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Select Committee · Defence Committee

Defending Global Britain in a Competitive Age

Status: Closed Opened: 17 Mar 2021 Closed: 6 Dec 2022 7 recommendations 16 conclusions 1 report

The Committee is examining the defence task and capability commitments in the Integrated Review, the Defence in a Competitive Age paper and the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy. The Committee intends to evaluate how effective the commitments will be in responding to the threats to the UK and how the Government will implement those commitments.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - The Integrated Review, Defence in a Competi… HC 180 28 Jul 2022 23 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
8 Conclusion Second Report - The Integrated Review, … Rejected

The reason that lack of publicly available information of the Government’s defence and security priorities...

The reason that lack of publicly available information of the Government’s defence and security priorities presents a problem is that for integration—highlighted by the MoD as absolutely vital for the UK’s security—to be effective, the NSC must set clear priorities, backed with sufficient resources. If we (and the general public) …

Government response. The government disputes the recommendation, asserting that the IR and Command Paper already outlined the government's priorities and Defense's contribution.
Ministry of Defence
20 Recommendation Second Report - The Integrated Review, … Rejected

There are significant challenges to integration but none that concerns us as much as the...

There are significant challenges to integration but none that concerns us as much as the MOD’s procurement difficulties. For instance, the MOD has made it clear that in order to achieve integration and utilise new technologies, it needs an effective digital network. Without that network, few of the suggested benefits …

Government response. The government does not accept that the Department’s track record of delivering large and complex programmes is abysmal and outlined examples of success and improvements made to MOD processes and acquisition.
Ministry of Defence

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
30 Nov 2021 Sir Stephen Lovegrove, National Security Adviser View ↗
6 Jul 2021 Lt Gen (Retd) Ben Hodges · Center for European Policy Analysis View ↗
23 Jun 2021 Air Marshal Richard Knighton CB · Ministry of Defence, Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP · Ministry of Defence View ↗
20 Apr 2021 Paul Hough, defence business consultant, Professor John Louth, independent author and defence analyst View ↗
13 Apr 2021 Dr Sidharth Kaushal · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Rear Admiral Alex Burton, Former Commander, UK Maritime Forces (2016-2017) View ↗
23 Mar 2021 Field Marshal the Lord Richards of Herstmonceux GCB CBE DSO DL · Ministry of Defence, The Lord Houghton of Richmond GCB CBE DL · Ministry of Defence View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
18 Jan 2022 — Letter dated 11th January responding to Chair regarding the Integrated Review, …