Second Special Report - The Treatment of Contracted Staff for the MOD’s Ancillary Services: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report

This is the government's response, published 22 September 2022.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government welcomes the report, notes most of its conclusions and recommendations, and expressly disagrees with the conclusion that in-house provision is not being properly appraised.

• On in-house provision, it states there is "no ideological preference for public over private provision or vice versa", and says its Business Improvement Policy (JSP 507) sets out a comparison of the true costs and risks of in-house and commercial options.
• On bidders' past performance, it "notes" the recommendation and says the MOD procures under current regulations; it points to a discretionary exclusion ground for breach of contract and poor performance in the Procurement Bill, which "continues to progress through the House of Lords".
• On Defence Fire and Rescue, it "notes" the Committee's comments, says changes to staffing levels must be agreed by the MOD's Chief Fire Officer and the Head of Establishment before implementation, and states that DFR "has seen no evidence of a reduction in response capability".
• On Capita, it says Capita is monitored beyond KPIs with remedies "available to apply where appropriate", and that if the MOD becomes concerned about service delivery due to staffing levels, it "will raise this with Capita".

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