Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 12
12
The Department assured us that it did not have major concerns over its budget for...
Conclusion
The Department assured us that it did not have major concerns over its budget for sustaining a carrier strike group and that it could place the support contracts it needs.31 However, it admitted that it does not yet fully understand the maintenance requirements and told us that the budget for spare parts is tight.32 The Department acknowledged that it has not prioritised investment in support activities—including spares and weapons stockpiles—in the way that it should have done. This has meant that maintenance periods 20 Qq 6, 17, 72 21 Q 17 22 Q 20 23 Qq 19–21 24 HC Committee of Public Accounts, Delivering Carrier Strike, Fourteenth Report of Session 2017–2019, HC 394, January 2018 25 Q 75; Comptroller and Auditor General: Ministry of Defence: The Equipment Plan 2019 to 2029, Session 2019–20, HC 111, National Audit Office, February 2020 26 Q 75 27 C&AG’s Report, paras 3.15and 3.16 28 C&AG’s Report, para 15 29 Letter from Stephen Lovegrove, 20 August 2020 30 Qq 69, 70 31 Q 74 32 Qq 69, 76 Delivering carrier strike 11 for the carriers have occasionally been delayed.33 The Comptroller and Auditor General identified examples where the Department had scaled back investment on support activities on affordability grounds, such as postponing the purchase of a second Lightning II spares pack.34 As a result, there is a risk that the Department may not have sufficient provision in later years’ budgets to reflect the full costs of operating Carrier Strike.35 The Department acknowledged that it must make sure it had appropriate support to operate Carrier Strike on a global scale and meet the Government’s aims.36 33 Qq 16, 76 34 Q76, C&AG’s Report para 3.7 35 C&AG’s Report para 16 36 Q 76 12 Delivering carrier strike 2 Providing essential supporting capabilities
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: June 2021 6.2 The department will address the capabilities required to support the carriers as part of the Integrated Review, reporting in the first quarter of 2021. Although taut and requiring mitigation in 2022 when RFA Fort Victoria undergoes maintenance, the support shipping needed to keep the carriers supplied with fuel, munitions and stores is in place for the period up until Full Operating Capability for Carrier Strike in 2023. To allow declaration of the wider Full Operating Capability for Carrier Enabled Power Projection from 2026, and the associated routine operating model, the Fleet Solid Support requirements have been informed by operating experience and a new competition will be launched in the first quarter of 2021. Building on the success of the Type 31 Programme, the department intends to allow international partners to work with UK firms to bid for this British-led shipbuilding project. 6.3 The Integrated Review will consider the requirement for the movement of people and goods within the carrier group, noting that the department will not have a full understanding of the requirement until the capability has been “road tested” in 2021. The task is currently performed by existing utility helicopters as an interim solution. The Rotary Wing strategy element of the Integrated Review will address the out of service dates of existing helicopters, so this maritime intra-theatre lift task is one of a number that require a long-term solution. The Review should also set out the maritime elements of the future joint force including the role and numbers of anti-submarine warfare frigates. Once the Review is published, the department will evaluate the outcomes in detail and present the future investment plan accordingly.