1-20 of 72 results for subject:Procurement
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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown of the funding allocated to the Ajax programme between December 2025 and April 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide a breakdown of the funding allocated to the Ajax programme between December 2025 and April 2026.
The Ministry of Defence paid £97 million in line with contractual obligations for the Ajax programme between December 2025 and April 2026, to General Dynamics and other Suppliers. I am unable to publish details of the milestones and payment schedules as this may prejudice the Department's commercial interests.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support UK defence manufacturing jobs through government procurement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support UK defence manufacturing jobs through government procurement.
The UK’s defence manufacturing industry is vital not only to our national security but to our prosperity and economic growth. This Government is committed to supporting UK manufacturing jobs and will bring forward a new Defence Industrial Strategy to align the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy.
When I asked the Minister for Defence Procurement to give a statement on the Sheldon review two weeks ago, he recognised the importance of workers to the defence industry. We have already heard from my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Nick Smith) about the problems of Morpheus, which I understand is now rated red by the MOD; the problems we had on Ajax are emerging on Morpheus. One of the issues that came out of the Sheldon review was that the company was not listening to the voices of workers on the shop floor. What guarantee is the Minister putting in place to ensure workers have a system for reporting back, so that, when things go wrong, as with Ajax or, potentially, Morpheus, they are reported, listened to and acted upon?
When I asked the Minister for Defence Procurement to give a statement on the Sheldon review two weeks ago, he recognised the importance of workers to the defence industry. We have already heard from my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Nick Smith) about the problems of Morpheus, which I understand is now rated red by the MOD; the problems we had on Ajax are emerging on Morpheus. One of the issues that came out of the Sheldon review was that the company was not listening to the voices of workers on the shop floor. What guarantee is the Minister putting in place to ensure workers have a system for reporting back, so that, when things go wrong, as with Ajax or, potentially, Morpheus, they are reported, listened to and acted upon?
As I said in the statement, I recognise the unique angle the hon. Gentleman has on this issue, because the factory in question is in his constituency. I stress that the employment of those employees is the legal responsibility of the company. We engage closely with them. One of the lessons learned is about that close engagement at SRO level through Defence Equipment and Support. Andy Start, CEO of DE&S, has led huge change in improving the way we work together. I suspect we will continue to build on the significant improvement the Secretary of State just highlighted, in terms of both cost and timing, between when the Opposition was last in power and now.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Committee of Public Accounts report entitled MoD Equipment Plan 2022–2032, HC 731, published on 19 April 2023, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Committee of Public Accounts report entitled MoD Equipment Plan 2022–2032, HC 731, published on 19 April 2023, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies.
The Department does not recognise the claims of a broken procurement system in the Public Account Committee’s report. The MOD is committed to driving effective delivery of capability to the front line and this is reflected in overall performance. The majority of our programmes deliver on or ahead of time and budget.
The Public Account Committee’s claim that the Equipment Plan does not align with the lessons learnt from the Ukraine conflict is unsubstantiated. The events in Ukraine have largely confirmed our 2019 warfighting analysis that underpins in the Equipment Plan and Defence and Security Industrial Strategy.
The MOD has been at the forefront of ensuring that the supplies get into Ukraine as soon as possible in response to the conflict as it evolves. We have trained over 15,000 recruits and provided £2.4 billion of support, including artillery ammunition, as well as leading the world on the gifting of vital capabilities, such as multiple-launch rocket systems, Challenger 2 tanks and now Storm Shadow missiles.
May I join the other voices welcoming you back to your position, Madam Deputy Speaker? I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say that the House has missed your ability to turn people to stone with just a few words when they fall foul of the rules in this place.
Much of the innovation in the defence industry comes from the small and medium-sized enterprise sector. However, many SMEs tell me that there are real barriers to entry and to gaining access to Government contracts, and that when they do gain that access, they find that some primes are slow to pay, especially when projects are delayed. This leaves them demotivated and demoralised and with a poor experience of working with the Ministry of Defence. How will the Secretary of State ensure that SMEs have better access and are encouraged to be involved in a thriving British defence industry?
May I join the other voices welcoming you back to your position, Madam Deputy Speaker? I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say that the House has missed your ability to turn people to stone with just a few words when they fall foul of the rules in this place.
Much of the innovation in the defence industry comes from the small and medium-sized enterprise sector. However, many SMEs tell me that there are real barriers to entry and to gaining access to Government contracts, and that when they do gain that access, they find that some primes are slow to pay, especially when projects are delayed. This leaves them demotivated and demoralised and with a poor experience of working with the Ministry of Defence. How will the Secretary of State ensure that SMEs have better access and are encouraged to be involved in a thriving British defence industry?
