Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 13
13
The Department explained that for complex, technologically advanced programmes, it was usual to have a...
Conclusion
The Department explained that for complex, technologically advanced programmes, it was usual to have a profile of upfront investment before the manufacture phase began.26 When the Department awarded the manufacture contract in 2014, it included some overlap of demonstration and manufacture phases, thinking this would reduce the risk of missing programme milestones. However, after the reset, progress was slower than expected and the overlap between phases doubled to almost eight years. This made addressing design and safety issues more complex because of the need to manage this alongside complex manufacturing, delivery and retrofitting schedules.27 In response to the programme’s 19 Q 97; C&AG’s Report, para. 9 20 Qq 6, 14 21 HM Government, Defence and Security Industrial Strategy: A strategic approach to the UK’s defence and security industrial sectors, CP 410, March 2021 22 Qq 15, 97 23 Qq 9, 10, 11 24 Q 18 25 Q 57; C&AG’s Report, para. 2.17 26 Q 57 27 C&AG’s Report, Key facts and paras. 9, 1.9 12 Armoured Vehicles: the Ajax programme problems, the Department has commissioned a QC-led Ajax Lessons Learned Review into how it can deliver major programmes more effectively, including sharing and escalating information.28 The need for behavioural change
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The department is actively taking the actions recommended by the National Audit Office to improve the effectiveness of the Ajax programme and has accepted the recommendations made in the King Report and in this Committee report. The independent Ajax Lessons Learned Review is intended to provide insights that will help the department deliver major programmes more effectively in future. Recommendations will be considered alongside the implementation of other Ajax and wider programme management improvements underway.