Defence Science And Technology Laboratory Annual Report And Accounts 2004 2005

Dstl provides the government with scientific and engineering expertise for defence and security. Its systems work provides evidence to support decisions on policy, operational capability, science or acquisitions. Its science and technology work is concerned with providing solutions to defence and security related problems. This is the annual report for 2004/05.

Print and web pdfs available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications. The Laboratory is the Ministry of Defence's in-house Science and Technology organisation Web ISBN=9781474143264

The Laboratory is part of the Ministry of Defence - the in-house Science and Technology organisation

Print and web pdfs available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications. The Laboratory is the Ministry of Defence's in-house Science and Technology organisation Web ISBN=9781474117920

This report analyses MoD's annual report and accounts 2004-05 (published in October 2005 - later than planned - as HC 464, session 2005-06, ISBN 0102935424) which combines MoD's annual performance report and the consolidated departmental resource accounts. Overall MoD's performance against its seven Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets has been mixed: three were "met", two were "partly met", one was "on course" to be met, and one was "not yet assessed". On recruitment and retention (partly met) all three armed services are suffering from critical shortages in various specialist trades, including aircrew and medical personnel. Although MoD reported £400m of savings in the operating costs of the Defence Logistics Organisation, the Committee criticizes the fact that not all of them could be validated. On procurement, MoD did not meet the targets relating to project time slippage. Cost decreases of £699 million were reported on the top 20 major defence equipment projects, but much of this was a result of cuts in the numbers of equipment ordered or in the capability of equipment. Losses reported in MoD's Financial Accounts totalled some £400 million, a lower figure than the previous year but still a substantial sum. Reported losses on the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) programme, which involves the procurement of four transport ships, were some £100 million and further losses might arise. Another loss totalling £147 million related to a building project at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston. The building was unable to meet the requirement and no other use could be found for it. It is another example of substantial waste which has to avoided in the future.

Print and web pdfs available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications. The Laboratory is the Ministry of Defence's in-house Science and Technology organisation Web ISBN=9781474132725