The Nimrod Review - Official Documents

The Nimrod Review
Introduction
26.1 I refer to Chapters 13 and 14.
26.2
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The history of Procurement of the Nimrod MRA4 replacement programme is a sorry story of serial delays and
cost over-runs. But for the delays in the MRA4, XV230 would probably no longer have been flying in September
2006. Further, the fact that the MR2 Out-of-Service Date was continually being put back led to planning, spares,
sourcing and long-term investment problems.
26.3 As explained in Chapters 13 and 14, the history of Procurement generally in the MOD has been one of years of
major delays and cost overruns. This has had a baleful effect on In-Service Support and Safety and Airworthiness.
Poor Procurement helped create the ‘bow wave’ of deferred financial problems, the knock-on effects of which
have been visited on In-Service Support, with concomitant change, confusion, dilution and distraction and
weakening of the Airworthiness system in the post-Strategic Defence Review period, 1998 to 2006.
26.4
26.5
26.6
2 On 4 June 2009, the Rt Hon. John Hutton MP promised to publish Mr Bernard Gray’s Report on Procurement
before the Parliamentary summer recess3 but resigned the next day. Regrettably, Mr Gray’s Report was not
published. 4
Further major ‘bow waves’ of deferred financial and other Procurement problems threaten the future integrity
of In-Service Support.
As the Rt Hon. John Hutton said, sorting out Defence Procurement is an important and urgent priority.
Recommendation 26.1: New Procurement Strategy
I recommend that Mr. Bernard Gray’s Report is published without delay and appropriate action taken as
a matter of urgency with a view to formulating and implementing a New Procurement Strategy. 3
2 The immediate past Secretary of State for Defence.
3 Hansard, Thursday 4 June 2009: Column 438.
4 Bernard Gray’s Report was suddenly published on 15 October 2009, after completion of this Report for printing.