Labour Pledges To Stop "Failing Multi-Million-Pound MoD Contracts"

Picture: 2018 Army Advertising Campaign

Private firms risk losing major defence contracts if they fail military personnel, their families and the taxpayer, Labour has pledged.

Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffith is to outline how a future Labour government would seek to "get to grips" with Ministry of Defence outsourcing by carrying out a review of "significant" service contracts.

She is to add there will be "no hesitation" in bringing the contracts back in house if they are found not to be delivering.

Ms Griffith's pledge emerges after the Government awarded Capita a new contract to run UK military fire and rescue services, estimated to be worth about £500 million.

MPs heard last week the MOD has been warned that Capita was judged a "10 out of 10 risk" by an assessment.

The company has also been involved in the Army's recruitment contract, which has been heavily criticised for IT problems and repeated failures to hit targets.

Ms Griffith, in a speech to defence think tank Rusi, will say: "Whether it is the persistent complaints about the quality of housing maintenance provided by CarillionAmey - with personnel and their families stuck for days with leaking roofs, broken boilers and appliances that don't work.

"Or the appalling performance of Capita's recruitment contract with the Army which is failing on every measure.

"These examples typify the MOD's current approach - rushing to privatise services without being clear about the rationale, failing to monitor these contracts when they have been outsourced, and then doggedly refusing to take any action against companies that do not deliver."

Ms Griffith will pledge that Labour would carry out a “root and branch review” of significant service contracts that have been outsourced.

"We will call an immediate halt to the significant contracts that are currently being considered for outsourcing, with Labour introducing a clear presumption in favour of public contracts being delivered by the public sector,” she will add.