How can the UK unlock greater investment in defence? MPs to ask expert witnesses

The Defence Committee will examine the defence industry's ability to access investment as it continues its inquiry into the UK contribution to European Security at 10.30 on Tuesday, 1 July. 

The UK Government's pledge to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 reflects a general trend across NATO and other European countries to boost defence funding in response to an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment. 

MPs will hear from think tanks and investors on the challenges and opportunities the defence industry faces when accessing finance and attracting investment from both traditional and alternative investors.  

The Committee will likely explore how the defence sector's industrial capacity could be increased both in the UK and across Europe as they consider if the Government is doing enough to mitigate the potential risk that increased defence spending could lead to inflation, rather than improving capacity.  

 10.30, Tuesday 1 July: 

• Fenella McGerty – Senior Fellow for Defence Economics at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 
• Nicholas Nelson – General Partner, Archangel VC Fund 
• Rob Murray – CEO of the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) Development Group