The DIP, published in June after months of delays, sets out £297.7 billion of defence spending over the next four years. In order to fund the increase in defence spending, other Departments, including the Department for Transport, have experienced budget cuts. The DIP also fell short of its original intention to set out how the government's vision for defence over the next 10 would be funded, with £4.7 billion unaccounted for in the current budget and limited details provided beyond 2030.
Meeting details
The Committee could use this session to examine the impacts of the time taken to agree to the DIP, and the uncertainty this may have created for the UK’s defence industry. The PAC are likely to seek assurances form the MoD that annual updates on the progress in meeting the milestones set out in the DIP will be provided.
Questions may also focus on the condition of military housing provided by the MoD, as well as how the MoD will implement learnings from past mistakes, including ongoing issues with the Ajax armoured vehicle programme to ensure value for taxpayers' money. The session could also consider how the DIP will enable the modernisation of the UKs Armed Forces during ongoing global conflicts and changes in warfare.