Recommendations & Conclusions
8 items
3
Recommendation
Third Report - “We’re going to need a b…
Accepted in Part
The Navy cannot fulfil the full ambition of the Integrated Review with its current fleet. It needs more lower-end, adaptable vessels, like the planned Type 31 frigate, to fulfil the presence operations planned. A large part of the Government’s plan to address this relies on increasing availability, as well as …
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The Navy cannot fulfil the full ambition of the Integrated Review with its current fleet. It needs more lower-end, adaptable vessels, like the planned Type 31 frigate, to fulfil the presence operations planned. A large part of the Government’s plan to address this relies on increasing availability, as well as through the Type 32 programme. We are not convinced that increased availability can produce enough vessels to be relied upon in an emergency. If the Navy intends to deliver all missions, especially the presence the IR specifies, growth of major surface combatants needs to double, with growth from small, adaptable vessels. The resource budget, personnel and the number of auxiliary vessels should grow commensurately. This expansion will require a significant increase in funding.
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Government response AI summary
The government outlines commitments to procure new Type 31, Type 32, Type 26, FSS, and Multi-Role Support Ships, stating this will increase overall vessel numbers by 2030, addressing the need for fleet growth, particularly with adaptable vessels, though not explicitly committing to the committee's scale …
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Ministry of Defence
5
Recommendation
Third Report - “We’re going to need a b…
Accepted in Part
The Indo-Pacific tilt is a significant change in the UK’s defence posture which will increase the demand and risk placed on finite resources. We will consider the value and effectiveness of the overall tilt policy and greater engagement in the region in future inquiries. Under current plans the naval assets …
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The Indo-Pacific tilt is a significant change in the UK’s defence posture which will increase the demand and risk placed on finite resources. We will consider the value and effectiveness of the overall tilt policy and greater engagement in the region in future inquiries. Under current plans the naval assets assigned to the Indo-Pacific are only sufficient for the current very limited presence operations in a stable security environment. It is unlikely that they will be able to complete more challenging missions, and may even find themselves in danger, if the UK is drawn more deeply into the region and forced to commit more forces to defend UK interests, or if the local security situation deteriorates. As a result, the increased commitment to the region must be regarded as one of the many risks the Royal Navy faces in a bumpy decade. The Government must be honest with the public with regards to the cost of “We’re going to need a bigger Navy” 73 the Indo-Pacific tilt. The Department should confirm in its response how regular future carrier strike group deployments will be, and whether they will have the same fleet composition, missions and support from allies as the 2021 carrier strike group deployment. (Paragraph 48) The Current Fleet
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Government response AI summary
The government stated it intends to deploy a Carrier Strike Group annually, but clarified that each deployment will be bespoke in terms of objectives, composition, and allied involvement. It did not explicitly address the request for public transparency on the overall costs of the Indo-Pacific …
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Ministry of Defence
10
Recommendation
Third Report - “We’re going to need a b…
Accepted in Part
The delivery of digital and data integration like the Naval Strike Network will be absolutely crucial if the fleet is to be operated effectively. The Department must ensure that the Naval Strike Network is fully funded and compatible with Defence’s digital backbone.
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The delivery of digital and data integration like the Naval Strike Network will be absolutely crucial if the fleet is to be operated effectively. The Department must ensure that the Naval Strike Network is fully funded and compatible with Defence’s digital backbone.
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Government response AI summary
The government reassured the Committee that the Naval Strike Network will be fully compliant with Defence’s digital backbone, but stated that the Royal Navy is still exploring opportunities to fully fund this capability.
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Ministry of Defence
15
Recommendation
Third Report - “We’re going to need a b…
Accepted in Part
Building interoperability with nations in the Indo-Pacific will be vital for delivering any tilt to the region. This must include coordinating with European partners and working to rebuild the military relationship with France. The Navy must continue to regularly exercise with partners in the region after the conclusion of CSG21, …
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Building interoperability with nations in the Indo-Pacific will be vital for delivering any tilt to the region. This must include coordinating with European partners and working to rebuild the military relationship with France. The Navy must continue to regularly exercise with partners in the region after the conclusion of CSG21, which will help to deter adversaries and demonstrate that the UK’s commitment to the region goes beyond rhetoric. This should include regular exercises with European and NATO partners, including consideration of developing a programme of exercises under AUKUS. The Department should develop a strategy for how it will collaborate with both regional partners and NATO allies in the Pacific within the next year. The Department should confirm in its response whether the Royal Navy will continue to contribute to Op ATALANTA.
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Government response AI summary
The government states it has a mature strategy for the Pacific, detailing existing deployments and collaboration efforts, but explicitly confirms the UK ceased participation in Operation ATALANTA in March 2019 due to a lack of legal basis.
