Ajax Lessons Learned Review

(asked on 17th January 2023) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2023 to Question 120885 on Ajax Lessons Learned Review, what the cost to the public purse has been of the Ajax Lessons Learned Review.


Answered by
Alex Chalk Portrait
Alex Chalk
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
This question was answered on 23rd January 2023

The Ajax Lessons Learned Review commenced in May 2022. The Department estimated the cost of the Review to be in the region of £0.5 million and, as of 17 January, has received bills totalling approximately £0.29 million. It is a focused review aimed at identifying lessons and making recommendations to help the Ministry of Defence (MOD) deliver major programmes more effectively in future, and is looking at leadership, culture, governance, and how issues are elevated.

The Terms of Reference were drafted by Head Office officials (not involved in delivering the programme) in consultation with MOD legal advisers and the Second Permanent Secretary, and were published on 29 March 2022. They were announced by way of Written Statement (HCWS739) and placed in the Library of the House and copied to the Public Accounts and Defence Select committees.

Although the review has no statutory powers, the MOD has provided any documents that the review has requested and has encouraged current and former personnel to assist the review if asked to contribute. The MOD has also assisted the review to contact former personnel when it has been asked to do so.

In accordance with his terms of reference, Clive Sheldon KC notified the Second Permanent Secretary in June 2022 that he estimated it would take him a further six months to complete the review. Mr Sheldon is currently in the final stages of drafting his report.

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