Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 18 of the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, whether the review of the DE&S operating model has been completed.

Work is currently underway on a new operating model for Defence Equipment and Support, which will improve both its internal processes and how it interfaces with Ministry of Defence, industry and allies. The design phase is in progress, which includes direct input from senior leaders from the Front Line Commands to ensure a cross-defence approach to new ways of working. The first teams to take selected projects through to test while refining the new design will be stood up in February 2024. The aim is to have the new DE&S operating model fully operational by March 2025.