More than £1bn spent as MOD recruitment failing

More than £1 billion has been spent on recruitment in the armed forces in just a few years, new figures reveal, prompting demands from MPS for urgent changes.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) spending includes £752 million on a contract with Capita – £54m more than was planned at this stage of the contract.

It comes amid widespread vacancies across the armed forces and repeated failures to hit recruitment targets.

The MOD said it was operating in a highly competitive job market and all spending was scrutinised.

Tory MP and former army officer Johnny Mercer said: “It is clear that the military is currently experiencing a manpower crisis and with the amounts of public money being spent on recruitment, I would expect to see much improved results.

“Perhaps it is time for the MOD to review their recruiting practices to ensure that the public is getting proper value for money and that the military is having its manpower requirements satisfied.”

Figures obtained by the Press Association via a freedom of information request show £152.9m and £149.7m has been spent on RAF and Royal Navy recruitment respectively between 2012-13 and 2015-16. Annual spending has been steadily rising, peaking in 2015-16 at £42.2m in the RAF and £41.3m in the Navy.

Statistics released to Parliament, meanwhile, show £752m has been spent on the recruiting partnering project with Capita since it was signed in February 2012.

The project’s business case forecast £698m being spent at this stage, the end of the 2016-17 financial year.

“The Mod’s total and repeated failure to manage the contract with Capita is deeply worrying,” said Nia Griffith, the shadow defence secretary.

Tory MP Johnny Mercer says there is a manpower crisis.