Time for MOD to answer equipment questions

Time for MOD to answer equipment questions

Prospect, the union for defence professionals, has welcomed the Defence Select Committee report into defence equipment procurement by the Ministry of Defence.



The union, which represents 18,000 managers and specialists in MOD and the private defence industry, says the committee’s report supports much that it has already told the department in recent months.

Prospect deputy general secretary Mike Clancy said: “The effect on the day-to-day work of the department of urgent operational requirements and the wear and tear on equipment and its on-going support and maintenance is draining the defence budget.

“MOD has failed to adequately fund its equipment programme and its own research and development and we are now paying the price. We are equally concerned that MOD has yet to publish an updated defence industrial strategy (DIS). We have argued that the defence industry needs a stable planning environment in order to attract investment in new equipment and skills within the UK.”

Clancy said the absence of a commitment by MOD to such an approach threatened the UK’s ability to retain an on-shore industrial base for defence.

“The Select Committee is demanding answers to questions we have already posed and we await with anticipation the response by the department,” said Clancy.