Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Department plans ambitious reductions in defence procurement and programme completion timescales.
Conclusion
The Department intends to build on procurement reforms begun under the previous government to procure faster. It has identified that the biggest problem is that it takes too long to get programmes on contract.31 24 Qq 22 and 40 25 Qq 42 and 43 26 Q 27 27 Qq 40 and 43 28 Qq 44 and 46 29 Q 29; Secretary of State for Defence, Defence Reform, Statement made on 1 April 2025, Statement UIN HCWS573 30 Q 28 31 Q 47 12 Consequently, the Department aspires to reduce the time taken to award a contract for the most complex programmes from six years to two years, and for programmes in the second segment from three years to one year.32 The Department is also trying to reduce the average time for completing programmes by ensuring that the vast majority of them are completed in less than five years.33
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 16 September 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