The government broadly acknowledges the context of the report, confirming an increase in defence spending, and states that the next Equipment Plan report (Autumn 2021) will set out how this has improved the affordability of the plan.

The committee's conclusion noted that efficiency savings often failed to deliver expected returns and that the Department lacked confidence in achieving future savings. The government's response, agreeing with a 'recommendation', stated that the next Equipment Plan report would detail planned efficiency savings but primarily focused on improving risk assessment in projects, without outlining new specific initiatives to secure efficiencies.

The government provides updated figures on defence spending and confirms the 2020 Spending Review settlement will allow for the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper. It explains that the funding will balance ambition and resources, with decisions to retire older capabilities and improve financial management, and commits to setting out implications in the Autumn 2021 Equipment Plan.

The government published the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper in March 2021, outlining key spending and investment decisions. The department will provide the Committee with a summary of investment and savings decisions before summer recess and publish the annual Equipment Plan in Autumn 2021.