8th Report - AUKUS

The government asserts that the Prime Minister is already taking a prominent role in AUKUS, citing existing commitments, investments in the submarine industrial base, and the appointment of a Special Representative as evidence of his leadership.

The government accepted the recommendation, stating it will continue to work closely with the US and Australia to identify opportunities for leaders to convene and communicate their unwavering commitment to the AUKUS partnership.

The government accepted the recommendation, stating that as of 2025, a centralized team with dedicated resources has been established within the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office to support the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on AUKUS.

The government accepted the recommendation, outlining current proactive engagement with MPs through various groups and committing to a future parliamentary briefing in Autumn 2026. It also detailed the 'National Endeavour' campaign and a recent publication to increase public awareness and highlight AUKUS benefits.

The government welcomes the recommendation and details its comprehensive Nuclear Skills Plan (NSP), which is already implementing strategies to grow a diverse nuclear workforce through regional hubs, bursaries, bootcamps, a national attraction campaign, and substantial investment in doctoral students.

The government agrees with the importance of sustained financial commitment to AUKUS and details over £6 billion allocated to transform the UK Submarine Base, including specific investments in Rolls-Royce and Sheffield Forgemasters, demonstrating existing prioritisation.

The government accepts the recommendation, highlighting existing and new funding commitments including a £200m Transformation Fund, £7m for a health centre, £20m for the town centre, £5m Social Impact Fund, and over £24m for housing, demonstrating action to meet Team Barrow's ambition.

The government agrees on the importance of visible change in Barrow, detailing ongoing initiatives like the Social Impact Fund, Barrow Work and Health Fund, town centre regeneration, and educational investments, while committing to continue prioritizing visible change and local engagement.

The government acknowledges the importance of these bases and states it is already making multi-billion, multi-decade investments in their redevelopment through the Clyde Transformation Programme and Devonport Major Infrastructure Portfolio to address historic underinvestment.

The government welcomes the assessment and is committed to sharing its decades of experience in nuclear sustainment infrastructure, including workforce development, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure delivery, to support Australia's progress.

The government highlights its active support for industry, including SMEs, to join the Authorised User Community, citing 404 registered entities and 18 outreach events by the International Export Controls team. It also mentions providing 1-2-1 guidance and successful processing of recent export licenses within standard timelines.

The government has actively supported industry, including SMEs, in joining the Authorised User Community, with 404 entities registered and 18 outreach events conducted by the International Export Controls team. The MOD also works with the Department for Business and Trade to monitor license applications, which are now processed within standard timelines.

The government welcomes the recommendation and has announced the first Pillar II signature project for Uncrewed Undersea Vehicles, with delivery starting in 2027, to provide tangible benefits to the warfighter. It also highlights other achievements including AUKUS-designed AI algorithms and UUV launches from submarines.

The government acknowledges the importance of a whole-of-government approach, citing existing collaboration between defence, science, and education communities. It accepts the need to involve SMEs, detailing existing engagement through forums and challenges, and commits to expanding their participation as Pillar II scales.