Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 32
32
Ringfenced nuclear budget creates unresolved questions about balancing investment with conventional capabilities.
Conclusion
The prioritisation of the DNE has led to government creating a ringfence which prevents the Department from using elsewhere money allocated to delivering the DNE, but which allows money to flow the other way.73 The Department recognises that one of the big capability questions it must answer through the SDR and its follow-on work is the balance of investment between nuclear and conventional capabilities.74 However, it has not yet worked this through.75
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 16 September 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