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AUKUS

Status: Open Opened: 2 Apr 2025 24 recommendations 9 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry will examine the AUKUS partnership, a trilateral security agreement between Australia, the US and the UK which was announced in 2021. AUKUS will see the US and UK support Australia in acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine fleet alongside a deepening of co-operation between the three countries on other advanced military technologies. The Committee’s inquiry … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
8th Report - AUKUS HC 841 28 Apr 2026 33 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
3 Conclusion 8th Report - AUKUS Rejected

It is deeply disappointing that more than a year after Sir Stephen Lovegrove completed his...

It is deeply disappointing that more than a year after Sir Stephen Lovegrove completed his review of AUKUS, the Government’s commitment to issue a public version of his findings has not been fulfilled. This reflects poorly on the Government and is damaging to stakeholder and public confidence. It is also … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government decided not to publish a public version of Sir Stephen Lovegrove's classified report to protect confidentiality and align with partner nations, but notes Sir Stephen has publicly shared headline findings and actions in response.
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Ministry of Defence
4 Recommendation 8th Report - AUKUS Rejected

We urge the Government to issue a public version of Sir Stephen Lovegrove’s report as...

We urge the Government to issue a public version of Sir Stephen Lovegrove’s report as soon as possible. (Recommendation, Paragraph 22)

Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation to publish Sir Stephen Lovegrove’s report, citing the need to protect confidentiality of inputs from international contributors. Instead, Sir Stephen has made public engagements to share headline findings and actions.
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Ministry of Defence
8 Recommendation 8th Report - AUKUS Rejected

The Government should advocate for the US and Australia to follow the UK in appointing...

The Government should advocate for the US and Australia to follow the UK in appointing their own Special Representative (or an equivalent role). Consideration should also be given to establishing a joint secretariat to support them. (Recommendation, Paragraph 39) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that the US and Australia will continue to determine their national governance structures and that the UK will continue to work through existing structures, effectively declining to advocate for them to appoint special representatives or establish a new joint secretariat.
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Ministry of Defence
17 Recommendation 8th Report - AUKUS Rejected

The Government must demonstrate that the industrial uplift required to deliver SSN AUKUS is being...

The Government must demonstrate that the industrial uplift required to deliver SSN AUKUS is being funded and delivered at pace. We recommend that an annual assessment of planned versus delivered investment in submarine industrial capacity be conducted by the Prime Minister’s Special Representative, to be submitted to the Prime Minister … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the recommendation for an annual assessment but rejects it, stating that existing governance structures and reporting requirements are sufficient to manage SSN-AUKUS delivery.
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Ministry of Defence

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
2 Dec 2025 Air Marshal Tim Jones · Ministry of Defence, Luke Pollard MP · Ministry of Defence, Vice Admiral Sir Chris Gardner KBE · Submarine Delivery Agency View ↗
26 Nov 2025 Angela Jones · Westmorland and Furness Council, Nona Buckley-Irvine · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Peter Anstiss · Team Barrow, The Rt Hon The Lord Case · Team Barrow View ↗
19 Nov 2025 Sir Stephen Lovegrove - Prime Minister's Special Representative on AUKUS View ↗
21 Oct 2025 Andrew Kinniburgh · Make UK Defence, Harry Holt · Babcock International Group, Matthew Evans · techUK, Samira Braund · ADS, Steve Carlier · Rolls Royce Submarines Limited, Steve Timms · BAE Systems Submarines View ↗
9 Sep 2025 Dr Sidharth Kaushal · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Sophia Gaston · Centre for Statecraft and National Security, King's College London View ↗

Who gave evidence

16 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Air Marshal Tim Jones · Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Force Developm… Ministry of Defence 1
Andrew Kinniburgh · General Director Make UK Defence 1
Angela Jones · Director of Thriving Places Westmorland and Furness Council 1
Dr Sidharth Kaushal · Senior Research Fellow Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) 1
Harry Holt · Chief Executive Nuclear Babcock International Group 1
Luke Pollard MP · Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Ministry of Defence 1
Matthew Evans · Chief Operating Officer & Director of Markets techUK 1
Nona Buckley-Irvine · Head of Team Barrow Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Peter Anstiss · CEO Team Barrow 1
Samira Braund · Defence Director ADS 1
Sir Stephen Lovegrove - Prime Minister's Special Representative on AUKUS — 1
Sophia Gaston · Senior Research Fellow Centre for Statecraft and National Security, King's College London 1
Steve Carlier · President Rolls Royce Submarines Limited 1
Steve Timms · Managing Director BAE Systems Submarines 1
The Rt Hon The Lord Case · Chair Team Barrow 1
Vice Admiral Sir Chris Gardner KBE · Chief Executive Officer Submarine Delivery Agency 1