Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Second Report - The Integrated Review, Defence in a Competitive Age and the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy
Defence Committee
HC 180
Published 28 July 2022
Recommendations
7
Acknowledged
Defence in a Competitive Age and the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy are ambitious papers,...
Recommendation
Defence in a Competitive Age and the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy are ambitious papers, aimed at modernising UK defence and ensuring it has equipment suitable for the Information Age. Whilst the conclusions of Defence in a Competitive Age ought …
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Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the support from the Committee in ensuring the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy (DSIS) is fully implemented, and notes progress made in several key areas, with ongoing work to change ways of working and challenge long-standing patterns of thinking.
Ministry of Defence
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11
Accepted in Part
Para 56
We recommend that the MOD publish annual figures for the assistance provided to other Government...
Recommendation
We recommend that the MOD publish annual figures for the assistance provided to other Government Departments and to public authorities. This list should include the number of personnel deployed, the length of deployment, the task they were deployed for, the …
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Government Response Summary
The MOD already publishes much of the requested detail related to the provision of military assistance. The MOD will consider the extent to which it is possible to provide a more detailed breakdown of MACA operations. The Government will provide a response to the Reserves Forces 2030 Review, following consideration of the implications of the UK’s commitment to the NATO new force model.
Ministry of Defence
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15
Acknowledged
There is a danger of overstretch.
Recommendation
There is a danger of overstretch. The Government needs to ensure that the military is properly resourced with both equipment and personnel to carry out the tasks required of it. To do this, we recommend there be a wholesale re-examination …
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Government Response Summary
The government supports the sentiment of the Committee’s recommendation for a wholesale re-examination of the decisions on capabilities and timeframes within the Defence Command Paper, and assures the Committee that this work is underway, including as part of the Government’s ongoing review of the IR.
Ministry of Defence
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18
Accepted
Para 94
The Government should publish the actions agreed by each of the Departments as a result...
Recommendation
The Government should publish the actions agreed by each of the Departments as a result of the lessons learned exercises which examined the response to the Afghanistan crisis, together with a time frame for implementation.
Government Response Summary
The government states that it already outlined the lessons learned and exercises undertaken following the withdrawal from Afghanistan in its Official Response to the Foreign Affairs Committee’s report, published 29 July 2022, and the MOD publicly outlined its position to the Defence Committee.
Ministry of Defence
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19
Deferred
Para 103
We welcome the uplift to the MOD’s budget in 2020 and the four-year budget commitment.
Recommendation
We welcome the uplift to the MOD’s budget in 2020 and the four-year budget commitment. However, inflationary pressures and an increase in the scale of threat means that it is no longer enough. At the same time, serious concerns persist …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the conclusion and states that further details regarding spending plans will be announced in the Autumn Statement on 17 November, declining to provide these in advance.
Ministry of Defence
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20
Rejected
There are significant challenges to integration but none that concerns us as much as the...
Recommendation
There are significant challenges to integration but none that concerns us as much as the MOD’s procurement difficulties. For instance, the MOD has made it clear that in order to achieve integration and utilise new technologies, it needs an effective …
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Government Response Summary
The government does not accept that the Department’s track record of delivering large and complex programmes is abysmal and outlined examples of success and improvements made to MOD processes and acquisition.
Ministry of Defence
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23
Acknowledged
As well as an annual report on the implementation of the IR, we recommend the...
Recommendation
As well as an annual report on the implementation of the IR, we recommend the MOD produce an annual evaluation of what has been achieved in their implementation of Defence in a Competitive Age and DSIS. This evaluation should include …
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Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the conclusion and will explore ways to engage with Parliament following the publication of the update to the IR, building on their commitment to publicise the findings of its annual report on the IR.
Ministry of Defence
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Conclusions (16)
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
It is difficult not to feel a sense of déjà vu as we see British military ambitions which are not entirely matched by resources. Open conflict has returned to Europe and it is disappointing to see that the Government is not preparing for the impact of inflation and insufficient industrial …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the shifting context and the less favorable economic and security environment, and states that they continue to monitor and analyze the situation in Ukraine and beyond to ensure their strategic approach remains threat-led and in line with agile planning and delivery mechanisms. They will continue to review capabilities and readiness levels and update the IR.
2
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 21
In the Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper, the Government identified and understood the implications of the range of complex and cascading threats faced by the UK. However, the impact of both the Afghan withdrawal and the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine are being seemingly dismissed as insignificant and …
Government Response Summary
The government states that it supports the sentiment of the recommendations made in conclusions 2,3 and 4 and recognises that the context is shifting and Defence will have to adapt accordingly to deliver the IR’s vision. They also state they are supporting the update to the Integrated Review.
3
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 22
There is a need for a New Chapter update to the IR and the Defence Command Paper which takes into account the events in Afghanistan and Ukraine. The document should then set out how the analysis of the strategic context has changed and what decisions in the Command Paper the …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need to adapt to the shifting context, particularly regarding the conflict in Ukraine, and supports the sentiment of the recommendations, but commits to no specific review of the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper.
4
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 30
The UK public is aware of the threats which the UK faces but does not appear to trust the Government to act in the national interest. Whilst investments in new technology are vital, it is also clear that, the days of “big tank battles on the European landmass” are not …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need to adapt to the shifting context, particularly regarding the conflict in Ukraine, and supports the sentiment of the recommendations, but commits to no specific review of the Integrated Review and Defence in a Competitive Age.
