Public Expenditure
The question
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 9 March 2026 on Middle East: Economic Update, Official Report, columns 43-45, for how long will her Department be permitted to spend money allocated from the special reserve.
Answered by James Murray
Iran’s indiscriminate attacks are a threat to Britain, our allies and our partners in the region.
As she set out in the House on 9 March, the Chancellor has approved access for the Ministry of Defence to the special reserve to deploy additional capabilities in the Middle East. The net additional costs of operations will be funded by the Treasury.
We do not yet know how long the conflict will last or what further action will be required, but the Chancellor is being responsive in an uncertain world, and is protecting the public finances in the national interest.
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