The Nimrod Review - Official Documents

The Nimrod Review
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“I have a strong memory that upon stating this, various meeting attendees booed me
and muttered things along the lines ‘bloody safety engineers always have to caveat their
statements’. I can remember this clearly because I have never been booed in a meeting
before (and have not been at any time since).”
10A.221 He said that, although the booing was not intentionally aggressive, he found it intimidating and was surprised
and embarrassed at being heckled in this manner. BAE Systems’ representatives were questioned about this
matter in interview, but said they had had no recollection of such an incident. I have no reason, however, to
doubt Witness O [QinetiQ]’s recollection of being subject to this sort of treatment at the meeting. It has the
ring of truth about it.
10A.222 I analyse in Chapter 11 whether Witness O [QinetiQ] stood his ground at the end of the meeting or whether
he bowed to the majority ‘consensus’ and became party to it. I also discuss the pressures he might have been
under and what might realistically have been expected from someone who found himself in that position.
‘Bands and goats’
10A.223 Following the meeting, Chris Lowe reported to Witness A [BAE Systems] in glowing terms as to the process
and outcome of the meeting. In an e-mail to Witness A [BAE Systems] on the afternoon of 1 September
2004, Chris Lowe reported they had just spent the last two days “locked away with no less than 4 MOD
guys, one RPO80 and one QinetiQ guy, going through the complete safety case”, and that, save for a few
minor matters and completing the BLSC conclusions, the MOD had accepted the task as being completed.
He added “All visiting parties (including QinetiQ for once!!) were highly praiseworthy as to the amount of
effort and quality of what they are getting...”. He went on to explain that the next stage was a formal review
of the documentation at RAF Wyton and the final and formal sign-off by George Baber before the end of
September “to the accompaniment of bands and goats, of course”.
Third Phase of NSC in Chapter 10B
10A.224 This brings to an end the First and Second Phases of the NSC and BAE Systems’ main involvement. I turn
in Chapter 10B to consider the Third Phase of the NSC, which starts at the point at which BAE Systems
formally handed over the NSC to the Nimrod IPT, namely, the six ‘deliverable’ reports including the BLSC,
on 21 September 2004. From this point, it was the Nimrod IPT’s job to complete any remaining aspects of
the NSC.
80 The IPT’s Resident Project Officer.