Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee

MoD Equipment Plan 2022-2032

Status: Closed Opened: 8 Nov 2022 Closed: 21 Jul 2023 7 recommendations 17 conclusions 1 report

Since the introduction of the Ministry of Defence Equipment Plan in 2012 the NAO has published a report each year examining MoD’s assessment of the Equipment Plan’s affordability and its response to the financial challenges it faces. Following the publication of the latest NAO report the Committee will question senior officials at the Ministry of …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Forty-Eighth Report - MoD Equipment Plan 2022–2032 HC 731 19 Apr 2023 24 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

7 items
2 Recommendation Forty-Eighth Report - MoD Equipment Pla… Accepted

The refreshed Integrated Review may revise judgements about operational requirements and identify new priorities which...

The refreshed Integrated Review may revise judgements about operational requirements and identify new priorities which are not currently funded in the Equipment Plan. The Ukraine conflict has necessitated a refresh of the 2021 Integrated Review. The Department expected that the refresh would be completed in the first quarter of 2023 …

Government response. The department has worked with HM Treasury to set out the implications of the Defence Command Paper Refresh and will continue to do so as it develops its plans. Details will be in the next update to the committee.
HM Treasury
3 Recommendation Forty-Eighth Report - MoD Equipment Pla… Accepted

The Department has not demonstrated the necessary urgency to deliver enhanced capabilities to deter hostile...

The Department has not demonstrated the necessary urgency to deliver enhanced capabilities to deter hostile parties. The Ukraine conflict has demonstrated the renewed importance of land capabilities. However, the Department acknowledges there is significant risk that the UK could not provide NATO with an operational Army division and that the …

Government response. The government states that the experience of procuring equipment for Ukraine has shown what can be achieved with increased risk appetite, and will write to the Committee with more detail on the department’s approach, including the scope to increase the …
HM Treasury
5 Recommendation Forty-Eighth Report - MoD Equipment Pla… Accepted

The Department has ignored the worsening economic environment in its latest Equipment Plan and faces...

The Department has ignored the worsening economic environment in its latest Equipment Plan and faces significant financial pressures on its equipment programme. The Department has not included external cost pressures, including inflation and foreign exchange movements, in its central assessment of the Plan’s affordability. This is despite identifying when it …

Government response. The department has worked with HM Treasury to ensure external pressures are reflected in the planning process and the next update to the Committee will provide commentary on the key risks to the affordability of the plan and the approach …
HM Treasury
7 Recommendation Forty-Eighth Report - MoD Equipment Pla… Accepted

In response to Russia’s invasion, the Government has decided to review its 2021 Integrated Review.

In response to Russia’s invasion, the Government has decided to review its 2021 Integrated Review. This work has been led by the Cabinet Office. The Government published its Integrated Review Refresh 2023 in March 2023.15 The Department now expects to publish its own refreshed plans in a new Defence Command …

Government response. The department has worked with HM Treasury to set out the implications of the Defence Command Paper Refresh including any specific commitments ahead of its publication and will continue to work with HM Treasury as it develops its plans. The …
HM Treasury
8 Conclusion Forty-Eighth Report - MoD Equipment Pla… Accepted

The Department said that it would argue for new capabilities through this process, and if...

The Department said that it would argue for new capabilities through this process, and if it received more resources, it would add these to the Equipment Plan. However, it accepted that it would need to prioritise investment decisions if new demands exceeded the funding from HM Treasury.19 In March 2023, …

Government response. The government agrees with the recommendation to clearly set out to HM Treasury the capability requirements, priorities, funding needs, and risks arising from the refreshed Integrated Review, with details to be explained in the next update to the committee.
HM Treasury
22 Conclusion Forty-Eighth Report - MoD Equipment Pla… Accepted

The Department faces significant challenges replenishing its stocks and delivering new capabilities to meet the...

The Department faces significant challenges replenishing its stocks and delivering new capabilities to meet the threats of a more volatile world. The Department has begun replacing stocks gifted to Ukraine, either on a like-for-like basis or with an equivalent where gifted capabilities are no longer in production or the Department …

Government response. The department has adapted its supply chains and how they are managed on many critical programmes, published the Defence Supply Chain Strategy, and is implementing a range of initiatives including the creation of a MOD Supply Chain Development Programme, a …
HM Treasury
23 Conclusion Forty-Eighth Report - MoD Equipment Pla… Accepted

The Department acknowledged that UK stocks were not sufficient even before gifts to Ukraine.59 A...

The Department acknowledged that UK stocks were not sufficient even before gifts to Ukraine.59 A recent Royal United Services Institute report stated that at the height of fighting in the Donbas, Russia was using more ammunition in two days than the UK held in total.60 The Department told us that …

Government response. The department has adapted its supply chains and how they are managed on many critical programmes, published the Defence Supply Chain Strategy, and is implementing a range of initiatives including the creation of a MOD Supply Chain Development Programme, a …
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
15 Dec 2022 Andy Start · Ministry of Defence, Charlie Pate · Ministry of Defence, David Williams CB · Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General Rob Magowan CB CBE · Ministry of Defence View ↗