Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 37 of the National Audit Office's report entitled The Equipment Plan 2023-2033, HC 315, published on 4 December 2023, what steps he is taking to improve the red rating from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority of Brimstone 3.

Delivery confidence assessments reflect a judgement at that particular point in time. They do not represent the likelihood or not of successful delivery but are indicative of the level of risk and what further mitigation may be required to reduce such risk.

SPEAR 3 and BS3 both have senior level engagement, along with a new 50% SRO and 100% dedicated Programme Director in post; industry too, is focused on successful delivery of the programmes. Both programmes will both be undergoing an IPA review later this month.