A parliamentary committee has criticised the government for repeated delays to its defence investment plan, warning that the hold-up has damaged the UK's credibility with allies. The public accounts committee (PAC) said the delay, originally expected last autumn, has undermined confidence in the nation's safety and its armed forces.
The committee's chair, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, said ministers should apologise for the bureaucratic drift, adding that 'excuses to the effect of taking the time to get the details right simply do not cut it'. The report noted that the Ministry of Defence has not yet decided which capabilities, infrastructure and people it requires to transform the armed forces within budget.
The plan is now due before a Nato summit in Turkey on 7 July. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said the government is providing a 'generational increase' in defence spending, with an extra £270bn across this parliament, and is working hard to finalise the plan.
The criticism comes amid reports that all five of the Royal Navy's Astute-class hunter-killer submarines are docked for maintenance, raising concerns about naval readiness. The MoD said it is developing a submarine maintenance recovery plan and that 'strengthening and sustaining our submarine capability is a top priority'.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said the government's commitment to spending 3% of national income on defence is 'absolutely sacrosanct', and that money will be found for new equipment and infrastructure.
