Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry

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United Kingdom
Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry
Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Incumbent
Luke Pollard
since 6 September 2025
Ministry of Defence
StyleMinister
NominatorPrime Minister of the United Kingdom
AppointerThe Monarch
on advice of the Prime Minister
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
First holderRoy Mason
WebsiteOfficial website

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

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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

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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

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Ministers of Defence for Equipment, 1967–1970

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Minister Entered office Left office Political party
Roy Mason 7 January 1967 16 April 1968 Labour
John Morris 16 April 1968 19 June 1970

Minister of State for Defence, 1970–1972

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Minister Entered office Left office Political party Prime Minister
Lord Balniel 23 June 1970 5 November 1972 Conservative Edward Heath

Minister for Defence Procurement, 1971–1972

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Name Portrait Entered office Left office Political party
Ian Gilmour 7 April 1971 5 November 1972 Conservative

Ministers of State for Defence, 1972–1981

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Name Portrait Entered office Left office Political party
Ian Gilmour 5 November 1972 8 January 1974 Conservative
George Younger 8 January 1974 4 March 1974
William Rodgers 4 March 1974 10 September 1976 Labour
John Gilbert 10 September 1976 4 May 1979
Euan Howard 6 May 1979 5 January 1981 Conservative
The Viscount Trenchard 5 January 1981 29 May 1981

Ministers for Defence Procurement, 1981–2007

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Minister Entered office Left office Political party Prime Minister
The Viscount Trenchard 29 May 1981 6 January 1983 Conservative Margaret Thatcher
Geoffrey Pattie 6 January 1983 11 September 1984
Adam Butler 11 September 1984 2 September 1985
Norman Lamont 2 September 1985 21 May 1986
The Lord Trefgarne 21 May 1986 24 July 1989
Alan Clark 24 July 1989 14 April 1992
John Major
Jonathan Aitken 14 April 1992 20 July 1994
Roger Freeman 20 July 1994 6 July 1995
James Arbuthnot 6 July 1995 1 May 1997
The Lord Gilbert 2 May 1997 July 1999 Labour Tony Blair
The Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean July 1999 8 June 2001
The Lord Bach 8 June 2001 6 May 2005
The Lord Drayson 6 May 2005 6 March 2007

Ministers for Defence Equipment and Support, 2007–2012

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Minister Entered office Left office Political party Prime Minister
The Lord Drayson 6 March 2007 7 November 2007 Labour Tony Blair
Gordon Brown
The Baroness Taylor of Bolton 7 November 2007 5 October 2008
Quentin Davies 5 October 2008 12 May 2010
Peter Luff 9 June 2010 4 September 2012 Conservative David Cameron

Minister for Defence Procurement, 2012–2024

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Minister Entered office Left office Political party Prime Minister
Philip Dunne 4 September 2012 14 July 2016 Conservative David Cameron
Harriett Baldwin 18 July 2016 9 January 2018
Theresa May
Guto Bebb 9 January 2018 16 July 2018[6]
Stuart Andrew 19 July 2018 27 July 2019
Anne-Marie Trevelyan 27 July 2019 [7] 16 December 2019 Boris Johnson
James Heappey 16 December 2019 13 February 2020
Jeremy Quin 13 February 2020 7 September 2022
Alec Shelbrooke 7 September 2022 26 October 2022 Liz Truss
Alex Chalk 27 October 2022 21 April 2023 Rishi Sunak
James Cartlidge 21 April 2023 5 July 2024

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, 2024–2025

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Maria Eagle 8 July 2024 6 September 2025 Labour Keir Starmer

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, 2025–present

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Luke Pollard 6 September 2025 incumbent Labour Keir Starmer

References

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  1. ^ "Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Luke Pollard, statement on Defence Industrial Strategy". GOV.UK. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  2. ^ Lord Drayson appointed minister Archived 2007-03-20 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Election 2015: Prime Minister and ministerial appointments - 11 May 2015
  4. ^ Ministry of Defence Ministerial appointments finalised - 11 May 15
  5. ^ "Minister of State (Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry)". gov.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  6. ^ Sparrow, Andrew; Rawlinson, Kevin; Sparrow, Andrew (16 July 2018). "May survives Tory Brexit rebellion with narrow Commons victory - as it happened". The Guardian.
  7. ^ Ripley, Tim (29 July 2019). "New UK procurement minister appointed". IHS Janes. London. Retrieved 30 July 2019.