Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure the reliability of issued kit.

The appropriate reliability requirement for items of defence equipment is identified during the early stages of a project. During the stages prior to introduction to service the supplier provides evidence via the Reliability Case that the item will meet the agreed reliability needs of the user.

In accordance with Public Procurement Regulations, contracts placed with suppliers to deliver equipment to our Armed Forces must be proactively managed to ensure such items are delivered on time, on budget and to the standard expected for our Armed Forces. Delivery Teams within the Ministry of Defence monitor the performance of contractors against the terms and conditions of a contract through the use of Progress Reports and/or Progress Meetings. Furthermore, the Department monitors the quality management systems within major suppliers to provide assurance that defence equipment is delivered to the required standard.