Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Acknowledged
There is a danger of overstretch.
Recommendation
There is a danger of overstretch. The Government needs to ensure that the military is properly resourced with both equipment and personnel to carry out the tasks required of it. To do this, we recommend there be a wholesale re-examination of the decisions on capabilities and timeframes within the Defence Command Paper and the decisions taken in it following events in Ukraine. (Paragraph 79) Integration and funding
Government Response Summary
The government supports the sentiment of the Committee’s recommendation for a wholesale re-examination of the decisions on capabilities and timeframes within the Defence Command Paper, and assures the Committee that this work is underway, including as part of the Government’s ongoing review of the IR.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The UK Armed Forces, in concert with our Allies and partners, are configured to respond to all types of warfare. The Force Structure agreed in the IR, and associated increased investment in non-traditional domains, was set to meet forecast future threats and challenges as part of an Integrated Operating Framework. Moreover, this Force Structure will continually be reviewed and assessed through periodic Force Testing to ensure that the balance remains relevant to the current and future operating context and threats we face. As we have said, we believe that modernisation must remain Defence’s driving focus and be at the heart of delivering an Armed Forces fit for the future that is able to deter threats from adversaries. However, we also must not lose sight of the needs of the Armed Forces today, and we will therefore look to mitigate nearer term readiness risks and increase interoperability with partners. Further, our capabilities and readiness levels are regularly reviewed accordingly, specifically to learn the lessons from recent conflicts. We therefore support the sentiment of the Committee’s recommendation and would assure the Committee that this work is underway, including as part of the Government’s ongoing review of the IR.