Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to reform DE&S to help ensure greater levels of efficiency.

The new Chief Executive Officer of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Andy Start, is committed to driving the organisation forward in its critical mission to deliver world-class equipment and support for the Armed Forces. The current DE&S Strategy 2025 was launched in May 2021 and has delivered many tangible benefits. However, the forthcoming update to the Integrated Review (IR) and the changing strategic context, including the conflict in Ukraine, means that DE&S must refresh its strategic priorities to better enable Defence to protect the nation and our allies.

The Strategy Refresh will reposition DE&S in full alignment with the renewed IR and strengthen its relationships across Defence, thereby ensuring that activities to meet the evolving requirements of our Armed Forces are prioritised. Delivering with efficiency, and using our resources to maximum value, will also be a fundamental aspect of the Refresh.