Defence Research and Development: Funding

David Reed, the Conservative MP for Exmouth and Exeter East, asked the Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, about the government's plans for future levels of spending on defence research and development. The Minister acknowledged the critical importance of defence R&D in maximising the operational advantage of the UK's armed forces, especially in an increasingly volatile and technology-driven world. He stated that the government remains committed to investing in cutting-edge science, technology, and innovation. In response, David Reed highlighted the significance of frontier technologies, such as artificial intelligence, in shaping the modern battlefield. He expressed disappointment over the previous Labour government's decision to cancel the University of Edinburgh's £800 million exascale supercomputing project, which he believed was essential for the development of advanced AI systems. The MP asked the Minister how the government intends to create these technologies, given the apparent wavering of the Conservative party's demand signal to academia and industry. The Minister acknowledged the importance of AI and related technologies, stating that they are being considered as part of the strategic defence review. He noted that the government is committed to upscaling the innovative work already being done by UK technologies and providing the necessary skills and supply chain to deliver on these priorities, particularly in light of the lessons learned from the situation in Ukraine. Another Conservative MP, Danny Kruger from East Wiltshire, raised concerns about potential cuts to defence R&D and science spending, despite the government's commitment to reaching a defence spending level of 2.5% of GDP. The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to the 2.5% target, but did not provide a specific timeline for when it would be achieved. Finally, Helen Maguire, the Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom and Ewell, highlighted the importance of the exchange of research and development between the UK and Ukraine to improve the security of both countries. The Minister acknowledged the significance of this collaboration and stated that the government is working to learn from the battlefield experience in Ukraine and invest in the supply chain to support the provision of innovative technologies.