11 Mar 15. MoD Accounting is improving but SDSR brings future challenges. The Defence Select Committee points out in its report that, after many years of qualified accounts, the latest MoD accounts are qualified again. It acknowledges that the Permanent Under-Secretary and his team have worked to resolve the problems that have led to these delays and qualifications. The Committee do, however, give warning that the forthcoming Strategic Defence and Security Review and the management reform of the Service Commands will throw up new questions to be addressed in the administration of the MoD’s accounts.
Chairman of the Defence Committee, Rory Stewart MP, says, “The MoD does now look like it is finally getting a handle on its inventory. And it is also making welcome steps in the transparency of its reporting on its own performance, adopting a number of recommendations made by this Committee. Decisions about what our military can afford to do – and with what kit – have to be taken with the clearest cost information. But Defence is likely to get more not less complicated, and it is essential that the MoD focuses relentlessly on further improvements to its accounting.”
The Committee are calling for the MoD to detail what planning it is doing to ensure that it manages the write-offs of assets and the shortening the effective operational lives of equipment, that will arise from the forthcoming Strategic Defence and Security Review.
House of Commons and House of Lords Hansard Written Answers
Asked by Mr Chuka Umunna (Streatham)
Asked on: 23 February 2015
Ministry of Defence
Procurement
225041
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what total value of contracts was awarded under his Department’s Small Business Research Initiative competitions advertised through the Innovate UK website in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.
Answered by: Mr Philip Dunne
Answered on: 10 March 2015
Holding answer received on 02 March 2015
The total value of contracts awarded via Small Business Research Initiative competitions advertised through the Innovate UK website was £6.7 million in Financial Year (FY) 2012-13 and £7.955 million in FY 2013-14.
Asked by Mr Chuka Umunna (Streatham)
Asked on: 23 February 2015
Ministry of Defence
Procurement
225043
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what total value of new Phase 1 Small Business Research Initiative contracts were awarded by his Department in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.
Answered by: Mr Philip Dunne
Answered on: 10 March 2015
Holding answer received on 02 March 2015
In financial year (FY) 2012-13, 109 Phase 1 Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) contracts with a value of £6.7 million were awarded.
In FY 2013-14, 132 Phase 1 SBRI contracts with a value of £8.255 million were awarded.
Asked by Mr Chuka Umunna (Streatham)
Asked on: 23 February 2015
Ministry of Defence
Procurement
225044
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what total value of new Phase 1 Small Business Research Initiative contracts were awarded by his Department in 2014-15 to date; and for how many contracts to what value his Department has budgeted for the full year.
Answered by: Mr Philip Dunne
Answered on: 10 March 2015
Holding answer received on 02 March 2015
Based on allocated budgets for these competitions, the Department is planning to spend some £7.6 million via 96 contracts in this financial year on Phase 1 Small Business Research Initiative contracts.
Asked by The Marquess of Lothian
Asked on: 24 February 2015
Ministry of Defence
Army Reserve
HL5183
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the latest monthly figures for recruitment to the Army Reserve; and how they compare with recruitment targets.
Answered by: Lord Astor of Hever
Answered on: 10 March 2015
The UK Armed Forces Quarterly Personnel report, which is published by Defence Statistics, shows Reserve trained and untrained strength figures, as well as movements into t