The Government thanks the Committee for its recommendation and agrees with the importance of financial commitment to AUKUS across electoral cycles. AUKUS is a multi-decade endeavour requiring sustained focus and significant investment to ensure successful delivery. This has been consistently demonstrated through this Government’s ongoing investment in the UK Submarine Industrial Base. The Strategic Defence Review, published in June 2025, committed to producing a submarine on an 18-month drumbeat. Building on this, the subsequent Spending Review allocated over £6 billion to transform the UK Submarine Base, with more than £1 billion already on contract, laying a strong financial foundation to deliver that ambition. Key investments include the Defence Secretary’s £9 billion agreement with Rolls-Royce Submarines in January 2025 to produce nuclear reactors; £1.3 billion invested at Sheffield Forgemasters for steel and castings forming the SSN-AUKUS hull and reactor plant. Additionally, an initial £250 million investment over three years has begun the multi-decade redevelopment of HM Naval Base Clyde through the ‘Clyde 2070’ programme. Over the last three years, we have seen submarine productivity rates increase, including significant increases in productivity in Dreadnought manufacturing and build volume. Infrastructure development at Rolls- Royce, Raynesway, also continues to advance at pace.