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Department for Business and Trade: Defence

Asked by Mr Tanmanjeet Singh DhesiLabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 2 March 2026UIN 115939

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to page 92 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, how many (a) public engagements and (b) private meetings Ministers in their Department have undertaken related to the national conversation on defence and security.

Answered by Chris Bryant

Since the publication of the Strategic Defence Review in June 2025, the Secretary of State for Business has regularly met with Cabinet colleagues to discuss a variety of measures/policies.

Disclosure of such meetings is restricted to protect the principle of collective responsibility, allowing ministers to debate policies freely in private.

The Department for Business and Trade is committed in its support for the Strategic Defence Review through a robust economic security programme, trade remedies and other defence and security aligned policy areas.

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