The Equipment Plan 2023–2033

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 4 Jan 2024 Closed: 28 May 2024 Parliament page
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) publishes an annual Equipment Plan, where it sets out its spending plans on equipment procurement and support projects over the next decade to keep the nation secure. The Committee’s report on the MoD’s 2022-32 Plan found that equipment is arriving into service many years late … Read more
5 Recommendations
22 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
5 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 9 events
28 May
2024
Report published
11 Mar
2024
Correspondence
8 Mar
2024
Report published
7 Mar
2024
Correspondence
22 Jan
2024
Oral evidence
22 Jan
2024
Correspondence
22 Jan
2024
Correspondence
22 Jan
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
11 Dec
2023
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
22 Jan 2024
View on parliament.uk
Defence Equipment Plan 2023-33
Andy Start · Ministry of Defence David Williams CB · Ministry of Defence Lieutenant General Sir Robert Magowan KCB CBE · Ministry of Defence Tom Wipperman · Ministry of Defence
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Nineteenth Report - MoD Equipment Plan 2023–2033 HC 451 8 Mar 2024 27 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
Clear
3 Conclusion Rejected
Nineteenth Report - MoD Equipment …
Report trends in MoD nuclear funding and its impact on conventional capability budgets.
The MoD’s prioritisation of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise carries a risk that this will further squeeze budgets for conventional capabilities. Maintaining the nuclear deterrent remains the MoD’s highest defence priority. This year’s Plan is the first time that the MoD … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation, stating that hypothesizing about future funding shifts from conventional to nuclear budgets would be speculative and not useful for planning.
HM Treasury
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1 Conclusion Rejected
Nineteenth Report - MoD Equipment …
Committee receives evidence from MoD regarding the Equipment Plan 2023–2033.
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Ministry of Defence (the MoD) on the Equipment Plan 2023–2033 (the Plan).2
Government Response
The government disagreed with an unspecified recommendation, which it interpreted as a request to set out a list of capabilities that would be cut if budget assumptions are not met, stating this would create operational security risks and undermine industry confidence.
HM Treasury
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7 Conclusion Rejected
Nineteenth Report - MoD Equipment …
MoD Equipment Plan affordability contingent on uncertain 2.5% GDP defence spending pledge.
The MoD told us that if the government fulfils its commitment to spending 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year on defence, the Plan could well be affordable.18 The current defence budget is 2.1% of GDP, which increases to … Read more
Government Response
The government disagrees with the implied recommendation, stating the Prime Minister's commitment to 2.5% GDP by 2030 and explaining that it will not set out a list of potential capability cuts due to operational security risks.
HM Treasury
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8 Recommendation Rejected
Nineteenth Report - MoD Equipment …
MoD lacks long-term budget certainty beyond March 2025, hindering equipment planning.
The MoD asserted that it was not a gamble to assume that its budget will increase to 2.5% of GDP.21 At present, however, the MoD has budget certainty only to the end of March 2025, which hinders its ability to … Read more
Government Response
The government explicitly disagreed with the committee's implied recommendation for more budget certainty, stating the Prime Minister's commitment to 2.5% GDP defence spending by 2030 and detailing existing commercial policy changes. It also stated it would not set out a list of capability cuts.
HM Treasury
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11 Conclusion Rejected
Nineteenth Report - MoD Equipment …
MoD prioritises swift delivery of nuclear programmes to de-risk and limit long-term costs.
Maintaining the nuclear deterrent remains the MoD’s highest defence priority. This year’s Plan is the first time that the MoD has set out its nuclear budget separately from other defence spending.35 The MoD has sought to de-risk and limit the … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the committee's observation regarding the nuclear budget, stating that speculating on future funding shifts from conventional to nuclear is unhelpful for planning, and nuclear funding is ringfenced.
HM Treasury
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12 Conclusion Rejected
Nineteenth Report - MoD Equipment …
MoD nuclear programmes are healthier but future funding requests for HM Treasury remain possible.
The MoD said that its nuclear programmes are in a much healthier position than for many years.37 The MoD has agreed a minimum 10-year budget with HM Treasury for its nuclear activities of £109.8 billion, and it said that the … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the committee's observation regarding the nuclear budget, stating that speculating on future funding shifts from conventional to nuclear is unhelpful for planning, and nuclear funding is ringfenced.
HM Treasury
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13 Conclusion Rejected
Nineteenth Report - MoD Equipment …
Prioritising nuclear programmes risks squeezing conventional capability budgets, a recognised funding challenge.
The MoD’s prioritisation of the nuclear enterprise carries a risk that this will further squeeze budgets for conventional capabilities, because if additional money is not forthcoming, the MoD has the flexibility to redirect money from its conventional equipment budgets to … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the committee's observation regarding the nuclear budget, stating that speculating on future funding shifts from conventional to nuclear is unhelpful for planning, and nuclear funding is ringfenced.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 26 of 5 classified
Accepted 17
Acknowledged 2
Rejected 7
Total 5 recs + 22 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
11 Mar 2024 Correspondence from David Williams CB, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, re Equipment Plan 2023-2033: Hearing follow up questions, dated 6 March 2024
Parliament page
7 Mar 2024 Correspondence from David Williams CB, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, re Equipment Plan 2023 – 2033: hearing follow up questions, dated 6 March 2024
Parliament page
22 Jan 2024 Correspondence from David Williams CB, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, re Equipment Plan 2023-2033: Update on affordability, dated 12 January 2024
Parliament page
22 Jan 2024 Revised correspondence from David Williams CB, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, re Equipment Plan 2023-2033: Update on affordability, dated 4 December 2023
Parliament page
11 Dec 2023 Correspondence from David Williams CB, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, re Equipment Plan 2023 – 2033: Update on Affordability, dated 4 December 2023 (A revised version of this letter was published on 22 January 2024. Please see the Equipment Plan 2023-2033 inquiry page.)
Parliament page