Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 107
107
Accepted in Part
Produce detailed breakdown of budget allocations for replenishing and increasing military stockpiles.
Recommendation
The commitments made to replenish and increase stockpiles made since the 2022 Autumn Budget have all been welcome. The question remains whether this is anywhere near enough to meet the potential threats we face. It is therefore disturbing to hear that the £1.95 billion awarded as part of the Spring 2023 Budget may instead be used to meet budget shortfalls. We recommend that the MOD reconsider further delaying its ability to regenerate warfighting resilience in this manner. We further recommend that the MOD produce a breakdown of the allocation of the awards from the Autumn 2022 and Spring 2023 Budgets to provide clarity as to how much is allocated in practice in support of replenishing and increasing stockpiles.
Government Response Summary
The government stated that the £1.95 billion from the Spring 2023 Budget is being used to build munitions and medical stockpiles and for critical defence activities, providing examples such as 155mm munitions and Storm Shadow. It also noted nearly £1 billion in contracts to replenish UK stocks sent to Ukraine, but declined to provide exact stockpile holdings due to national security, while confirming a new munitions strategy.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
£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. In addition to these uplifts, we have placed almost £1Bn in contracts to replenish UK stocks of equipment and munitions already granted to Ukraine. Contracts have been placed to replenish UK stockpiles include Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons; Starstreak High Velocity Missiles; Lightweight Multirole Missiles; Javelin missiles; Brimstone missiles; 155mm artillery rounds; and 5.56mm rifle rounds. Exact stockpile holdings are held at secret and are not releasable on the grounds of national security. However, the war in Ukraine has highlighted to the UK and allies that we all need to invest more in munitions to increase stockpile levels and ensure we have the industrial base required. In response the MOD has developed a strategy for munitions, and we continue to work with allies and partners, particularly NATO, to ensure the UK and NATO has the munitions it needs.