Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Seventh Report - Armoured Vehicles: the Ajax programme
Public Accounts Committee
HC 259
Published 3 June 2022
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Seventh report from Session 2022-23 · published 2 Sep 2022
Recommendations & Conclusions
3
Recommendation
Accepted
The failure to escalate and address noise and vibration issues in a timely manner shows...
Recommendation
The failure to escalate and address noise and vibration issues in a timely manner shows that the Department must simplify its over-complex safety processes and change behaviours. The Department acknowledges that it has injured some soldiers, which it rightly describes …
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Government Response Summary
The department has accepted all the recommendations in the King Report relating to safety and armoured vehicle procurement.
HM Treasury
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5
Recommendation
Accepted
We are doubtful that the Department can recover the programme within existing costs and commercial...
Recommendation
We are doubtful that the Department can recover the programme within existing costs and commercial arrangements. The programme remains under significant pressure. It is more than a year behind even the revised schedule, trials involving Army crews have been suspended …
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Government Response Summary
The government claims the robust firm price contract of £5.5 billion protects the taxpayer and has mechanisms to incentivise contractor performance.
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7
Conclusion
Accepted
At the same time, the Army is undergoing a period of significant transformation, during which...
Conclusion
At the same time, the Army is undergoing a period of significant transformation, during which it will adjust its size, shape, and capabilities. It aims to have implemented the full changes, as outlined in the Integrated Review, by 2030. The …
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Government Response Summary
The government's commitment to NATO will continue to be met through flexing the range of Defence and Army capabilities, and the department will continue to monitor the position as part of its regular reviews of capabilities to meet future threats.
HM Treasury
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8
Conclusion
Accepted
In the meantime, the Army was bullish about managing the implications of delays to introducing...
Conclusion
In the meantime, the Army was bullish about managing the implications of delays to introducing Ajax and its ability to meet its NATO commitments.15 However, it has had to plan a series of operational compromises to achieve this, such as …
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Government Response Summary
The government's commitment to NATO will continue to be met through flexing the range of Defence and Army capabilities, and the department will continue to monitor the position as part of its regular reviews of capabilities to meet future threats.
HM Treasury
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14
Conclusion
Accepted
In 2021, the Department acknowledged publicly concerns about excessive levels of noise and vibration on...
Conclusion
In 2021, the Department acknowledged publicly concerns about excessive levels of noise and vibration on the Ajax vehicles. The Department admitted that because of shortcomings with its safety processes, which made it complicated to raise issues, it had injured some …
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Government Response Summary
The department has accepted all the recommendations in the King Report relating to safety and armoured vehicle procurement, with some already implemented and the remainder being progressed.
HM Treasury
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15
Conclusion
Accepted
In June 2021 the Department commissioned David King, its Director Health, Safety and Environmental Protection,...
Conclusion
In June 2021 the Department commissioned David King, its Director Health, Safety and Environmental Protection, to assess whether correct health and safety procedures had been followed. His report, published in December 2021, concluded that collective failings enabled activity to continue …
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Government Response Summary
The department has accepted all the recommendations in the King Report relating to safety and armoured vehicle procurement, with some already implemented and the remainder being progressed.
HM Treasury
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23
Conclusion
Accepted
The Department said it intended to continue holding General Dynamics to the current firm-priced contract...
Conclusion
The Department said it intended to continue holding General Dynamics to the current firm-priced contract for delivery of 589 vehicles.49 Despite remaining in contractual dispute, the Department claimed that its relationship with General Dynamics was good and that both parties …
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Government Response Summary
The department states that it has a robust firm price contract of £5.5 billion that protects the taxpayer and includes mechanisms to incentivise contractor performance.
HM Treasury
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