Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry
| United Kingdom Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry | |
|---|---|
| File:Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg | |
| File:UK flag m v.gif | |
since 6 September 2025 | |
| Ministry of Defence | |
| Style | Minister |
| Nominator | Prime Minister of the United Kingdom |
| Appointer | The Monarch on advice of the Prime Minister |
| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
| First holder | Roy Mason |
| Website | Official website |
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The Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry is, as a Minister of State, a mid-level defence minister in the Ministry of Defence of the British Government. The current incumbent of the post, Labour MP Luke Pollard, was appointed in September 2025.[1]
Origins
[edit | edit source]This ministerial post derives from that of two posts; the procurement aspects of this post were the responsibility of the Minister of Defence Procurement (either a Minister of State or the more junior, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State), while still the defence logistic aspects were the brief of the Minister of State for the Armed Forces.
This post was created in 2007 to reflect the establishment of the Defence Equipment and Support organisation of the UK Ministry of Defence. Lord Drayson was appointed as its first incumbent.[2] Whilst Lord Drayson held the role as a Minister of State, all of his successors were Parliamentary Under-Secretaries, the most junior ministerial rank in the British Government, until the appointment of Jeremy Quin in 2020.
The post was retitled in 2010 as Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology. The current title of the post is unclear as it has been announced as both Minister for Defence Procurement[3] and Minister for Defence Equipment, Technology and Support.[4]
Responsibilities
[edit | edit source]The Minister is responsible for:[5]
- implementation of relevant SDR Vision and Recommendations
- oversight of the National Armaments Director Group
- departmental communications strategy and reform
- armed forces readiness and stockpiles
- Defence procurement, including reform and UK Defence Innovation
- submarine delivery
- Defence Industrial Strategy: implementation and growth
- Defence Exports Campaign and Office
- Defence Readiness Bill
- Ukraine support - military aid and industrial partnerships, including HIRST and KINDRED
- Defence industry relationships and the Defence Industrial Joint Council
- acquisition reform/UK Defence Innovation
- climate change and sustainability
- Defence estates, accommodation and Defence Infrastructure Organisation
- artificial intelligence and innovation
- science and technology
- Defence Afghanistan Relocation and Assistance Programme (ARAP) including eligibility applications and asylum
- oversight of Parliamentary engagement
List of ministers
[edit | edit source]
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References
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- ^ Lord Drayson appointed minister Archived 2007-03-20 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Election 2015: Prime Minister and ministerial appointments - 11 May 2015
- ^ Ministry of Defence Ministerial appointments finalised - 11 May 15
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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