Arabic version: تأخير تقرير إنفاق الدفاع في المملكة المتحدة يثير القلق بين النواب

Delays in publishing the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) have undermined the UK’s credibility with its allies, according to a parliamentary committee. The DIP, originally scheduled for release in the autumn, is now expected to be unveiled ahead of a NATO summit early next month. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) stated that the hold-up in the report could lead to increased costs in procuring new military equipment, hindering the government’s efforts to modernize the Armed Forces. According to BBC News, the PAC emphasized that the nation has lacked a credible plan for military capability for years.

Defence Secretary John Healey assured the Commons that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is “determined to publish” the DIP. The PAC report indicated that the delay stems from indecision within the Ministry of Defence (MoD) regarding necessary capabilities and infrastructure for transforming the Armed Forces into a warfighting-ready entity. The report further noted that ongoing global instability is causing defence contractors to raise prices, which could lead to higher procurement costs.

The PAC highlighted specific issues with the Ajax armoured vehicle, which had to be paused due to health concerns among soldiers related to noise and vibration. The MoD has been criticized for expecting soldiers to conduct maintenance checks every time the vehicles are stopped, a demand deemed unreasonable for combat operations. The PAC expressed skepticism about the current upgrades to the Ajax vehicles, indicating that they are only in trial use.

Concerns were also raised regarding the MoD’s lack of transparency in its nuclear expenditures, which currently account for 18% (£10.9 billion) of the defence budget. This figure is projected to rise to 25% in the coming years as the UK continues to develop new Dreadnought-class submarines for its nuclear deterrent. The PAC has urged the MoD to provide Parliament with more detailed information about the costs and performance of the nuclear programme.

In response to the PAC’s findings, the MoD stated that since July 2024, it has signed over 1,400 major defence contracts and is committed to increasing defence spending. The department acknowledged the need to address the issues raised in the PAC report and has outlined several recommendations to improve transparency and accountability in its operations.