Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Accepted
MoD faces significant recruitment and retention challenges for skilled project staff.
Conclusion
The MoD has made some progress with training senior responsible owners (SROs) and increasing the proportion of their time spent on delivering projects.64 SROs also now 52 Q 23 53 Qq 21, 23; C&AG’s Report, para 2.4 54 Qq 31, 113; C&AG’s Report, para 2.6 55 Q 30 56 Q 75 57 Q 75 58 Q 26; C&AG’s Report, para 2.6 59 Qq 15, 16 60 Q 102; C&AG’s Report, para 2.11 61 Q 106; C&AG’s Report, paragraph 2.11; “The full definition of ‘red’ is that “Successful delivery of the project appears to be unachievable. There are major issues with project definition, schedule, budget, quality and/or benefits delivery, which at this stage do not appear to be manageable or resolvable. The project may need re- scoping and/or its overall viability reassessed.” 62 C&AG’s Report, para 2.11 63 Q 111 64 Q 122 ; C&AG’s Report, para 2.12 14 MoD Equipment Plan 2023–2033 have a direct route to contact senior MoD staff if they are concerned about progress.65 However, the MoD has faced difficulties both in funding teams to support SROs, and in recruiting and retaining suitably qualified and experienced staff.66 The MoD said that it is facing a slow and steady attrition of skilled staff, because they have attractive skillsets that are wanted by many industries in a vibrant job market.67 In March 2023, recruitment and retention problems resulted in SROs for 24 out of 30 major MoD equipment projects rating the availability of skills and capabilities for their projects as amber, while four rated it red.68
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and will implement the Integrated Procurement Model from April 2024, aiming to drive increased pace in delivery of military capability through new services, guidance, and independent advice, with full implementation continuing through 2024-2025.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2024 5.2 The Integrated Procurement Model was announced to Parliament on 28 February 2024 . The new model is designed to drive increased pace in delivery of military capability to UK forces on the front line. 5.3 Implementation begins from April 2024 with initial integration services provided by UK Strategic Command’s Integration Design Authority; new direction and guidance to support Spiral development; and decisions on new major programmes being informed by earlier, independent advice from experts that will inform the choices and trade-offs. Implementation will continue through 2024-2025. 5.4 In line with the Defence Command Paper 2023 ambition to drive pace in acquisition, the department will monitor the increase in pace of delivery and provide updates as appropriate.