UK's security is at risk of being undermined because of 'severe pressure' on defence budget, warn senior MPs

  • National security is at risk because of 'severe pressure' on the defence budget
  • Two committee chairs expressed concern at funding situation to Theresa May
  • Public Accounts Committee found 10-year defence equipment plan faces an funding shortfall of at least £4.9billion

By DANIEL MARTIN POLICY EDITOR FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Published: | Updated:

National security is at risk of being undermined because of 'severe pressure' on the defence budget, senior MPs have told Theresa May.

In a joint letter to the Prime Minister, the chairman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, Meg Hillier, and the chairman of the Defence Committee, Julian Lewis, expressed concern at the funding situation. 

It said: 'We are concerned that new commitments and emerging threats mean the budget will not deliver all that is promised.

In a joint letter to the Prime Minister, the chairman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, Meg Hillier (pictured), and the chairman of the Defence Committee, Julian Lewis, expressed concern at the funding situation
Chairman of the Defence Committee, Julian Lewis,

National security is at risk of being undermined because of 'severe pressure' on the defence budget, senior MPs Meg Hillier (left) and Julian Lewis (right) have told Theresa May

'The existing affordability gap affecting traditional defence equipment and support programmes, combined with the intensification of new threats such as cyber, chemical and biological attacks, risks undermining UK national security as well as our ability to play an effective role in the world.

'We are concerned that the modernising defence programme will not be able to deliver the additional capabilities required to respond to new threats ... within the existing budget.

The joint letter to Prime Minster Theresa May (pictured with President of the European Council Donald Tusk) said: 'We are concerned that new commitments and emerging threats mean the budget will not deliver all that is promised' 

The joint letter to Prime Minster Theresa May (pictured with President of the European Council Donald Tusk) said: 'We are concerned that new commitments and emerging threats mean the budget will not deliver all that is promised' 

'The very real effects of inadequate funding can be seen in the extremely worrying decline in morale amongst our armed forces.'

The letter highlighted the Public Accounts Committee's findings that the ten-year defence equipment plan faces an funding shortfall of at least £4.9billion.   

Theresa May

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