Coronavirus: Defence Contractors Offered Guidance On Their ‘Critical’ Role For The Armed Forces

Defence suppliers and contractors’ work is vital in supporting the critical role of the Armed Forces, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defence has said, as he offered guidance on how staff and families in the sector should manage their lives during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter to the chief executives of defence suppliers to the MOD, regarding Covid-19, Sir Stephen Lovegrove, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defence, told them that their dedication to the defence industry was ‘hugely valued,’ and expressed his gratitude that everyone working in the industry was continuing to deliver defence operations.

Sir Stephen said: “As the Prime Minister set out, we and our families should stay at home, except to shop for necessities, to manage our own or others’ medical needs, to take exercise once a day and to travel to and from work where we cannot work from home.

“By adopting these measures, we can limit transmission and reduce pressure on the NHS and other vital public services.”

He said it was important for him to explain how he was applying those principles across the MOD, and this guidance was being applied to defence contractors.

He said he hoped the guidance would go some way towards giving employees clarity during these “otherwise uncertain times.” Sir Stephen added:

“It is vital that critical defence operations and programmes, on which our nation relies, continue uninterrupted.”

He said that, like the Armed Forces and defence civil servants, many employees in the defence arena should work from home, adding that “wherever that is possible, we must work together to enable  it.”

However, he added that like the Armed Forces and defence civil servants, many employees in the industry cannot work from home if “we are to maintain the vital activities to which we are all committed.”

He said: “Where that is the case, we must work together to ensure they are able to follow government guidelines, including where possible maintaining a two-metre distance from others and washing their hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds.”

He said the Ministry of Defence recognised that there would be some disruption to schedules and said the department would work to understand the impact and be pragmatic.

It was critical that, on the MOD’s key programmes and support, such as the essential maintenance of submarines for sustaining the continuous-at-sea deterrent, that the sector continues to support the Armed Forces and the defence of the nation, he said.

Sir Stephen added: “I appreciate what difficult times these are for us all, and the difficult judgement calls you as senior executives are required to make in these circumstances.

“But I would like to reiterate that our work is of national importance and I hope we can continue to work together to maintain critical outputs throughout this crisis.”

In his letter, Sir Stephen pointed out that, as key workers, defence contractors were entitled to send their children to school, saying that those who must go into workplaces to work in defence roles should be classed as key workers and that support would be provided where needed.

The letter pointed out that schools had been given guidance on how to ensure the children in their care can minimise the risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

Similar guidance is being issued to employers to enable those who cannot always work from home to operate safely in the workplace and in transit, for example by varying working patterns to avoid the rush hours, and again, Sir Stephen said support would be provided where needed.

Sir Stephen concludes the letter to contractors by saying: “I hugely value the dedication of the defence industry and am grateful that where possible industry is continuing to deliver defence outputs.

“Thank you for all that you are doing during these difficult times.”

The letter is among the guidance being sent to members of the Armed Forces, service families and others in the military arena, setting out measures being taken as the United Kingdom faces up to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Other letters have set out how the "vast majority" of the military has been asked to follow Government-issued guidance on social distancing, home-working, and non-essential travel.

An earlier letter, sent to all Ministry of Defence staff from Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) General Sir Nick Carter and Sir Stephen, said: "For those of us not involved in the coronavirus response and other essential defence activity, the need for exceptional measures applies equally to defence."

They encouraged leaders to think creatively about how they can "prioritise" business to make home-working possible, which could include work being delayed or stopped.