The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been criticised by MPs for administrative failings which resulted in hundreds of millions of pounds being wrongly paid out and led to officials losing track of sensitive equipment.The Commons Defence Committee said it was "unacceptable" that the National Audit Office (NAO) had "qualified" the MoD's accounts for the third year in succession because of the continuing problems.
The NAO disclosed in its report last year that the MoD could not account for the whereabouts of secure Bowman radio systems worth £155 million.
It also highlighted problems with the computerised Joint Personnel Administration system (JPA) responsible for handling service pay, which wrongly paid out £268 million in specialist pay and allowances. This an HP (EDS) system that famously cost us £245 million, and is meant to save us £100 million... and was described by MPs last March as having made 'truly reprehensible' mistakes. It seems that the theme continues.
The MoD was also unable to produce evidence that errors which led to £83 million being wrongly deducted from service personnel in food and accommodation charges had been rectified.
One dreads to think how 'truly reprehensible' mistakes will impact be if AFCS, WPS and/or MoDMO are outsourced to the same supplier, famously described in Private Eye last year as "p*** poor"!
"Failing to maintain accurate and full information on personnel and to keep track of assets such as Bowman has the potential to threaten the long-term capability of the department, including operational capability," the committee said.
"The MoD therefore needs to take urgent action to rectify the outstanding problems."
Committee chairman James Arbuthnot added: "That the MoD could not, at a given time, account for the whereabouts of radios worth £155 million is unacceptable.
"The security implications associated with losing equipment such as this are significant.
"Having an effective audit trail is the only way to ensure that all equipment is accounted for."
The branch suggests that bringing those items back in house will improve the quality of service Furthermore, we believe MoD should cease any and all plans to outsource any further. All evidence shows that privatisations have been more costly, delivered few if any savings and have resulted in reduced and in most cases, "p*** poor" performance!
