I have read the MOD release on the above which seemed not too concerned and talking about challenges but overall not too bad.

Yet the independent press are saying this is a damning indictment.

??

In his report, Mr Gray said: “The problems and the sums of money involved have almost lost their power to shock so endemic is the issue.

“It seems as though military equipment acquisition is vying in a technological race with the delivery of civilian software systems for the title of ‘world’s most-delayed technical solution’.

“How can it be that it takes 20 years to buy a ship, or aircraft or tank?

“Why does it always seem to cost at least twice what was thought?

“Even worse, at the end of the wait, why does it never quite seem to do what it was supposed to?�

In an unsparing assessment of the MoD’s performance, Mr Gray concluded the procurement process was so incompetent and inefficient the only solution was to privatise it.

Ah that's a more accurate assessment.....buffoons! And not actually the executive or parliament but our own MOD (with some help from the services I presume).

I still have not seen a copy of the Gray review. Is it available through the DII internet page?

Originally Posted by wehappyfew

I still have not seen a copy of the Gray review. Is it available through the DII internet page?

Available to the world and his dog here:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Ab...cquisition.htm

To give the MoD and even the Labour Party its due, allowing publication is quite a commitment to open government.

The first step, as they say, is admitting the problem.

It also goes to great lengths to say we are no worse or better than anyone else

Privatising does seem rather daft, given the likely candidates would be people like KBR, EDS, VT, BAe etc etc. Wouldnt that be like putting fatties in charge of dunkin doughnuts

Originally Posted by meridian

To give the MoD and even the Labour Party its due, allowing publication is quite a commitment to open government.

The MoD will be blamed for this, whilst New Labour walks away claiming
a) the problems begun under Thatcher; and
b) the problems exist under Cameron and he's doing nothing about it; and
c) we the public should be grateful to New Labour for bringing it to wider attention.

The result was known LONG before Gray was engaged in the first place.

The timing of the report is more interesting.

Yes I agree to some extent, there will always be some spin on anything like this and I realise that most of the problems have been known about and discussed for ages.

Why should the MoD and military not carry some of the blame, I have always maintained it is not just the lack of cash, yes that is part of the equation but everyone concerned should share

Open government you say

Exhibit A

Daily Mail - Der Klicken Linken

Exhibit B

Cameron says the MoD asked Bernard Grey to review helicopter procurement. There are rumours it has been delayed. It was meant to be out by July. Will the government publish it?

David Cameron during PMQ before Parliamentary recess...

Labour attempted to suppress the report but have had to release as a result of sustained pressure but even then it was not released until after their conference. For those who wonder what the opposition has been doing with themselves as you can see they are doing their job; which is difficult given the slippery lying way the Government operates...

An excellent report!

Unfortunate that much of it has already been said as far back as the Downey reforms. Conspiracies of optimism, bloated procedures, indecsion, lack of accountability.

The absolute key recommendation has to be DE&S as a Government Owned Contractor Operated Organisation - only privitaisation will reduce the overhead hungry "public accountability" and "assurance" buraucracy to a lean cost effective decsion making machine.

Bring it on!

Originally Posted by meridian

Yes I agree to some extent, there will always be some spin on anything like this and I realise that most of the problems have been known about and discussed for ages.

Why should the MoD and military not carry some of the blame, I have always maintained it is not just the lack of cash, yes that is part of the equation but everyone concerned should share

Defence spending has always been seen as a political tool for propping up certain industries in order to 'create' jobs and improve failing balance sheets without breaking WTO, EU or other trading rules. It is also seen as a way of 'confirming' international political relationships. When it comes to the equipment budget, there is little left of the cake for the Services to fight over to purchase the equipment they really need that can do the job.

Yes, the military is also to blame for the gross wastage - inter-service rivalry being the main culprit and the 'failure' to find a balance between military posting limitations and the need for long term appointments to key aquisition slots another issue. However, much of this is off the back of abysmal politicking by that part of Whitehall that considers itself the civilian master-race.