MoD statement: House of
Commons Defence Committee report into Defence Equipment 2008
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (047/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 27
March 2008
Commenting on
today's report by the House of Commons Defence Select
Committee into Defence Equipment 2008, the Minister for Defence
Equipment & Support, Baroness Taylor, said:
"I am pleased today's report praises the speed with
which we are delivering substantial amounts of vital equipment to
our Armed Forces on the front line through the UOR (Urgent
Operational Requirement) process.
The Committee acknowledges the challenge of merging the DLO
(Defence Logistics Organisation) and DPA (Defence Procurement
Agency) to create Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) while
maintaining support for two major operations. Our aim is to
increase effectiveness and I welcome the comments that the merger
was completed within the timetable set and acknowledges the
progress the organisation achieved within the first year of operation.
The size and complexity of the MoD's equipment programmes
with their challenges in delivery and technology must not be
underestimated. We are putting the changes in place to improve the
delivery of our equipment programmes to our Armed Forces. We
appreciate the agreement that Through Life Capability Management
and its focus on doctrine, training as well as equipment and
support will bring significant benefits to the Armed Forces.
Following the CSR, the Defence budget in 2008/09 will be around
£34bn. We are in the longest period of sustained real growth in
the Defence budget for over 20 years. We keep spending plans under
regular review, as we are doing in the current planning round for
both equipment and the wider Defence programme, to ensure that we
continue to spend money on the right priorities and balance our
current commitments with those that may arise in the future.
We note the Committee's observations and constructive
criticism regarding other aspects of the equipment procurement
process and these will be carefully considered as part of the
Department's full response to the Report."