Call for Evidence

The Commitee will condsider new evidence, which can be submited till the deadline Thursday 23 April 2020. There is no need to resubmit previous written evidence.

Call for evidence

The Committee would welcome written evidence addressing the following questions:

• Is the current Defence Industrial Policy effective? Is a new Defence Industrial Strategy required?
• What are the national skills and competencies needed for a successful UK defence industrial sector? How can the UK ensure, and assure, that these are maintained in the right place at the right time for the right cost?  
• Does the market for Defence systems, products and services have any specific characteristics, which differentiates it from other markets? Does international collaboration limit the potential for defence exports?
• Is tension between competition and strategic choice inevitable?  
• Should the UK adopt a formal Offset/Made in the UK policy? What impact would this have on the national and international defence markets?
• What is considered in assessments of “prosperity” and “value for money” in defence procurement? What consideration is given to the local economy, skills retention and balancing the positive financial impact across the regions and nations of the UK?
• What progress has been made in implementing the recommendations from Philip Dunne’s report?
• Does the MoD understand the risks and opportunities in the Defence supply chain, and the procurement strategies of other buyers in the market?
• What has been the impact of reforms to defence procurement and acquisition? How should Head Office and DE&S acquisition reform be aligned to defence industrial policy and strategy?
• Given that major capability acquisition programmes are international by design—the Combat Air Strategy and Type 26 frigate for example—how does a modern national defence research and industrial policy successfully manage cross-border long term partnerships and align with the industrial approach of allies and partners? What lessons can be learnt from other defence exporting countries?

The Committee invites written submissions for this inquiry, which need not cover all the points above.

The deadline for written evidence is Thursday 23 April 2020.