Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Oral Answers to Questions

David Davis Excerpts
Monday 25th March 2019

(5 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton Portrait Mark Lancaster
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The hon. Gentleman will be aware that a complex programme was announced through the better defence estate strategy. On the specific issue he raises, I am told that the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), intends to visit shortly.

David Davis Portrait Mr David Davis (Haltemprice and Howden) (Con)
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The chief executive officer of Capita says that it will lose a lot of money on its recruitment contract on behalf of the MOD. In that case, I presume that the Government have a strong legal case for simply terminating the contract without compensation and taking it back in-house and doing it properly.

Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton Portrait Mark Lancaster
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My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has certainly made it clear that he has not ruled out the option of terminating the contract. However, in recent months we have seen dramatic improvements in the performance of that contract, partly because of the money that Capita has put in—its own money—to ensure that that is the case.