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Defence procurement reforms to tackle waste

The government has announced the biggest reform of the Ministry of Defence for over 50 years.

The move is intended to fix what the Public Accounts Committee calls the broken defence procurement system and strengthen UK Defence.

The government says that increasing global threats require increased resilience war fighting readiness.

A new role has been created for a National Armaments Director to ensure the armed forces are properly equipped to defend Britain, to build up the British defence industry and to crack down on waste.

The national armaments director will be responsible for: delivering the capabilities required from industry to execute the Defence plans and operations demanded by the new era; shaping and delivering the Defence industrial strategy which will be launched in the coming weeks; and ensuring a resilient supply chain and the required readiness of the national ‘arsenal’.

Recruitment is underway already.

The reforms will also include the chief of the defence staff overseeing a new Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ) where he will formally command the individual Service Chiefs for the first time.

Defence secretary John Healey MP said: "Our government is delivering the change we promised: cracking down on waste and boosting Britain’s defence industry. We will forge “One Defence”, which is clear in its goals and consistent in its methods, to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.

"The world is more dangerous, with growing Russian aggression, conflict in the Middle East and increasing global threats.

"These vital reforms will make UK military decision making faster, keep the country safer and achieve best value for taxpayers. This Government will strengthen UK Defence to respond to increasing threats."

 

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