Select committee: International Relations and Defence Committee
Recommendation 40
1st Report - UK defence policy: from aspiration to reality?
Published 12 Jan 2023
Paragraph 229
International Relations and Defence Committee Defence concepts and capabilities: from aspiration to reality All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The Government has never explained the rationale for the Integrated Review’s announced increase in the overall nuclear warhead stockpile ceiling. While we acknowledge the need for some secrecy in this area, we were surprised that the Defence Secretary promised to submit “the exact figures” for the number of warheads to the Committee (in apparent contradiction to Government policy), but then did not do so. We call on the Ministry of Defence to provide as much detail as it can on the rationale for the increased stockpile ceiling.
From: International Relations and Defence Committee, 1st Report - UK defence policy: from aspiration to reality?, paragraph 229, 12 January 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 11 March 2023 (deadline 12 March 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the Committee's report but has published a response to only certain recommendations, saying a more detailed response will follow after the Integrated Review update and the Defence Command Paper update.
- It agrees with the Committee's caution on drawing lessons from Ukraine and that more scrutiny is needed, and says it "must be careful not to rush to definitive lessons".
- On weapons stocks, it "notes" the Committee's conclusions and cites contracts already placed for replenishment, but says exact stockpile details are classified and "any further commentary would be inappropriate".
- On inflation and the 3 per cent of GDP marker, it says controls offer "some protection" but "will not cover the full extent of inflationary pressure". Further budget details are to come in the Spring Statement.
- On the Army, it says that "any specific policy changes to the Army will be announced following the update to the DCP".