Larger share of public spending for defence 'couldn't be needed quicker', Wallace says

The military will require a greater share of public spending and it "couldn't be needed quicker", the Defence Secretary has told MPs.

Ben Wallace, who was speaking at a session of questions to defence ministers in the Commons, also encouraged Nato members to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence ahead of a summit in July.

Conservative chair of the Defence Committee Tobias Ellwood said: "Would he agree that the Treasury's argument to increase defence spending to 2.5% when the economics improve, is not only naive, but it's also illogical because our economy and our national security are one and the same thing?

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"We need to invest in our Army and Air Force and Navy now, not when Britain's economy improves."

'Culture has changed across Government'

In response to Mr Ellwood, Mr Wallace said: "First of all, spend on the Army is 20% higher since I have started as Defence Secretary and I have made sure that a greater proportion of that spend is spent on catching up and modernising the Armed Forces that has been neglected all the way back to Afghanistan and Iraq."

He added: "The Treasury has also accepted, as the Chancellor did from this despatch box, that defence will require a greater share of public spending.

"Part of the big challenge is that we recognise that the culture has changed across Government, that in Whitehall defence requires and needs a greater spend proportion if it is to defend these shores, and indeed our people, that is how it used to be.

"I am confident the Prime Minister's support of 2.5% and, indeed, the Chancellor's position, is a path in the right direction, and, of course, it couldn't be needed quicker."

Speaking about defence spending earlier this year, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: "It will be nearly 2.25% of GDP by 2025.

"We were the first large European country to commit to 2% of GDP for defence and will raise that to 2.5% as soon as fiscal and economic circumstances allow."

Nato members' defence spending commitments

Elsewhere in the Commons session, Mr Wallace, who was asked about Nato members' defence spending commitments, said: "I think as Vilnius (Lithuanian city hosting upcoming alliance summit) approaches, it's very, very important that we recommit and get other nations to recommit to make sure that 2% is viewed as a floor and not a ceiling.

"It's regretful that, still, only seven to eight nations in Nato are reaching that target. Britain is, of course, above the 2%. It's very important, freedom is not free, you have to pay for it in the end."

And, asked if he is confident that Sweden's Nato membership application will be approved this year, the Defence Secretary said: "I'm optimistic. I had my phone call with my new Turkish counterpart last week."

He added: "I am confident that we will get there in the end."

Labour's shadow defence secretary, John Healey, said: "Does he not see it as a national embarrassment for Britain to go to next month's Nato summit as one of only five Nato nations that has not rebooted defence plans since President Putin invaded Ukraine?"

Mr Wallace replied: "When he talks about my record in defence, just look at defence procurement, because he is fond of coming to the despatch box about that.

"In 2009, under Labour, 15% of projects coming out of the Armed Forces were over cost and the average delay was 28%. It is now 4% over cost and 15% of each project is delayed."

He added: "That is value for money and at the same time we have got a real increase in the defence budget, and we have injected £29bn of additional funding."

Ukraine offensive

Referencing the Ukrainian offensive, Mr Healey said, in an apparent reference to the reported mercenary mutiny in Russia last weekend: "With the developments in recent days, surely now is the time to accelerate, not just maintain our military support for Ukraine."

Mr Wallace said: "Our support for Ukraine is made up of £2.3bn.Not all of that is committed.

"And we continue to make sure that whatever Ukraine needs we can try and give, and if we don't have, whether we can use our network around the world to access it on their behalf."