Select committee: Defence Committee
Recommendation 15
8th Report - AUKUS
Published 28 Apr 2026
Addressed to Ministry of Defence
Defence Committee AUKUS All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The development of new SSN facilities in Adelaide and Perth could pose a risk to workforce retention at the UK’s equivalent facilities in Barrow-in- Furness and Plymouth. The MOD must closely monitor workforce flow as the design and build of SSN-AUKUS progresses, and should ensure that efforts to streamline workforce movements do not inadvertently create a detriment to the UK’s submarine industrial base. Efforts to regenerate Barrow and Plymouth will be key to mitigating this risk, as we address in more detail later in this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 65) Pillar 1—The Optimal Pathway
From: Defence Committee, 8th Report - AUKUS (HC 841), 28 April 2026
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 9 July 2026 (deadline 28 June 2026).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the Committee's report and says the Prime Minister "remains fully committed to delivering against our AUKUS commitments", while agreeing with some recommendations and giving different responses on others.
- On Sir Stephen Lovegrove's review, it says it "would not be appropriate to publish the report", citing the confidentiality of inputs from US and Australian contributors and others consulted.
- On the Special Representative role, it records that Sir Stephen's appointment has been extended for an additional year and says it "will keep the duration of the appointment under review".
- On an AUKUS visa, it "acknowledges" the suggestion but believes existing Home Office options "meet the needs of the AUKUS partnership". On an annual investment assessment, it "acknowledges" the recommendation but is "confident" existing governance and reporting are sufficient.
- On Barrow, it agrees the town is essential to AUKUS delivery, and on parliamentary engagement it says the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry has committed to brief Parliament, which it expects "in Autumn 2026".