Recommendation 20

The Department acknowledged that providing poor quality accommodation negatively impacts its personnel. Most significantly, it increases the risk that people leave the service earlier than they otherwise would.41 This is a serious risk given the problems with retention that the Department has set out and the length of time it takes to train specialist staff such as engineers.42 37 Q 101 38 C&AG’s report, para 3.27 39 C&AG’s report, para 2.13 40 Q 105 41 Q 107 42 Qq 101, 103 12 The Department also told us that it needs to upgrade accommodation so that staff become more engaged and feel more valued, with the implication that poor accommodation reduces personnel engagement.43