Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the recommendation on page 8 of the NAO's report, The equipment plan 2019 to 2029, HC 111, 2019-29, published on 27 February 2020, whether his Department has plans to recruit financial specialists to increase the accuracy of his Department's cost forecasting.
Answer
Within the Finance Function, the Cost Assurance and Analysis Service (CAAS) plays a key role in the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) drive for Value For Money, leading on cost management development across Defence. CAAS has ISO accreditation as a professional cost management organisation with a team of over 300, including professional staff in the areas of Cost Accountancy, Cost Engineering and Cost Estimating. In Financial Year 2019-20 CAAS grew its Cost Estimating capability, with the arrival of an additional 40 graduate estimators. These staff have been recruited directly into CAAS on a bespoke 2 year Estimating Development Scheme.
In Financial Year 2020-21, CAAS plans to develop a bespoke E-Academy to provide cost management training on a virtual basis across a wider cohort of MOD finance and estimating staff. This will sit alongside ongoing work to share and embed leading cost management practice across Defence.