Defence Sixth Form College: Cost Effectiveness

(asked on 15th March 2019) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what value for money criteria were used to make the decision to close Welbeck College; whether that criteria will be used to assess the sustainability of the Army Foundation College Harrogate; and if he will make a statement.


This question was answered on 22nd March 2019

A review of the Defence Technical Officer and Engineering Entry Scheme (DTOEES), which includes Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College and the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme, has determined that the current scheme is no longer delivering sufficient numbers to meet the Defence requirement for technical and engineer officers, nor does it demonstrate value for money, or the flexibility to meet any changes in the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s future requirements.

The National Audit Office value for money criteria were applied robustly as part of the DTOEES review:

Economy: minimising the cost of resources used or required (inputs)

Efficiency: the relationship between the output of the service and the resources required to produce them

Effectiveness: the relationship between the intended and actual results of public spending (outcomes)

In place of the current scheme Defence will establish a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Graduate Inflow Scheme designed to increase the inflow of STEM undergraduates using a range of targeted financial incentives which may include scholarships, maintenance bursaries and/or payment of tuition fees. It will also recruit from universities across the UK instead of the current limited number and allow for a wider range of degree subjects to be studied, including cyber and computer-based studies.

There are no issues with the sustainability of the Army Foundation College Harrogate and there are no plans to consider its closure.

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