The government's credibility with allies has been undermined by repeated delays to the defence investment plan (Dip), according to a scathing report from the public accounts committee (PAC). The plan, originally expected last autumn, has been postponed multiple times amid warnings of a huge funding gap in the military over the next four years. It is now due before a Nato summit in Turkey on 7 July.
PAC chair Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said the delay had harmed the nation's credibility, safety, armed forces, and defence industrial base. He called on ministers to apologise, stating that excuses about 'taking time to get details right' were insufficient. The report noted that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has not yet decided which capabilities and infrastructure are needed to transform the armed forces within budget.
The MoD defended the delay, saying the government is providing a 'generational increase' in defence spending with an extra £270bn across this parliament. A spokesperson said the plan would fix the 'outdated, overcommitted and underfunded programme' inherited from the previous government. The prime minister is determined to publish it before the Nato summit.
The PAC report comes amid reports that all five Astute-class hunter-killer submarines are docked for maintenance and repair work. The MoD confirmed it is developing a submarine maintenance recovery plan to prevent overruns and increase war readiness. A naval source cited decades of underinvestment in backup infrastructure as a contributing factor.
Separately, a technical issue was discovered on the flagship HMS Prince of Wales while docked in Norway. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told the BBC that the government's defence spending commitment of 3% of national income is 'absolutely sacrosanct', insisting that money will be found for new equipment and infrastructure.
