Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to continue the National Flagship programme.

As of 4 October 2022, the Ministry of Defence has spent £2.476 million during financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23 on the National Flagship programme. This sum includes internal and external staff costs, consultancy spend and private sector support.

The Ministry of Defence has not assumed liability for costs incurred by bidders for the purposes of bidding into the current design competition, and no design or manufacturing contracts have been placed to date.

The National Flagship design phase is due to complete soon, and an announcement will be made in due course.