Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 63 of his department's Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, what progress his Department has made in ensuring the Cost Assurance and Analysis Service has (a) open book access to data and (b) the authority and independence to provide regular advice to Minister, including on overall budget affordability.

The Department has given effect to the Strategic Defence Review recommendation through a Cost Assurance and Analysis Service Charter, which codifies the Service’s authority, independence and access to information for cost assurance and affordability advice.