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Ministry of Defence
18
Recommendation
Third Report - “We’re going to need a b…
Accepted in Part
Reporting of availability must improve to avoid concealing issues with the availability of specific classes of vessel. The Ministry of Defence should report annually to Parliament in a written statement on the availability of all surface vessels in the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary by class. The answer to …
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Reporting of availability must improve to avoid concealing issues with the availability of specific classes of vessel. The Ministry of Defence should report annually to Parliament in a written statement on the availability of all surface vessels in the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary by class. The answer to PQ 36545 on Type 23 Frigates, dated 26 July 2021, provides a model and demonstrates that the publication of data at this level of specificity does not compromise security. The Ministry of Defence should also make a classified report to this Committee including details of any times in the previous year when surface vessels were unexpectedly unavailable for more than a month and a list of surface vessels that are expected to enter a refit or maintenance for a year or more, or which are being mothballed, during the course of the following year.
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Government response AI summary
The government committed to providing a single annual update to the Defence Committee on Surface Fleet availability and shipbuilding plans, but did not explicitly confirm the separate annual written statement to Parliament or all the specific details requested for the classified report.
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Ministry of Defence
24
Recommendation
Third Report - “We’re going to need a b…
Accepted in Part
Proper scrutiny is essential to ensure programmes are delivered on time. In order to allow for proper scrutiny of ongoing programmes, the Ministry of Defence should emulate the US Department of Defense and provide Parliament with an annual shipbuilding plan, including the number of ships planned to enter and leave …
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Proper scrutiny is essential to ensure programmes are delivered on time. In order to allow for proper scrutiny of ongoing programmes, the Ministry of Defence should emulate the US Department of Defense and provide Parliament with an annual shipbuilding plan, including the number of ships planned to enter and leave service each year in the next 30 years. We ask that the Senior Responsible Owners for the Type 26, Type 31, Astute and Dreadnought programmes provide the Committee with an annual report on each of their programmes within six months of the publication of this report, and then annually. If necessary, we will expect the SROs to answer additional questions on their programmes in a public evidence session.
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Government response AI summary
The department will provide a single annual update to the Defence Committee, which will include Surface Fleet availability and shipbuilding plans, but does not explicitly commit to the 30-year plan, individual SRO reports, or public evidence sessions requested.
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Ministry of Defence
25
Recommendation
Third Report - “We’re going to need a b…
Accepted in Part
The National Shipbuilding Strategy refresh must finally take on board the consistent recommendations given in successive reports by a range of experts. This includes providing a steady pipeline of work for British shipyards and working collaboratively with industry. The refresh should: • Ensure that warships are built in UK yards …
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The National Shipbuilding Strategy refresh must finally take on board the consistent recommendations given in successive reports by a range of experts. This includes providing a steady pipeline of work for British shipyards and working collaboratively with industry. The refresh should: • Ensure that warships are built in UK yards and that this designation continues to include the Fleet Solid Support ship contract, as well as the future replacements for the Tide and Wave class vessels. • Revisit the principles of the Parker Review and accept that active intervention is required by the government to modernise yards, guarantee an assured pipeline of work for UK yards and protect the skills base. • Prioritise designing vessels for export wherever possible, and consider incorporating adaptability into the design as a way to achieve this; • Give greater weight to social value and the needs of shipyards around the UK when considering competition; • Continue to follow the principles adopted after Sir John Parker’s review, particularly showing agility, pace and grip in procurement, limiting modifications in contract signing and not delaying projects in response to annual budget pressures; and • Provide an assessment of the skills and professional engineering workforce the UK has and will need in its shipbuilding capability and explain how and on what timescales the Department will develop these.
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Government response AI summary
The government committed to addressing the skills aspect of the National Shipbuilding Strategy refresh by conducting an assessment of current requirements and outlining how various bodies will collaborate to deliver necessary skills, but did not address the other five specific recommendations.
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Ministry of Defence
27
Recommendation
Third Report - “We’re going to need a b…
Accepted in Part
We welcome the Department’s ambition to bring new technology into the fleet and the opportunities that the large number of planned vessels offer. It provides an early test of the new Integrated Operating Concept. It is essential that NavyX and Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) improve their ability to take …
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We welcome the Department’s ambition to bring new technology into the fleet and the opportunities that the large number of planned vessels offer. It provides an early test of the new Integrated Operating Concept. It is essential that NavyX and Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) improve their ability to take emerging technology beyond the demonstrator phase and deliver it to the field. Digital systems should be prioritised more highly in procurement, with consideration given to them early in the design and build of new vessels. The Navy should plan as far as possible for them to be fitted flexibly into vessels and regularly upgraded to avoid capabilities becoming out of date. Development stage funding should be increased. We note the importance of space as an enabler for the Navy: the role it plays in delivering military capabilities will be considered as part of our dedicated space inquiry.
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Government response AI summary
The government outlined how DE&S and NavyX address technological development and digital system integration through open architectures and application-based software, committing to their use in future vessel designs. It also stated the Royal Navy would specifically review funding allocated for research, development, and engineering as …
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Ministry of Defence