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Minister responds to report on Defence Procurement

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE News Release (170/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 22 July 2008

In response to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report on the National Audit Office Major Projects Report 2007, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Baroness Taylor, said:

"Support to current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan is our first priority. Over the last three years, we have delivered over 300 Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs) from Mastiff to Osprey body armour meeting the immediate needs of the troops on the ground - as well as more than £10Bn of new equipment; including Panther vehicles and more C17 transport aircraft.

"We are also managing more than 300 other equipment projects to meet the needs of our Armed Forces for the future; with recent contracts for the construction of two aircraft carriers and 86 more Viking and Jackal combat vehicles for operations. It is not just UORs providing crucial support to operations, long-term equipment programmes like the Harrier GR9s are giving our troops a vital asset in the air. This is incontrovertible evidence of our determination to ensure our Armed Forces get the equipment they need."

The Ministry of Defence will respond fully to Parliament on the Report's recommendations and conclusions in due course.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Public Accounts Committee Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report 2007, the 33rd Report of session 2007-2008, was published on 22 July 2008.

2. The Committee took evidence from Permanent Under Secretary Sir Bill Jeffrey, Chief of Defence Materiel Sir Kevin O'Donoghue and from Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Equipment Capability) Lt Gen Andrew Figgures on 17 March 2008.

3. The NAO Major Projects Report 2007 was published 29 November 2007.