The National Audit
Office (NAO) has today published its annual report into the MoD’s
major projects for 2008-2009.
In response, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin
Davies said:
“This report focuses on the top thirty of almost two thousands
projects managed by the MoD in the last financial year. During
that time our priority has been - and continues to be - operations
in Afghanistan and ensuring that our forces on the frontline have
the equipment they need and that is one reason why some projects
that are not essential for current operations have been delayed.
“Since 2006, we have delivered equipment valued at more than £10
billion to the Armed Forces. Over the last financial year, we
spent a further £1 billion on more than 250 urgent operational
requirements for the front line. These have included contracts for
more protected vehicles which are now being delivered in large
numbers, and upgraded helicopters.
“We fully accept the need to address shortcomings in our
long-term equipment planning and that is why we are working on a
Strategy for Acquisition Reform, which will be published in the
New Year.”
The NAO’s report says that there are encouraging signs of
improving cost and time performance in the management of
individual projects and singles out the Lynx Wildcat as a good
example.
The NAO also notes that as a result of decisions taken to release
resources for higher priorities the MOD was able to commit
hundreds of million of pounds to improving infantry combat
equipment – one of a series of decisions that have led to better
support for operations.
The MoD has also established an eight point plan to address the
key findings of the Bernard Gray report into defence acquisition.
Among the measures in the plan are commitments to holding a
Strategic Defence Review after the next general election; ensuring
the equipment plan is aligned with strategy and is affordable and
realistic; establishing a new sub-committee of the Defence Board;
and introducing controls over the entry of new projects to the
equipment programme.
MoD’s other key achievements during the year of the report included:
• acceptance by MOD of the first Type 45 destroyer, Daring;
•
delivery to the RAF of two Sentinel “eye in the sky” planes;
•
start of deliveries of the second batch of RAF Typhoon
fighters;
• contracts awarded for more than 700 new protected
patrol vehicles;
• a contract awarded for a new fleet of
Terrier armoured engineer vehicles;
• the placing of orders
for two new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers;
• return
to service of Trident submarine HMS Victorious after a major refit.
Since 2006, the MOD has delivered equipment valued at nearly £14
billion to the Armed Forces and since 2003 spent more than £5
billion on Urgent Operational Requirements for the front line.
The MoD will respond formally and fully to the NAO in due course.
Notes to Editors
1. The National Audit Office Major Projects Report 2009 is
published on Tuesday 15th December and is will be available from
the NAO website: www.nao.org.uk
2. The MoD will respond formally and fully to the NAO’s
report in due course via a Treasury Minute.
3. For more
information on the MoD response, please contact Ralph Dunn in the
Defence Equipment and Support Press Office on 0117 913 0257 or
David Hunter in the MoD Press Office on 0207 218 3256.
4. For
more information about the NAO report, please contact Phil Groves
in the NAO Press Office on 0207 7985339.
Contacts:
Ministry of Defence
NDS.MOD@coi.gsi.gov.uk