I recognise some of those characteristics of SMEs. For decades they have said that there is a challenge in engaging with wider Government procurement, whether it is in defence or anything else. I also recognise, as the guardian of the taxpayer, that one of the challenges is that risk is involved. If we commission an SME to build something large, the amount of risk it takes in relation to infrastructure is a challenge; we cannot get halfway through a project and then have the SME fail.
However, I think that changes to the battlefield will open the aperture much wider for SMEs to engage with Defence. What we have seen in Ukraine through Operation Kindred is that the winners are the SMEs. The ability for us to cut through the regulations that normally govern procurement, because we are procuring for someone else in a warzone, has enabled us to effectively go straight to the marketplace and straight to SMEs, and some of the big winners have been SMEs in innovation and space. We will know the results and whether they work when they get to Ukraine.
I think this is an exciting time. I recognise the narrative that the hon. Gentleman mentions, which has been around since I worked in the aerospace sector, but of course we should and must do more. When we have a big exciting project, such as the next generation of fighter aircraft—the global combat air programme—or the carrier alliance, it is important that something sits over the top of it to ensure that SMEs are forced in if the primes get in the way.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of commissioning the three E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of commissioning the three E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to question 102821 from the Rt hon. Member for Rayleigh and Wickford on 13 December 2022.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason there is a delay in the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft fleet reaching full operational capability.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason there is a delay in the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft fleet reaching full operational capability.
There have been several reasons behind delays to the E-7 Wedgetail schedule including the Covid-19 pandemic, and global supply chain and resourcing challenges affecting the aerospace and defence industries, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and a hurricane impacting the radar production facility.
The Ministry of Defence and Boeing are working closely to identify opportunities to minimise the delays, and the detailed schedule, including the Full Operating Capability, will be confirmed when the Full Business Case is finalised in mid-2023.
Urgent question on fleet solid support ships.
Urgent question on fleet solid support ships.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to use procurement of space capabilities to support UK sovereign design and manufacturing capability in the space sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to use procurement of space capabilities to support UK sovereign design and manufacturing capability in the space sector.
Defence is investing £1.5 billion over 10 years in the acquisition and development of new technologies in Space Domain Awareness, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Command and Control, and Space Control. This is in addition to around £5 billion over the next decade to enhance our satellite communication capabilities (Skynet). These capability priorities are set out in the Defence Space Strategy, published in February 2021.
This investment will play a part in stimulating innovation, commercialisation, and growth across the wider sector, from which UK industry is sure to benefit both directly and indirectly. Procurement of the Defence Space Portfolio (DSP) will also adhere to the principles set out in the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy, ensuring that along with value for money; social value, development of crucial skills, and the levelling up agenda are all considered when letting contracts.
The contract for the DSP's first satellite was let in February 2022 for £22 million under Project TYCHE. It will be built by a UK company, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL).
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a decision made on the future of Ajax by December 2022.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a decision made on the future of Ajax by December 2022.
The Department continues to work with General Dynamics to resolve the challenges on Ajax and is actively working to validate the effectiveness of proposed modifications to address noise and vibration in line with the contract.
We expect to be in a position to consider the way forward for the programme by the end of the year.
The Ministry of Defence will not accept a vehicle until it can be used safely for its intended purpose.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to progress the procurement of a new medium lift helicopter.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to progress the procurement of a new medium lift helicopter.
The New Medium Helicopter competition aligns with the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy. The competition's contract notice and dynamic pre-qualification questionnaire were released in May this year and responses are being evaluated to determine a shortlist of credible suppliers. The second half of the competition, in which we will ask the selected suppliers to provide more detailed responses, is due to be launched later this financial year.
I am glad that the Secretary of State mentioned that the MOD did not pay General Dynamics throughout 2021; by December 2021, it had paid £1.1 billion less than scheduled. However, the position is not sustainable in the local economy or in the Welsh economy as it is causing real anxiety among the workers, the wider economy and the local supply chain. When will the Government give an answer on what they will do about Ajax? I agree with my right hon. Friend the Member for Warley (John Spellar), who mentioned the report by the PAC. Anybody who has had anything to do with Ajax will say that, after 12 years, enough is enough and a decision must be taken.
I am glad that the Secretary of State mentioned that the MOD did not pay General Dynamics throughout 2021; by December 2021, it had paid £1.1 billion less than scheduled. However, the position is not sustainable in the local economy or in the Welsh economy as it is causing real anxiety among the workers, the wider economy and the local supply chain. When will the Government give an answer on what they will do about Ajax? I agree with my right hon. Friend the Member for Warley (John Spellar), who mentioned the report by the PAC. Anybody who has had anything to do with Ajax will say that, after 12 years, enough is enough and a decision must be taken.
