made in enabling closer cooperation with the EU on space security.

My Lords, it is always a challenge to follow a bishop, and the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Manchester is no exception. The Prime Minister says that a central aim of the new legislative programme is to strengthen security, the economy, energy and defence. The country is to be...

My Lords, it is always a challenge to follow a bishop, and the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Manchester is no exception. The Prime Minister says that a central aim of the new legislative programme is to strengthen security, the economy, energy and defence. The country is to be...

My Lords, I thought long and hard about which debate on the humble Address I should participate in. My background in local government, regeneration and housing initially pushed me towards the debate yesterday; but since joining your Lordships’ House in January, the questions raised here, conversations with colleagues and the...

My Lords, I thought long and hard about which debate on the humble Address I should participate in. My background in local government, regeneration and housing initially pushed me towards the debate yesterday; but since joining your Lordships’ House in January, the questions raised here, conversations with colleagues and the...

My Lords, as the Chief of the General Staff has recently made starkly clear, Great Britain and NATO are very much in Putin’s crosshairs. We are on an inescapable collision course with a Russia that is on a determined war footing. Many aspects of this conflict have already been under...

My Lords, as the Chief of the General Staff has recently made starkly clear, Great Britain and NATO are very much in Putin’s crosshairs. We are on an inescapable collision course with a Russia that is on a determined war footing. Many aspects of this conflict have already been under...

My Lords, I speak from a Sikh perspective on common concerns for peace and justice in our strife-torn world of today. The poet reminds us that rivers and mountains interpose to make one people implacable foes. It is not only geography that divides our one human family but human greed,...

My Lords, I speak from a Sikh perspective on common concerns for peace and justice in our strife-torn world of today. The poet reminds us that rivers and mountains interpose to make one people implacable foes. It is not only geography that divides our one human family but human greed,...

My Lords, I pay tribute to the hereditary Peers, who gave time and expertise to this House with a true sense of public service and duty passed down over generations. They will be missed.

I begin by declaring my interests. I co-chair and run the APPG on Women, Peace and Security....

My Lords, I pay tribute to the hereditary Peers, who gave time and expertise to this House with a true sense of public service and duty passed down over generations. They will be missed.

I begin by declaring my interests. I co-chair and run the APPG on Women, Peace and Security....

My Lords, I declare an interest as sometime chair and vice-chair of the APPG for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. I have raised the division of Cyprus many times in your Lordships’ House, and I put on record my gratitude for the immense effort made by the FCDO in...

My Lords, I declare an interest as sometime chair and vice-chair of the APPG for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. I have raised the division of Cyprus many times in your Lordships’ House, and I put on record my gratitude for the immense effort made by the FCDO in...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to take part in this adjourned debate on the gracious Speech. I would like to cover the area of dual-use technologies and, in doing so, I declare my technology interests as set out in the register as adviser variously to the Crown Estate, to...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to take part in this adjourned debate on the gracious Speech. I would like to cover the area of dual-use technologies and, in doing so, I declare my technology interests as set out in the register as adviser variously to the Crown Estate, to...

My Lords, the gracious Speech was notable for many things, not just the welcome list of Bills. I rather suspect that your Lordships’ House is going to be even busier in the next Session than it was in the last. There are many Bills that we can look forward to...

My Lords, the gracious Speech was notable for many things, not just the welcome list of Bills. I rather suspect that your Lordships’ House is going to be even busier in the next Session than it was in the last. There are many Bills that we can look forward to...