Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Accepted
Paragraph: 107
Review flying training contractual arrangements, streamlining processes and ensuring contractor liability for failures.
Recommendation
Fast-jet training in particular has suffered a significant reduction in capacity due to a lack of aircraft availability. As a result, the MoD will spend over £55 million sending pilots overseas for training whilst the contractors responsible will face no financial penalty, a farcical situation which only underlines the requirement for the MoD to better resource its legal and commercial teams, as we identified in our recent report on defence procurement. We recommend that the MoD carry out a full review of contractual arrangements and processes across the flying training model, identifying areas where contracts can be streamlined and processes simplified, and ensuring that contractors are liable for costs incurred by their failures.
Government Response Summary
The government declined a full review, stating that existing contractual arrangements are already subject to regular amendments and refinements. It confirmed it is already conducting a targeted review of the incentive structure within the existing contractual framework.
Paragraph Reference:
107
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
While we welcome the committee’s recommendation, a full review of the contractual arrangements and processes across the flying training model would offer limited benefit to Defence, on the basis that the construct is already subject to regular amendments and refinements, with the training output being agreed on an annual basis. However, the MOD is already conducting a targeted review of the incentive structure within the existing contractual framework to promote flexibility across the joint military and 10 Aviation Procurement: Winging It?: Government Response industry training partnership.