Select committee: Defence Committee
Recommendation 26
6th Report - The UK contribution to European Security
Published 19 Nov 2025
Addressed to Ministry of Defence
Defence Committee The UK contribution to European Security All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
We recommend that the Government uses the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy to set out the data it holds and the conclusions it has drawn alongside its approach to resolving the issues with each type of funding difficulty. In the strategy the Government will need to set out how much state intervention it is willing to commit to and for how long. It should accompany the strategy with a timetabled implementation plan, detailing which Department is responsible for each action. As a minimum, the Government ought urgently to create a method of payments services provision in areas where no market participants are willing to provide their services. However, we recommend the Government rapidly conclude and publish its assessment of the viability of creating a defence-specific fund within the British Business Bank and also explore the potential to create other mechanisms. Furthermore, the Government should commit to making the Defence Investors’ Advisory Group available to give evidence to Parliament—whether that be to us, to the Treasury Committee, the Business and Trade Committee or a joint session—once the strategy is published. (Recommendation, Paragraph 100)
From: Defence Committee, 6th Report - The UK contribution to European Security (HC 520), 19 November 2025
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 30 January 2026 (deadline 19 January 2026).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government's response to the Defence Committee's report on the UK contribution to European security outlines its approach under a 'NATO First' strategy, setting out many ongoing measures and deferring several decisions to the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.
- On capability priorities, it says it is "considering where to prioritise investment", including UK involvement in EU capability development programmes, and that choices "will be detailed in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan".
- On a second sovereign nuclear delivery method, it states that a submarine-based system "remains the most effective and proportionate means" of delivering the deterrent, and that F-35A aircraft will "complement, rather than replace" it.
- On a Minister of Homeland Security, it says it "continues to judge" that the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Security Minister "remain suitable leads".
- On Defence Readiness legislation, it is reviewing which powers may be needed and will engage stakeholders "during 2026", but says it does "not yet have a specific timetable" for the legislation.