5
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 31
The Government needs to ensure that the public is aware of the link between the cost of living and global instability: the rises in energy and food prices are both directly attributable to the conflict in Ukraine. The Government needs to ensure that they are effectively communicating this to the …
Government Response Summary
The government states that the MOD has played a full part in the UK Government response in support of Ukraine, including supporting messaging on the link between the cost of living and global instability, through regular and transparent communication.
6
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Foreign policy decisions and consequent actions by UK Defence need to be supported by the UK public. The lack of organisation round the withdrawal from Afghanistan damaged the Government’s standing. However, so far, engagement with the public on the Russian offensive in Ukraine and British support for Ukraine has been …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the Committee on the importance of public engagement and stated that the UK public has consistently supported the MOD’s contribution to supporting Ukraine.
8
Conclusion
Rejected
Para 53
The reason that lack of publicly available information of the Government’s defence and security priorities presents a problem is that for integration—highlighted by the MoD as absolutely vital for the UK’s security—to be effective, the NSC must set clear priorities, backed with sufficient resources. If we (and the general public) …
Government Response Summary
The government disputes the recommendation, asserting that the IR and Command Paper already outlined the government's priorities and Defense's contribution.
9
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 54
The lack of prioritisation means that it is impossible to determine which of the threats highlighted the Government perceives to be greatest. It also results in the military seemingly being the answer for every question whilst not being appropriately resourced for the task.
Government Response Summary
The government states that the UK Armed Forces are configured to respond to all types of threats, and that priorities are set out in the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper, but provides no specifics on how these priorities are weighed.
10
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 55
We are further concerned by the use of the UK Armed Forces as a ‘backfill’, employed to carry out civilian tasks by Departments which are seemingly unable to respond to crises themselves. This is compounded by the MOD’s failure to respond to the 18 recommendations made by the Reserves Review.
Government Response Summary
The MOD will only provide military support as a last resort and is in line with agreed contingency plans and arrangements to provide UK resilience and work is underway across Defence to transform systems, policies, and processes regarding reserve forces.
12
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 72
Alongside the Permanent Secretary’s acknowledgement that some of the risk judgements made within the Integrated Review process might need to be revisited in light of events in Ukraine, it is clear that the capability gaps which the Defence Command Paper saw as acceptable are now no longer palatable. Furthermore, the …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the capability gaps are no longer palatable and states that they will conduct an update to the IR to ensure sufficient investment in strategic capabilities and alliances, considering how to mitigate near-term risks. Defence Digital is leading a programme to modernize skills, process and technology.
13
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 77
The MOD faces a number of challenges following decisions made in the Integrated Review: the likelihood of a capability gap, as equipment is retired before its replacement is introduced; a reduction in the British Army’s heavy armour and mass at a time when tank battles are raging in Ukraine; and …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges concerns regarding capability gaps, reduction in heavy armour, and reliance on untested technology, and states that modernization must remain the focus while also addressing near-term readiness risks. They will continue to review capabilities and readiness levels as part of the Government’s decision to update the IR.
14
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 78
It is clear that, even if the Government decides to proceed with the decisions taken in the IR and the Defence Command Paper, the timeline of changes ought also to be reviewed given the potential for capability gaps which leave the UK Armed Forces vulnerable. We are especially concerned about …
Government Response Summary
The government stated that the Army will have a whole force of over 100,000, continues to monitor the security environment in Eastern Europe, and the Army keeps its plans under review. There are currently no plans to reverse the Army’s reduction in regular personnel, but the Army regularly assesses the balance of people, capability, and activity in line with the threats and available resources.
16
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 92
Integration is key to the effective implementation of the Integrated Review and the Defence Command Papers. It is clear that this requires a long-term commitment, with decisions consistently re-evaluated as progress is made. It further requires a cohesive, effective and dedicated Government which is able to work collaboratively towards a …
Government Response Summary
The government has adopted an approach to drive the IR's objectives within the existing core business of all relevant Departments, agencies and bodies and is upgrading its culture and capabilities to improve decision-making, performance and impact.
17
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 93
If Afghanistan was intended to be an example of effective policy integration in action then it leaves a lot to be desired. It is even more worrying given that the NSC apparently gave the political direction required to bring together a ‘whole- of-systems’ approach. If the NSC set the appropriate …
Government Response Summary
The government states that UK policy on Afghanistan has been made across Government, co-ordinated by the Cabinet Office, working to Cabinet Ministers in the relevant Cabinet Sub-Committee.
21
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 105
The lack of a definition of what it means to be integrated makes it somewhat difficult to measure the success of the Government in achieving its objectives. However, we will continue to evaluate the implementation of the Integrated Review, the Defence Command Paper and the DSIS throughout the life of …
Government Response Summary
The government provides its definition of integration, both broadly through interoperability and cooperation, and specifically through Multi-Domain Integration via modernization of communications and information systems.
22
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 106
We welcome the Government’s commitment to the publication of an annual review on the implementation of the Integrated Review. However, given that the implementation is the key, consistent evaluation of the implementation of the strategies throughout this Parliament is vital. This Committee, alongside our colleagues on the Public Accounts Committee, …
Government Response Summary
The government recognises the important role the Defence Select Committee and other Parliamentary Committees play in holding Government to account, and the NSA committed to sharing an update with the JCNSS on progress against the IR.