MOD ‘wasting money’ as defence funding row rumbles on

THE Ministry of Defence is wasting money, a public accounts committee report is expected to find amid an ongoing row over forces funding.

The annual report of the committee, being released today, is likely to be highly critical of the way the MOD manages money. Amid disagreements between Theresa May, Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, and Chancellor Philip Hammond over defence funding, the report is thought to point to unfunded commitments from the 2015 defence review and expected savings measures yet to take place.

The criticism follows a joint letter from the chairmen of the public accounts committee and defence select committee to the Prime Minister earlier this month, which said national security was at risk because of the existing affordability gap. It said: “We are concerned that the Modernising Defence Programme (the ongoing Defence Review) will not be able to deliver the additional capabilities required to respond to new threats and undertake necessary organisational reforms within the existing budget.”

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Meg Hillier, chairman of the public accounts committee, said: “The Prime Minister is not worried enough. She needs to be focusing more firmly on the overall strategy for defence and make a clear decision on the budget and desired capability now. The MOD is hard-wired into not being good at managing money and adopts a head-in-thesand approach. You can balance the budget by salami-slicing, but what are the consequences?”

“Defence needs a ‘steady as she goes’ approach,” and the “skirmishing in government” for more funding has been unhelpful, she added.

Spreading her wings Precious Adams rehearses for Swan Lake before the English National Ballet takes the production on the road as part of its winter tour. The company will appear at the Liverpool Empire, Bristol Hippodrome and London Coliseum.