Recommendation 22

The Department is also reliant on contractors on some of its maritime programmes, where between one sixth and one third of staff working on the Spearfish, Type 31e frigate and Fleet Solid Support programme teams are contractors. The Department puts this down to the burden of several major programmes being launched concurrently. It explained that it can draw on framework contracts for specialist skills where needed and that it is committed to reducing spend on temporary contractors.52 We asked the Department whether civil service pay rates are a limiting factor in keeping people in role. It told us that pay for specialist roles is a live issue across government, including in the project delivery, digital and commercial professions. It explained that while the Department has flexibility in setting pay in the market for fixed-term appointments, there is less flexibility for civil servants progressing into senior roles.53 Senior Responsible Owners