Select committee: Defence Committee
Recommendation 20
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)
With the successful delivery of SSN-AUKUS dependent on attracting and retaining a skilled workforce at BAE Systems’ site in Barrow, the Government must do more to ensure that the ambition laid out by Team Barrow is met. This will require additional funding from central Government to provide the investment in housing, healthcare, transport and education which the town urgently needs. Barrow’s unique role as the home of the UK’s submarine building capability means that failure to do so will jeopardise not only AUKUS, but also the nation’s defence and security. Put simply, the regeneration of Barrow is too big to fail. (Recommendation, Paragraph 92)
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".