Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Paragraph: 82
Existing spending commitments are a necessary but insufficient basis for approaching funding decisions in the...
Conclusion
Existing spending commitments are a necessary but insufficient basis for approaching funding decisions in the Integrated Review. Whilst the economic outlook for the UK remains uncertain, it is imperative that funding considerations are informed by the Review’s strategic analysis and not the other way around. The Integrated Review should look beyond the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defence to consider what financial resources are required to ensure that defence can contribute to achieving the priorities of the UK’s security.
Paragraph Reference:
82
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We have not limited our thinking by setting unnecessary constraints or red lines. That is why we are running the Comprehensive Spending Review in parallel to the Integrated Review; to ensure that Departments are equipped with the resources to enact the Review’s conclusions. The UK Government remains committed to spending at least 2% of GDP on Defence. The commitment to the 2% benchmark should certainly be seen as a floor and not a ceiling, but equally, we should not fixate on percentages. Setting the Defence budget is about assessing the threats we face and determining the capabilities we will need to deal with them. The Integrated Review will inform this process.