The Secretary of State and ministerial team lead the department, supported by the Permanent Under-Secretary as policy adviser and principal accounting officer. That accounting responsibility includes operating within budget and answering to Parliament for value for money. The National Armaments Director is responsible for the readiness of the national arsenal, acquisition reform, and industrial strategy. The Chief of the Defence Staff leads military strategic headquarters and carries responsibility for the armed forces' readiness to fight. The nuclear enterprise has an additional accounting role associated with its ring-fenced funding.
Chapter · 5:44:51-5:48:26
Defence reform divides accountability among policy, armaments, military command, and the nuclear enterprise
The leadership section assigns different responsibilities for budgets, industrial readiness, military readiness, and the nuclear ring fence.