10
Acknowledged
The need to engage more openly with the public in a national conversation on defence...
Conclusion
The need to engage more openly with the public in a national conversation on defence and security issues has been a recurring feature of the political discourse in recent years and one on which we have previously pressed the Government for action. A programme of AUKUS’ length and cost will rely on public support if it is to succeed. (Conclusion, Paragraph 45) 49
Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the importance of public engagement and outlines its proactive efforts, including regular engagement with Members of Parliament, commitments for parliamentary briefings, and the 'National Endeavour' campaign to communicate the economic and technological benefits of nuclear programmes like AUKUS.
Government Response
Acknowledged
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government thanks the Committee for its recommendation and agrees that Members of Parliament play an important role in communicating AUKUS at the constituency level. The Government is proactively engaging Members of Parliament to raise awareness of the AUKUS programme, including through regular engagement with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on AUKUS and the Council on Geostrategy in their capacity as the APPG Secretariat. Recent activity includes an expert briefing on AUKUS Pillar I delivered by the Director of SSN Capability, alongside the Australian Submarine Agency and King’s College London, which emphasised the important role Members of Parliament will play over the lifetime of this decades-long programme. The Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, has also committed to brief Parliament alongside Sir Stephen Lovegrove, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on AUKUS. We expect this to take place in Autumn 2026. The Government will continue to work closely with the AUKUS APPG and the Council on Geostrategy to maintain a regular programme of engagement, while also supporting industry partners to facilitate site visits and wider educational outreach opportunities. The Government recognises the Committee’s frustration regarding the articulation of tangible constituency-level benefits. The Ministry of Defence is actively considering what further information can be shared with Members of Parliament to improve understanding of the AUKUS programme and its UK footprint. However, at this stage in the programme, some details cannot be disclosed more widely due to commercial sensitivities and security requirements. The Government also agrees with the Committee’s recommendation to demonstrate the local benefits of defence investment. AUKUS will create over 7,000 additional jobs across UK sites and the wider supply chain, with more than 21,000 personnel expected to be working on SSN-AUKUS in the UK at peak. Rolls-Royce Submarines is nearly doubling its production capacity, creating 1,170 high-skilled roles in Derby and a further 200 positions across new offices in Cardiff and Glasgow. To capitalise on these opportunities, and support wider public awareness, the Government is delivering the ‘National Endeavour’ campaign, in line with the recommendation of the Strategic Defence Review. This will highlight the economic and technological contribution of the UK’s nuclear programmes, including AUKUS, and help communicate their benefits to communities across the country. The Government is clear that national efforts such as the Team Barrow and Team Plymouth initiatives are fundamental to the success of the Nuclear Enterprise and continue to work closely with Members of Parliament on these crucial initiatives. In April, the Government also published A National Endeavour: Nuclear as part of the Defence engine for growth, which sets out how defence nuclear programmes, including AUKUS, are driving growth across the UK’s nations and regions, alongside examples of the innovative, world-leading technologies being developed in partnership with industry and academia. Workforce and Skills
Addressee Bodies
Ministry of Defence
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.3 yrs
Report published
28 Apr 2026