Defence spending: Public Accounts Committee leads House of Commons debate

• Read the report: The future of the Equipment Plan
• Public Accounts Committee

The government aims to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2026/27. There are plans to increase the MoD’s expenditure within 2024-25 by a total of around £1.35bn compared to initial budgets, with the 2025-26 budget allocation likely to increase still further. Given the MoD’s stewardship over such large sums, it is concerning that the PAC has reported on problems with procurement, inventory management, and digital projects. 

The debate will focus in particular on the remit of the new MoD role of National Armaments Director. The PAC found in 2021 that the defence procurement system was “broken,” following which the MoD created this new role as part of the biggest reforms in fifty years. The government aims for the role “to ensure the armed forces are properly equipped to defend Britain, to build up the British defence industry and to crack down on waste.” 

The PAC also recently published its report on the future of the Equipment Plan, which will inform the debate. The report warns that defence scrutiny remains obstructed with the continued lack of a public Plan, which unacceptably MoD has now refused to publish since November ’22. It also raises concerns at the rising cost of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, and lays out the lessons learned from the MoD’s support for Ukraine, of which it can be rightfully proud. 

The debate will take place on one of the House’s Estimates Days, in which public spending by government departments are considered.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visit Parliament: Watch committees

Image: Ministry of Defence