Lords committee urges faster defence procurement and skills investment

A House of Lords committee called on the UK government on November 11 to accelerate reforms to its relationship with the defence industry. The Industry and Regulators Committee said firms need more confidence about future demand and a faster route for supplying new technologies.

Its report recommends annual reporting to Parliament on procurement targets by June 2027, clearer expectations for prime contractors’ work with smaller businesses, and a multi-year view of planned purchases. It also urges action to train the workers needed by the industry.

The committee wants sufficient industrial capacity to produce and adapt uncrewed systems during a conflict. These are parliamentary recommendations to ministers, following an inquiry into how government and manufacturers should prepare for defence needs.