17 Oct 25. BAE Systems, Babcock and Rolls Royce to give evidence on AUKUS
Evidence Session: AUKUS
Tuesday 21 October 2025, 10.30, CR16
Watch on parliamentlive.tv
The Defence Committee continues its inquiry into AUKUS, hearing from BAE Systems, Babcock and Rolls Royce, as well as trade bodies. The evidence session will be held on Tuesday 21 October at 10.30.
During the first panel, Members will hear evidence from defence primes – BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Babcock International Group – on AUKUS. The panel will likely cover trilateral collaboration between the UK, US and Australia and the challenges it poses. Members will likely ask about blockages created by security clearance restrictions and barriers to information sharing, as well as the potential for the introduction of an “AUKUS visa”. Witnesses may be asked whether the investment and funding are on track to deliver the UK component of Pillar 1’s SSN-AUKUS submarines in time.
Trade bodies ADS Group, Make UK Defence and techUK will give evidence for the second panel. Members are likely to ask questions around the required uplift in the UK workforce to deliver AUKUS and the effectiveness of industry engagement by Government, including the AUKUS Advanced Capabilities Industry Forum.
Tuesday 21 October, 10.30:
- Steve Timms – Managing Director at BAE Systems Submarines
- Steve Carlier – President at Rolls Royce Submarines Limited
- Harry Holt – Chief Executive Nuclear at Babcock International Group
11.30:
- Samira Braund – Defence Director at ADS Group
- Andrew Kinniburgh – Director-General at Make UK Defence
- Matthew Evans – Chief Operating Officer and Director of Markets at techUK