The government agreed to prioritize improvements to RAF Marham accommodation and committed to reassessing the current timescale against departmental priorities, writing to the Committee by May 2026 to advise if the completion date can be brought forward.

The government agreed to include all non-equipment costs in whole-life cost forecasts, stating it already develops such models but accepts there is an opportunity to go further and will strengthen its approach as part of Defence Reform.

The government agreed with the committee's implicit recommendation on oversight, stating it will continue to strengthen its approach to defining and approving capability entry-into-service criteria and declaring service entry for new capabilities as part of Defence Reform.

The department acknowledges the factors affecting aircraft availability and is increasing the number of aircraft engineers, supporting the US-led F-35 Joint Programme Office, and planning further investments in F-35 technical infrastructure.

The department is increasing the number of aircraft engineers to align with Force readiness requirements, and is supporting the US-led F-35 Joint Programme Office in efforts to reset the Global Support Solution to improve performance and increase spares availability. The department is planning further investments in F-35 technical infrastructure at RAF Marham and enhancements to supporting enablers through improvement initiatives.

The department will continue to strengthen its approach to whole life cost modelling as part of the work that is being taken forward under Defence Reform. The department already develops whole life cost models that extend beyond equipment costs, for example covering personnel and infrastructure costs too, but accepts that there is an opportunity to go further in developing and presenting a fuller and more complete view of through-life cost.