Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Sixth Report - Special Relationships? US, UK and NATO
Defence Committee
HC 184
Published 7 March 2023
Recommendations
5
Accepted
Para 28
The UK should explore the value of linking contracts to increase UK exports to the...
Recommendation
The UK should explore the value of linking contracts to increase UK exports to the US and lobby the US Administration to reduce the regulatory burdens placed on UK defence companies.
Government Response Summary
The UK works closely with the US to support UK industry and its interests in global and US markets and is working with the US Administration and Congress to pursue reforms or exemptions for the UK and Australia in areas such as International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
Ministry of Defence
View Details →
17
Accepted
Para 95
We welcome the Government’s acknowledgement that resilience requires investment in increasing the medium and high...
Recommendation
We welcome the Government’s acknowledgement that resilience requires investment in increasing the medium and high skills base. We recommend that the MOD enter into a joint programme of work with other relevant Government Departments to identify and remove barriers which …
Read more
Government Response Summary
The Department is working with industry to nurture and develop relevant skills in the sectors, including through sharing expertise, making it easier for people to move between Government and industry, and greater outreach by defence and security departments to identify and attract potential talent and highlights the Defence Suppliers Forum People and Skills group.
Ministry of Defence
View Details →
Conclusions (2)
4
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 27
The UK clearly has some difficult decisions to make about investments in the modernisation of capabilities as a result of current levels of inflation and unfavourable foreign exchange rates. Whilst it is vital to maintain some sort of technology sharing with the US, UK efforts to develop innovative technological solutions …
Government Response Summary
The government states that the UK values its capability partnership with the US highly but also continues to pursue capability programmes with different partners and allies across the globe, and that working alongside and being interoperable with our allies and partners, especially NATO, remains an essential element of delivering Defence outcomes and of our capability development.
9
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 51
The UK makes an impressive contribution to NATO. We welcome the decision within the Integrated Review of 2021 to ensure that the UK maintained its prominent role in NATO. However, we are concerned that if the Government fails to protect the defence budget from inflationary and foreign exchange pressures combined …
Government Response Summary
The Department highlights that the UK will continue to spend a minimum of 2% of GDP on defence and is set to spend more than 2% this financial year, that the Prime Minister has provided Defence additional support in the Spring Budget of £5 billion over the next 2 years, and that the UK doubled the number of UK troops in Estonia as a temporary measure.