“The Ministry has a costly tendency to ignore the ‘Jiminy Cricket’ voice of sound financial management.  

 “This has not been helped by the fact that the authority of the MoD’s Finance Director has been watered down by the sharing of key financial management roles amongst senior civil servants.   

“Major projects are often delayed by the MoD in order to reduce short-term costs, but this ends up costing more in the long run.  The MoD also has to find the money to keep the equipment which it ordered under Urgent Operational Requirements for Iraq and Afghanistan once British forces finally withdraw and Treasury funding ends.  

“There are very difficult and painful choices ahead and the MoD’s fancy financial footwork has long ceased to impress.  The Ministry of Defence needs to face reality and stop living beyond its means”. 

 21 July 2010
 

See also:
PARLIAMENT: MP quizzes top MoD mandarin on defence budget

NAO REPORT: The MoD’s strategic financial management