Defence Committee presses MOD for greater transparency

The Chair of the Defence Select Committee, Tan Dhesi MP, has written to the Secretary of State for Defence, urging greater transparency and regular updates on force readiness, ship availability, and critical military capability shortfalls.

In the letter, dated 4 March 2025, Dhesi welcomed the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) renewed commitment to openness, particularly the return of a published summary of Defence Planning Assumptions. However, he expressed concern over inconsistencies in the information provided and a lack of clarity on the state of UK military forces.

One of the key issues raised was the MOD’s reluctance to provide details on force readiness. While Lt Gen Sir Rob Magowan had previously assured the Committee that classified readiness data could be shared, it appears this will be a one-off briefing rather than a regular update. Dhesi called for a formal commitment to an annual classified briefing, stating:

“We have a briefing scheduled and have requested that it include: what Force Elements (FE) are committed at readiness to NATO; to which other National Operations these are held at risk to (as stated by Lt Gen Magowan); the deficiencies in these FEs; and the sustainability of these forces (how long could the deployed FEs fight for).”

Another area of contention was personnel shortages in key roles across the Armed Forces. The MOD’s letter suggested that information on Operation Pinch Points—areas where personnel shortages impact capability—could be published, yet the document provided to the Committee was labelled ‘not for publication’. Dhesi questioned the contradiction, asking:

“We would like clarity on why your letter implies that the information can be published when the text provided to us states it cannot?”

The letter also criticised the lack of detail on specific personnel shortfalls, urging the MOD to include greater transparency in future updates.

Dhesi further highlighted inconsistencies in the MOD’s reporting on the Royal Navy’s frigate and destroyer fleet. While the MOD provided in-service and out-of-service dates for specific ships, it failed to disclose the expected number of frigates and destroyers in the fleet. This represents a policy shift, as previous Defence Reviews had publicly declared fleet size targets—such as the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which confirmed the Royal Navy would maintain 19 frigates and destroyers. Dhesi asked for clarity on fleet projections, stating:

“Whilst the Royal Navy’s policy may remain unchanged on the announcement of in service/out of service dates for specific ships, refusing to publicly declare the expected number of Frigates and Destroyers in the surface fleet is a change of policy.”

While welcoming the MOD’s commitment to providing updates every six months, Dhesi also outlined the expected reporting schedule for key defence programmes, including:

• F-35 and A400M procurement (Q1 & Q3 updates)
• Pilot training progress (Q1, Q2, Q3 & Q4 updates)
• Armoured Fighting Vehicles programme (Q1 & Q3 updates)
• Shipbuilding and availability (Q2 updates, plus an annual private briefing)

Dhesi concluded by stressing the importance of government transparency, particularly given increasing global threats. He reiterated that the Committee’s role is to be a “critical friend” to the MOD—offering scrutiny while ensuring the Armed Forces receive the resources and oversight they need to protect the UK.

“We very much want to ensure that we act as a critical friend, scrutinising decisions and able to support the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to defend us. I hope you will continue to aid us in this endeavour.”