15 Mar 24. MOD to face questions on the UK’s defence AI capabilities. Evidence Session: Sub-Committee on Developing AI Capacity and Expertise in UK Defence
Tuesday 19 March at 14.30, CR8
At 14.30, on Tuesday 19 March, the Sub-Committee on Defence AI will question James Cartilidge MP, the Minister for Defence Procurement, about the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy and implementation.
The Sub-Committee will also hear from Paul Lincoln, Second Permanent Secretary at the MOD and Lieutenant-general Tom Copinger-Symes, the Deputy Commander of the UK Strategic Command.
The Sub-Committee is likely to discuss how the MOD and the UK’s Defence AI sector can keep up with the fast-pace of developments in AI. Members are likely to ask questions about Defence systems becoming increasingly AI-enabled and how MOD’s approach to procuring equipment needs to change as a result. The session is likely to explore AUKUS and the development of interoperable AI.
14.30, Tuesday 19 March:
- James Cartlidge MP – Minister for Defence Procurement
- Paul Lincoln CB OBE VR – Second Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence
- Lt Gen. Tom Copinger-Symes CBE – Deputy Commander, UK Strategic Command
15 Mar 24. Evidence Session: The Work of the Ministry of Defence
Tuesday 26 March at 15.15, Room TBC
Watch live on Parliament TV
At 15.15 on Tuesday 26 March, the Secretary of State for Defence, Grant Shapps, will face questions from the Defence Committee on defence spending and the recent Spring Budget.
The Committee is likely to question the Secretary of State about the readiness of the UK’s Armed Forces to meet growing security threats, in light of his comment that the UK is moving from a ‘post-war’ to a ‘pre-war’ world. The Committee will examine whether the Ministry of Defence’s budget allocation in last week’s Spring Budget is sufficient in this context.
Chair of the Defence Committee, Sir Jeremy Quin MP, said: “We look forward to discussing the current trajectory for investment in our Armed Forces. This is in the context of the Committee’s recent report ‘Ready for War?’ and the Defence Secretary’s concern that we are in a ‘pre-war’ world.”
15.15, Tuesday 26 March:
- The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP – Secretary of State for Defence
15 Mar 24. Evidence Session: The Work of the Ministry of Defence.
Tuesday 26 March at 15.15, Room TBC
At 15.15 on Tuesday 26 March, the Secretary of State for Defence, Grant Shapps, will face questions from the Defence Committee on defence spending and the recent Spring Budget.
The Committee is likely to question the Secretary of State about the readiness of the UK’s Armed Forces to meet growing security threats, in light of his comment that the UK is moving from a ‘post-war’ to a ‘pre-war’ world. The Committee will examine whether the Ministry of Defence’s budget allocation in last week’s Spring Budget is sufficient in this context.
Chair of the Defence Committee, Sir Jeremy Quin MP, said: “We look forward to discussing the current trajectory for investment in our Armed Forces. This is in the context of the Committee’s recent report ‘Ready for War?’ and the Defence Secretary’s concern that we are in a ‘pre-war’ world.”
15.15, Tuesday 26 March:
- The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP – Secretary of State for Defence
14 Mar 24. UK defence: House of Commons to hold debate on Select Committee reports. The House of Commons will hold a debate on Thursday 21st March around three reports on UK defence published recently by the Defence and Public Accounts Committees (PAC).
The three reports address concerns around the UK’s military readiness and capabilities. The debate will be an opportunity for Members of the House of Commons to explore the reports’ recommendations and conclusions.
The Defence Committee’s report, Ready for War?, found that overstretch has negatively impacted high intensity warfighting readiness due to the number of operations and other commitments the Armed Forces are tasked with. The Committee voiced concern over the crisis in recruitment and retention, slow procurement processes and the resultant stockpile shortages.
Following the Spring Budget last week, the Defence Committee commented that the Defence Secretary’s assessment that the UK is in a “Pre-War” state “does not appear to be reflected in his Department’s Budget allocation”.
