Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 65 of the Strategic Defence Review: Making Britain Safe, published on 2 June 2025, when he expects the baseline review of all Head Office and Staff Headquarters roles will (a) begin and (b) conclude.

The ambition set out in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) is to reduce Civil Service-related costs by at least 10% by 2030. As part of the Defence Reform and Efficiency Plan (which is one of the foundations of our Defence Investment Plan) we are developing plans to reduce these costs.

We are working across Defence to review the workforce we need to deliver Defence outcomes, making sure we have got the requirement right, whether that is Regular or Reserve personnel, Civil Servants or contractors. We will also use this as an opportunity for prioritisation, As set out in the SDR, we are developing plans for how to use the latest automation, and AI technology to reduce costs.

Importantly, this is a productivity-driven ambition, not a headcount target. Civil Servants are integral to success; therefore, we will invest in performance, skills, and productivity. This will support building a stronger, more agile organisation to deliver better outcomes through smarter use of technology, less bureaucracy, and higher productivity.​