Select committee: Defence Committee
Conclusion 12
Ninth Report - It is broke — and it’s time to fix it: The UK’s defence procurement system
Published 16 Jul 2023
Paragraph 127
Defence Committee All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
‘Exquisite procurement’ is the enemy of speed and time. Over-specifying a piece of equipment creates delays and budget pressures. Exquisite procurement also generally leads to greater cost and therefore less mass. For the most part, exquisite procurement should be avoided. Instead, The Front Line Commands and DE&S should aim for a ‘spiral development’ model as a default. This should be enforced through the Joint Requirements Oversight Committee, the Investment Approvals Committee, and ultimately, Ministers.
From: Defence Committee, Ninth Report - It is broke — and it’s time to fix it: The UK’s defence procurement system (HC 1099), paragraph 127, 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.