Mark Francois asks 'who'll take personal responsibility' for procurement after critical Commons report

A former defence minister has asked "who is going to accept personal responsibility", following a highly critical report on Ministry of Defence (MOD) procurement.

Former Armed Forces minster Mark Francois questioned the Defence Secretary on the MOD's procurement programmes, alleging that "not one single one is fully on track".

Mr Francois added the report, published by the all-party Public Accounts Committee (PAC), was "the most damning report it has ever produced on MOD procurement".

• MPs criticise MOD over procurement delays
• Ajax: How much money has been spent on the Army's new armoured vehicle?
• MOD's 'disastrous' lack of estate strategy wasting taxpayers' money, report finds

"Given that the top 36 MOD procurement programmes – £150 billion of taxpayers' money – not one single one is fully on track.

"Who is going to accept personal responsibility for this, either at Abbey Wood or on the fifth floor of the MOD, and when will the Secretary of State bring in the Cabinet Office to clean up the MOD's mess?"

However, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told MPs the procurement problems were "not any worse than some of the ones from 2008/09 at all".

Watch: The Commons spending watchdog said billions of pounds of taxpayers' money has been wasted.

"But part of the issues… I distinctly remember the report that was delivered in 2010, that showed in one year under the administration opposite, they spent £3 billion without even knowing where it's coming from," he said.

"He is right there are lessons to be learned, we are going to get on it.

"I am absolutely delighted to meet ([him] to discuss what we think we can do… many of those programmes referred to pre-date not only me and this ministerial team, but pre-date even his ministerial team, and we need to make sure we get on top of that issue.

"I think there are solutions to do, but I also think we hold them to tight timetables and will deliver."

The report by the Commons spending watchdog said billions of pounds of taxpayers' money have been wasted as the MOD continually fails to learn from its mistakes.

The PAC published a critical report earlier this month accusing the department of having a "broken" system for procuring military equipment.

The cross-party committee said it was "extremely disappointed and frustrated by the continued poor track record" on procurement.