Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the RUSI Lecture given by the Chief of the Defence Staff on 4 December 2024, what steps his Department is taking to (a) streamline decision-making and (b) reduce business case approval timelines.

Through the Defence Reform programme, we will improve procurement efficiency and secure better value for taxpayers, creating a simpler Defence focused on warfighting and deterrence.

A key facet of this programme is to create a stronger Defence centre with clearer accountabilities through the Permanent Secretary, Chief of Defence Staff, National Armaments Director and Chief of Defence Nuclear. This, coupled with our work on our future governance structures, will ensure Defence is optimised to enable faster, streamlined decision making, approvals, and delivery of our outcomes so that we remain ahead of current and future threats.