I understand the hon. Member’s frustration and that of the workforce in Wales, who had hoped and wanted to produce a vehicle that was fit for purpose and would add to the British Army’s important capability. We have to proceed based on science and evidence. Like General Dynamics, we are bound to a contract, and I do not want to say anything that would jeopardise those positions. We have done independent trials and, when those results are forthcoming, we can have a further discussion. I recently met the head of General Dynamics and made my position on the next steps very clear. As I have said from the beginning, we will not accept into service a vehicle that is not fit for purpose.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion of the £800 million committed to a new automated mobile fires platform in the next ten years in the Defence Command Paper of 2021 has been committed to future projects.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion of the £800 million committed to a new automated mobile fires platform in the next ten years in the Defence Command Paper of 2021 has been committed to future projects.
Around £166K was spent on the Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) project between February 2021 and January 2022. As the MFP project is still in the Concept Phase, the remainder of the £800 million provisioned has yet to be committed to future projects.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion of the £800 million committed to a new automated mobile fires platform over the next ten years in the Defence Command Paper 2021 has been spent in the last twelve months.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much and what proportion of the £800 million committed to a new automated mobile fires platform over the next ten years in the Defence Command Paper 2021 has been spent in the last twelve months.
Around £166K was spent on the Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) project between February 2021 and January 2022. As the MFP project is still in the Concept Phase, the remainder of the £800 million provisioned has yet to be committed to future projects.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the conversion bay class support ship committed to in the Defence Command Paper of 2021 will be delivered.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the conversion bay class support ship committed to in the Defence Command Paper of 2021 will be delivered.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Armed Forces to the Rt hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones) on 9 December 2021 in response to Question number 87610.
I join other voices in expressing my own sadness at the loss of our colleague Jack Dromey. Jack was someone who committed his entire life to improving the lot of others. He was, and is, an example to us all.
Last month, the Government’s own report found that Ministers were in the dark about the serious issues surrounding Ajax for a whole two years before the current Minister was informed in 2020. During that time, soldiers were put in a vehicle that could cause harm. What new measures have been put in place to ensure that Ministers are fully on top of what is going on in their Department?
I join other voices in expressing my own sadness at the loss of our colleague Jack Dromey. Jack was someone who committed his entire life to improving the lot of others. He was, and is, an example to us all.
Last month, the Government’s own report found that Ministers were in the dark about the serious issues surrounding Ajax for a whole two years before the current Minister was informed in 2020. During that time, soldiers were put in a vehicle that could cause harm. What new measures have been put in place to ensure that Ministers are fully on top of what is going on in their Department?
There is a whole raft of measures. I have met the hon. Gentleman and he is aware from reading the report of what has been set out. We immediately accepted the vast majority of recommendations. There are about two recommendations that need to be worked on, but the intent is there and our intent is to adopt them. One of the most important aspects is to make certain that all people with a view on safety are part of the decision making process, so that everyone with a view has an opportunity to air it and everyone is listened to with respect. We are also putting health and safety input into the highest ranks of the decision making process, so that major decisions cannot be made, either by Ministers or by other parts of the organisation, without that health and safety input right at the top of the organisation. These measures will help to ensure that such a situation does not reoccur.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the future procurement of the F-35.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the future procurement of the F-35.
The 2021 Integrated Review confirmed our ambition to continue the growth of the UK Lightning Force beyond 48 aircraft. We are currently undertaking a period of detailed analysis to evaluate the scale and timeline for procurement of our second tranche of F35B Lightning aircraft together with associated infrastructure and support requirements.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the statement on the Defence Command Paper, published 22 March 2021, whether his Department plans to increase the F-35 fleet beyond 48 aircraft as committed to within that Statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the statement on the Defence Command Paper, published 22 March 2021, whether his Department plans to increase the F-35 fleet beyond 48 aircraft as committed to within that Statement.
The 2021 Integrated Review confirmed our ambition to continue the growth of the UK Lightning Force beyond 48 aircraft. We are currently undertaking a period of detailed analysis to evaluate the scale and timeline for procurement of our second tranche of F35B Lightning aircraft together with associated infrastructure and support requirements.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the procurement of headsets for use by personnel in the Ajax armoured vehicles is included in the contract with General Dynamics.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the procurement of headsets for use by personnel in the Ajax armoured vehicles is included in the contract with General Dynamics.
The in-service headsets used by Ministry of Defence (MOD) personnel on Ajax are provided to General Dynamics by the MOD as Government Furnished Equipment.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total procurement spend was by his Department with small- and medium-sized enterprises in 2020-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total procurement spend was by his Department with small- and medium-sized enterprises in 2020-21.
In Financial Year 2019-20, the most recent year for which figures are available, the Ministry of Defence is estimated to have spent £4.505 billion directly and indirectly with small and medium-sized enterprises. This represents procurement spend for the core department and DSTL only. All other Executive Agencies and NDPBs are excluded.