Minister for Armed Forces to face questions from the Defence Committee

The Defence Committee will question the Minister for Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP, in what is expected to be the final session of its inquiry into the UK contribution to European Security on Tuesday 8 July. 

At the 2025 NATO Summit, it was announced that the UK, along with other Allies, had signed a new defence investment pledge of 5% of GDP by 2035. Unlike previous commitments, this pledge included investing in strengthening homeland security and national resilience as well as adopting a ‘NATO first' approach.  

This announcement followed the publication of the Strategic Defence Review, which marked the start of a new era for UK defence as it moves towards warfighting readiness. 

In this session, MPs are likely to question the Armed Forces Minister on how prepared the UK Government is to implement the ‘NATO-first' recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review, whether the UK could increase its commitments to NATO if required and the role Defence is set to play in homeland defence and resilience. 

The Committee could also consider how the Government will increase the capacity of the defence industry and ask if greater efforts are needed to improve the levels of cross-departmental working required to achieve its defence ambitions. 

8 July, 10.30:   

• Luke Pollard MP – Minister for Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence