The Future of the Equipment Plan

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 26 Mar 2025 Closed: 21 Aug 2025 Parliament page
Historically, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has published 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 The Government revealed in 2024 that an Equipment Plan for that year would not be published, … Read more
2 Recommendations
31 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
3 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 7 events
1 Dec
2025
Correspondence
24 Nov
2025
Correspondence
16 Sep
2025
Report published
20 Jun
2025
Report published
19 May
2025
Correspondence
28 Apr
2025
Oral evidence
28 Apr
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
28 Apr 2025
View on parliament.uk
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin KCB ADC · Ministry of Defence Andy Start · Ministry of Defence David Williams CB · Ministry of Defence Madelaine McTernan CB · Ministry of Defence
Title HC No. Published Items Response
32nd Report - The Future of the Equipment Plan HC 716 20 Jun 2025 33 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
6 Conclusion Rejected
32nd Report - The Future of the Eq…
Provide Parliament with annual Defence Nuclear Enterprise costs, budget proportion, and variance explanations.
The ever-increasing cost of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (the DNE) is likely to add pressure on the Department’s overall budgets. In 2024–25 the nuclear budget was £10.9 billion, around 18% of the whole defence budget (unchanged as a percentage from … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation, stating that the annual update to Parliament is not the appropriate vehicle for detailed DNE financial reporting, as this information is already provided through wider MOD financial reports and the Parliamentary Estimates process.
HM Treasury
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30 Conclusion Rejected
32nd Report - The Future of the Eq…
Department of Defence highlights nuclear budget importance and efforts to improve management.
The Department said the UK’s status as a nuclear nation is crucial for keeping the country safe.64 In 2024–25 the nuclear budget was £10.9 billion, around 18% of the whole defence budget (up from £9.433 billion in 2023–2465). The Department … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the committee's implicit recommendation for specific DNE financial reporting, stating that DNE financial information is already provided through existing parliamentary processes and will be included in the Defence Investment Plan.
HM Treasury
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31 Conclusion Rejected
32nd Report - The Future of the Eq…
Defence Nuclear Enterprise costs show significant increases, exceeding previous forecasts and budget allocations.
However, costs of the DNE are rising, driven by various factors.69 The Department is seeking to quicken the pace of delivering its nuclear programmes. The Department noted, however, that there is a very strong correlation between speeding up the schedule … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the implicit recommendation for separate reporting, stating that DNE financial information is already provided through broader MOD financial reporting, Annual Report and Accounts, and the Defence Investment Plan.
HM Treasury
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32 Conclusion Rejected
32nd Report - The Future of the Eq…
Ringfenced nuclear budget creates unresolved questions about balancing investment with conventional capabilities.
The prioritisation of the DNE has led to government creating a ringfence which prevents the Department from using elsewhere money allocated to delivering the DNE, but which allows money to flow the other way.73 The Department recognises that one of … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the committee's implicit recommendation for specific DNE financial reporting, stating that DNE financial information is already provided through existing parliamentary processes and will be included in the Defence Investment Plan.
HM Treasury
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33 Conclusion Rejected
32nd Report - The Future of the Eq…
Rising nuclear costs may restrict funding for critical non-nuclear defence needs, like military accommodation.
The increase in nuclear costs may restrict the money available for other important needs.76 For example, improving poor accommodation is crucial in addressing the military’s recruitment and retention problems.77 The Department recognises that this is an area where there has … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the implicit recommendation, stating that detailed DNE financial reporting is already provided through wider MOD financial reporting and other existing documents, to avoid inconsistency.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 33 of 2 classified
Accepted 26
Acknowledged 1
Deferred 1
Rejected 5
Total 2 recs + 31 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
1 Dec 2025 To committee Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence relating to recommendations of the Committee’s Report on The Future of the Equipment Plan, 20 November 2025
Parliament page
24 Nov 2025 To committee Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence relating to the MoD’s Equipment Plan 2023-2033, 20 November 2025
Parliament page
19 May 2025 To committee Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence relating to the Future of the Defence Equipment Plan, 13 May 2025
Parliament page