Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Accepted
Assess reliance on allied support for capability requirements and develop risk mitigation strategies.
Conclusion
The MoD is becoming increasingly reliant on the UK’s allies to protect the UK’s national interests, which carries the risk that such support might not always be available. Recent international developments, including the war in Ukraine, have reinforced the importance of strategic international partnerships for the UK. The UK has been working with its allies, including Ukraine, to develop interoperable equipment, pool essential munitions and encourage industry to build its capacity to supply the necessary equipment. However, for deterrence to be effective the UK’s Armed Forces must be credible. Such credibility is undermined by widely reported recruitment and retention issues, with more people leaving the Armed Forces than are being recruited, the mothballing of Royal Navy ships because of crew shortages, and the unavailability this year of the only Royal Navy ship able to fully replenish the UK’s aircraft carriers because of a refit. Given the changing global security picture, it is vital for the MoD to work with industry, including through the Defence Suppliers Forum, and also the higher education sector to ensure sufficient supply of highly skilled workers and also apprentices to the defence sector. With the support of its allies, the UK’s Armed Forces continue to fulfil a crucial role internationally. However, many allies are facing similar challenges to the UK, which might affect their ability and willingness to continue providing extensive support. Recommendation 6: The MoD should assess the extent to which its capability requirements are reliant on support from the UK’s allies and develop mitigations for how it would manage the risk of allied support being curtailed or withdrawn. 8 MoD Equipment Plan 2023–2033 1 The affordability of the Equipment Plan
Government Response Summary
The government agreed, stating that allied support is already understood, reviewed as part of capability planning, and rigorously scrutinized during force testing, with identified risks regularly captured and reviewed for mitigation.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. adversaries in no doubt the ability and willingness to fight and win, Defence must possess balanced and credible capabilities across all domains. The department capitalises on the UK’s reputation as a convening power and the strength of the Defence Network to drive a cooperative and mutually supportive burden- sharing approach to effectively counter malign threats and support global stability. Support provided by NATO allies, but also through allies in other groupings and beyond the Euro-Atlantic Theatre, is well understood. Such support will continue to be reviewed as part of capability planning processes and is rigorously scrutinised during planned force testing. The risks and dependencies identified by such force testing events are captured and regularly reviewed to ensure they can be mitigated, and that they inform future UK policy and investment decisions. Where the UK must maintain a wholly sovereign capability, as has been announced in the case of munitions, complex weapons, and uncrewed systems, Defence will continue to work with UK industry to ensure that they have the capacity to continue to sustain the capabilities required to protect the UK and its interests.