The most recent of the PAC’s reports into the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Equipment Plan found that there is no credible Government plan to deliver its desired military capabilities. The report comes in the context of the largest deficit ever (£16.9bn) between the MoD’s budget and its military capability requirements.
The PAC’s January 2024 report found that the MoD did not have the powers needed to deal with the fragmentation of its inventory management, noting that significant risks were caused for front-line armed forces by MoD inventory failures.
13 Mar 24. Defence Committee publishes Grey Zone written evidence. The Defence Committee today publishes written evidence received as part of its inquiry into Defence in the Grey Zone.
‘Grey zone’ is a term often used to describe hostile actions that fall between traditional international statecraft and armed conflict. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) uses a similar term ‘state threats’ and describes these as: “…overt or covert actions by foreign governments which fall short of direct armed conflict with the UK but go beyond peaceful diplomacy and expected statecraft to harm or threaten the safety or interests of the UK or our allies.”
The evidence includes submissions from experts from RAND Europe, as well as academics from the University of Nottingham and the University of Reading. Industry experts from Adarga and SubSea Craft have also contributed evidence.
The MOD’s submission says the Department aims to “foster a truly integrated approach to deterrence and defence” and outlines each of the Services’ capabilities in countering state threats or grey zone activities. The evidence says that “the Prime Minister is ultimately responsible for HMG’s approach to countering state threats”.
The submission states the importance of utilising “our extraordinary international relationships; our historical position as a global leader on security, including our position on the UN Security Council; our position within NATO; and our world-leading institutions such as the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst”.
It discusses how liberal democracies can operate effectively in the grey zone, saying that “other Governments may allow themselves to be less constrained in their actions”. It states that “Russia’s activity and capability development – which spans conventional, nuclear, and novel military technology, state-sponsored disinformation outlets, offensive cyber, hostile activity by intelligence services, chemical weapons, and threats to undersea infrastructure – continues to pose a threat to UK and partner interests”. The evidence explains that Russia seeks “to gain an advantage across the spectrum from competition to conflict”, and that “while Russia’s failures in Ukraine have significantly weakened its land and guided-weapon capabilities, it retains capable nuclear and strategic forces, and has the intent and capacity to rebuild and regenerate”.
The Defence Committee intends to begin its oral evidence sessions on Defence in the Grey Zone following the Easter recess.
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
AWACS: Procurement
Question for Ministry of Defence
John Healey
Labour
Wentworth and Dearne
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the delivery date for the first E-7 Wedgetail aircraft is as of 11 March 2024.
Answer
James Cartlidge
Conservative
South Suffolk
Commons
Answered on 14 March 2024
The Wedgetail Full Business Case is planned for submission in March 2024, and an approval is expected from the Ministry of Defence in late 2024. The Wedgetail aircraft will commence flying for early stages of testing in 2024, with delivery into service with the RAF in autumn 2025.
AWACS: Procurement
Question for Ministry of Defence
John Healey
Labour
Wentworth and Dearne
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the planned date is for the first flight of the Royal Air Force’s first E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.
Answer
James Cartlidge
Conservative
South Suffolk
Commons
Answered on 14 March 2024
The Wedgetail Full Business Case is planned for submission in March 2024, and an approval is expected from the Ministry of Defence in late 2024. The Wedgetail aircraft will commence flying for early stages of testing in 2024, with delivery into service with the RAF in autumn 2025.
Ministry of Defence: Contracts
Question for Ministry of Defence
Sarah Atherton
Conservative
Wrexham
Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the adequacy of the delivery of contracts by external providers.
Answer
James Cartlidge
Conservative
South Suffolk
Commons
Answered on 14 March 2024
The proactive monitoring, control and management of external providers is undertaken throughout the lifecycle of Defence contracts primarily by the Department’s Commercial and Project Management officials.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Defence’s Strategic Partnering Programme has built long-term relationships and has increased collaboration with many of our largest suppliers to work together to address any major performance issues.