Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 43
43
Accepted
MOD acknowledges significant warfighting readiness gaps requiring urgent investment.
Conclusion
The MOD have acknowledged that there are gaps in their warfighting readiness. In written evidence submitted to this inquiry, the MOD highlighted that investment is required in: • Defence rail outload theatre capability; • Infrastructure and warehousing munitions; 59 Q427; 365 60 Q429;431–2; 435 61 Oral evidence taken before the Public Accounts Committee on 22 January 2024, HC (2023–24) 451, Q114 62 Oral evidence taken on 18 April 2023, HC (2022–23) 1246, Q11 63 Q1 64 Q75 65 Q167 66 Oral evidence taken on 5 September 2023, HC (2022–23) 1804, Q33 Ready for War? 19 • Infrastructure at key ports and airbases; • Operational medical capacity; • Armoured vehicle equipment support; and • Interim and future strategic lift concept phase.67
Government Response Summary
The government confirms £1.95Bn from the 2023 Spring Budget has been allocated to improve defence resilience by building munitions and medical stockpiles, enhancing critical infrastructure, and supporting activities like supply chain mapping and wargaming, directly addressing identified investment needs.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
£1.95Bn was allocated in the 2023 Spring Budget to address long-standing challenges across the defence programme to improve our resilience, which will make us better able to respond to new threats. This funding is being used to build the department’s munitions and medical stockpiles and support a wide range of critical activity. To date investments include support to deliver a large purchase of 155mm munitions, building storm shadow stockpiles, supply chain mapping, wargaming, enhancements to a range of critical infrastructure, and medical stockpiles.