Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defence Procurement System

Monday 7 November 2022 · 8 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Labour Front Benchers report that the defence procurement system has wasted 15 billion since 2010.
  • The Secretary of State stated that significant reforms have been implemented to improve the defence procurement system.
  • BAE Systems faced supply chain challenges post-COVID, causing a one-year delay in the Type 26 frigate's entry into service and an additional cost of 259 million.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Diana R. Johnson Lab Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Defence
Context

An assessment was requested on the effectiveness of the UK's defence procurement system, following reports of significant waste.

Question

What assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the defence procurement system given that it has wasted £15 billion of taxpayers' money on mismanaged procurement since 2010?

Answer from Ben Wallace

The right hon. Lady has obviously lapped up the Labour Front Benchers' dodgy dossier on defence procurement, double-counting figures. However, significant steps have been made to change and reform this system, ensuring that MOD came in on budget for its overall budget last year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address how to deal with waste directly; focused on defending against accusations of double-counting.

How: Defending Against Accusations

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Q2 Diana R. Johnson Lab Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Defence
Context

A question was asked regarding the Ministry of Defence's waste of taxpayers' money on defence procurement, with emphasis on £5 billion wasted since 2019.

Question

It has been reported that MOD wasted £5 billion on mismanaged procurement since 2019. Might the Secretary of State just set out in more detail how he is going to deal with such waste and stop it from happening?

Answer from Ben Wallace

I am afraid that the right hon. Lady has obviously lapped up the Labour Front Benchers' dodgy dossier on defence procurement, double-counting figures and making no reference to the £4.5 billion overspend under previous Labour Government. Complex processes are involved in defence procurement, and significant steps have been taken to reform them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a detailed plan for dealing with waste; defended against accusations instead.

How: Defending Against Accusations

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Q3 Mark Francois Con Rayleigh and Wickford
Defence
Context

A supplementary question was raised about the Type 26 frigate, a world-beating design exported to Canada and Australia but delayed due to issues with BAE Systems.

Question

Given that it took BAE Systems 11 years to build a ship the Japanese can build in four, why is the Type 26 frigate's entry into service now delayed from October 2027 to October 2028 and will cost an additional £259 million?

Answer from Ben Wallace

Supply chain challenges post-covid have affected the schedule, leading to a delayed entry into service by one year with an additional cost. The MOD has visited manufacturers to grip situations and ensure prime contractors deliver according to contracts.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specifics on how future delays will be prevented.

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Q4 Nick Smith Lab Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Defence
Context

A question was asked regarding General Dynamics' report on the Ajax programme's progress, particularly concerning noise and vibration issues.

Question

Can the Secretary of State confirm that a solution to the noise and vibration issues in the Ajax programme has been found?

Answer from Ben Wallace

User validation trials for the Ajax programme have been completed, and results are being looked at. The next phase of trials will begin soon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm if there is a solution to noise and vibration issues.

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Q5 Jack Lopresti Con
Defence
Context

A supplementary question was raised about plans to invest in and enhance the UK's sovereign defence manufacturing capability.

Question

What are my right hon. Friend's plans for further investment in our sovereign defence manufacturing capabilities, which provide strategic benefit and jobs?

Answer from Ben Wallace

Over £23 billion will be invested in UK's land capabilities over the next 10 years. Land and defence security industrial strategies aim to support a sovereign supply chain where possible, ensuring investment in skills and getting best social value.

Answered
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Q6 John Healey Lab Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Ukraine Defence
Context

A question was raised about the MOD's delay in signing a contract for next-generation light anti-tank weapons, essential both for Ukraine and UK Army restock.

Question

When will the MOD sign a contract to make new UK-produced NLAWs needed for Ukraine and British Army restock?

Answer from Ben Wallace

I did not say in evidence that it was with Thales that I placed a contract for NLAW replacement, and many other people can give us access to NLAWs.

How: Changing Subject

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Q7 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Defence
Context

A question was asked regarding the UK's nuclear defence expenditure in financial year 2021-22 and its impact on operational capacity and other underfunded priorities.

Question

Confirm the amount spent on the defence nuclear enterprise in FY 2021-22, and the cost to operational capacity, equipment procurement, service accommodation, and all other underfunded UK defence priorities?

Answer from Ben Wallace

We need to try to ensure that we find funding to fund all those capabilities, and we must ensure at the time of placing a contract that we have certainty in the costs overall, to make sure there are no overruns.

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Q8 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Defence
Context

The SNP MP references the £6.6 billion funding for the UK's independent nuclear deterrent, questioning its independence given reported dependency on the United States.

Question

The Secretary of State never answered my question because he was not listening to it. The answer is £6.6 billion to fund what we hear is the UK's independent nuclear deterrent. I have a well-honed view of what independence looks like, and it does not look like going cap in hand to the United States for its development of the W93 nuclear warhead. Will he explain what is independent about the UK's nuclear dependency on the US?

Answer from Ben Wallace

What is not independent? The SNP Government in Scotland placing a contract for ferries in Turkey. Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, we cannot ask the Americans to develop a nuclear weapon for us; it must be done sovereignly.

Not addressed: The specific question about independence of UK's nuclear deterrent was not answered directly.

How: Changing Subject To Criticism Of Snp

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