A|D|S today (Tuesday) responded to the speech given by the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP, at the Civitas think tank on achieving value for money at the Ministry of Defence.

Ian Godden, Chairman of A|D|S, said:

"Measures to be introduced by the MoD to help improve the efficiency of the Ministry's defence procurement system are welcomed by the defence industry. Ensuring that future programmes have a clear budgetary line for development, procurement and deployment is a common sense development and we welcome it. We also understand the need to review major contracts, most of which it should be noted are on time and on budget, to ensure that even greater value for money is delivered, as well as the 'Projects of Concern' review to support this aim. Industry is convinced that, with reform of the MoD procurement process and through partnership with Government, significant improvements can be delivered.

"A|D|S represents over 500 UK-based defence companies, large and small, from this country, elsewhere in Europe and from the US and we look forward to engaging with the Secretary of State via his new Defence Suppliers Forum. It is for the Government to decide how it interacts with industry in a practical and constructive manner and we will fully support that process.

“The 300,000 people who work in the UK defence industry across the whole country are proud of the world-leading equipment that they provide to our armed forces as well as the economic contribution - over £35 billion per year - that they make to our national well-being. The industry is committed to continuing to provide for our troops at best value to the taxpayer in partnership with the MoD to maintain our national security.

"We welcome the ongoing commitment by the Government to defence exports. Industry is hopeful that, with this recognition of the support that exports provide to equipping UK troops at best value, the support for research and technology that underpins the nation's future success will be forthcoming.”