Select committee: Defence Committee
Recommendation 2
Ninth Report - It is broke — and it’s time to fix it: The UK’s defence procurement system
Published 16 Jul 2023
Paragraph 60
Defence Committee All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
We agree with Clive Sheldon KC that all personnel working on a programme should escalate safety concerns where there are ‘seeds of doubt’ about a matter, even if not fully evidenced, but would go further. We recommend that the Army’s safety system should now be subject to a rigorous overhaul, incorporating the detailed lessons already learned and evidenced within the Sheldon Review, with the aim of redesigning the Army’s safety system in a timely manner, into one which is genuinely fit for purpose in the 21st century.
From: Defence Committee, Ninth Report - It is broke — and it’s time to fix it: The UK’s defence procurement system (HC 1099), paragraph 60, 16 July 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 20 September 2023 (deadline 16 September 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government does not agree that the procurement system is broken, but accepts "the need for reform" and sets out reform work already under way across Defence.
- On the Committee's P75 recommendation, it agrees there is "a strong argument" for higher probability figures for schedule approval of complex programmes, and has issued guidance making P70 "the norm on schedule" for Government Major Projects Portfolio programmes. It says approval at a higher P value "will not improve project performance".
- It agrees on the need for more consistent dialogue with industry and on "an increased emphasis on time", but says it "would therefore not be desirable" to use the Urgent Capability Requirements approach across the whole defence portfolio.
- On accountability, it "recognises the need to clarify internal accountabilities", and says this will be addressed in the Defence Operating Model review. It says "active consideration" is being given to the CEO of DE&S joining the Defence Board.
- On SRO tenure, it notes there is "no formal mechanism" to keep an individual in post for five years, but says it continues to explore how to use available levers such as performance pay and pivotal role allowances.