Speeches by Rigby.

“No, I do not see it as a drain.”

“You are absolutely right that the DIP covers the next four years. As I was saying in response to a question from the Chair, the £15 billion is part of an additional £300 billion over the next four years. Most importantly, the Prime Minister has been clear that at the point of the next spending review, defence will be t…”

“I don’t think there is any suggestion whatsoever that people go without. To take Mr Dhesi’s point, the defence and security of this country is the No. 1 duty of any Government. That is inherent in the Prime Minister saying that defence will be the No. 1 priority at the next spending review. We have made progress toward…”

“We have said that in the next Parliament we will get to 3%. I understand that the question is being asked, “When in the next Parliament?”, and I come back to the fact that the Prime Minister has said that defence will be the number one priority at the next spending review. The Ministry of Defence’s budget is already gr…”

“No, they are not unforeseen. However, the nature of the threat that we are facing is increasing and increasing rapidly. I think we are doing absolutely the right thing by significantly increasing defence spending. Do we need to significantly increase it further? Yes. I will passionately make the case, both in and outsi…”

“As I said, John Healey’s resignation letter is public. On a personal and professional level, I was extremely sorry to see him leave his post. As we have said, the DIP is a significant increase in funding. I will not go through it again, but I very firmly believe that we have to significantly increase defence spending. …”

“I can talk to what the DIP does. For the reasons I have set out, it would be for a Government led by the next Prime Minister to make decisions about tax.”

“Well, I will read that.”

“These are decisions for the future Government to make, not just in relation to taxation, but in relation to reprioritisation.”

“To deliver the 3.5%?”

“Specifically on the front-loading of the RDEL to CDEL?”

“What Minister Pollard is getting at—indeed, I was trying to allude to it too—is that the capabilities are different. There is an emphasis on more technology and more autonomous technology in particular. That goes to the changing profile of the spend.”

“I take the point. The main consideration of the fiscal rules from the point of view of the DIP was trying to ensure that everything is in keeping with the fiscal rules, which the Chancellor has been very clear about. These are, in her view, iron-clad. Indeed, the security of our economy has a relationship to our nation…”

“It was important that over 60% of the additional cash for the purposes of the DIP is RDEL. An even higher proportion for the purposes of the uplift this year, close to 75%, is RDEL, which, as the Minister has set out, is important for the purposes of readiness.”

“I see. As Minister Pollard said, the £28 billion figure that you referred to is not something we recognise. I was not in post at the time, but my understanding is that that was never a formal ask made of the Treasury. Obviously, there is £15 billion additional funding in the DIP, but the right way to look at this is as…”

“I would have to repeat that there was never a formal ask of that.”

“You are absolutely right to refer to the previous Defence Secretary. His resignation letter is in the public domain, and he said what he said, but the DIP that has been delivered is different, and it contains a different capability.”

“There are additional things that are covered within the defence investment plan. That is absolutely right.”

“Yes.”

“In answer to Mr Glen’s question, I was seeking to make clear that the Prime Minister has said that we will meet that 3% target at some point in the next Parliament. I understand why people are asking exactly when that target will be met, but it will depend on the next spending review and how money is allocated.”