To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) objectives and (b) timelines are of Defence Design.

Defence Design is a top-down initiative seeking to develop the most efficient and effective way for Defence to operate and successfully achieve our outcomes in an ever more volatile world. To do this, we are undertaking a complete review of how we work as department, seeking to ensure we are a coherent system.

The work started in spring 2023 and is anticipated to last between 18 and 24 months, which includes the need to simplify our processes and associated decision-making. As we design the future operating model, we will pilot improvements in priority areas across the system to drive change iteratively and quickly, aiming for significant changes to be in place from April 2024.