Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Accepted
Government published the Strategic Defence Review in June 2025 charting future defence direction.
Conclusion
The government launched the Strategic Defence Review (the SDR) in July 2024 and said it would publish it in the first half of 2025.41 The Department told us that the SDR would try to balance ambition and resource, but also chart the direction needed to respond to the current geopolitical situation and ensure that the UK has the armed forces it needs, both now and for the future.42 Five weeks after the Department’s oral evidence to us, it published the SDR on 2 June 2025.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the committee's point and will develop a new Defence Investment Plan (DIP) to implement the Strategic Defence Review's recommendations, publishing the plan in autumn 2025 and providing updates.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Autumn 2025 4.2 This government has endorsed the Strategic Defence Review’s vision and accepts all 62 recommendations. The implementation of the Review’s recommendations will form part of the main business of the department and will be executed through a whole of UK Defence effort. The department will develop a new Defence Investment Plan (DIP) to implement the Review’s vision and recommendations and turn them into a delivery plan that will be published in the autumn. The department will ensure that this Plan is affordable, considers infrastructure alongside capabilities, enables flexibility to seize new technological opportunities, and maximises the benefits of defence spending to grow the UK economy. 4.3 Work on the DIP is progressing at pace and will include a thorough analysis of the programme required to meet the ambition of the SDR. The department will provide updates on progress as requested by the Committee.