Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 6 of the Committee of Public Accounts report on Ministry of Defence Equipment Plan 2021-31, published on 11 May 2022, how his Department plans to institute a sense of control over the MOD budget.

This is the first time in five years the National Audit Office have not said the plan is unaffordable. This has been achieved through a combination of increased funding through the Spending Review, reviewing capability decisions including prudent savings measures, and rebalancing to spend more on equipment. Furthermore, the delivery of the plan remains under continuous review and the Department is in a better position to deliver any necessary adjustments to a plan that is affordable at the outset.