Responding to the report Prospect deputy general secretary Garry Graham said:

“It is the first responsibility of any nation state to defend their citizens and ensure their safety. Prospect has consistently argued for the need for defence spending to be increased to meet the challenges of an expanding and increasingly complex threat environment.

 "The PAC report adds force to mounting evidence that we desperately need to increase investment in defence to provide the kit that we need to equip our armed forces and keep our country safe.

“Decisions about the budget have been delayed for too long and it is time for the government to put the long term interests of our defence capability ahead of short term cost-cutting measures.

“The government publishes it’s modernising defence programme later this year and the defence industry, defence workers, and unions are all looking for action to address this shortfall. Prospect will continue to press for sustainable investment to protect defence jobs, enhance our sovereign capability and capacity and provide our citizens with the protection they deserve.”

The full report can be found here: https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/public-accounts-committee/news-parliament-2017/defence-equipment-plan-2018-report-published-27-17-19/