Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to implement the guidance set out by the Government Commercial Function in its paper entitled Exiting Major IT Contracts: Guidance for Departments, published in November 2017, in respect of (a) using market engagement, (b) setting up disaggregation work, (c) risk assessment, (d) developing a programme plan through the transition, (e) identifying the skills and capabilities that will be needed in the future and (f) any other work related to that guidance.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) Information Systems and Services (ISS) organisation is already implementing the guidance set out by the Government Commercial Function (GCF) in its paper entitled Exiting Major IT Contracts: Guidance for Departments. The ISS strategy seeks to disaggregate requirements into smaller component parts where this is deemed to be value for money, with work on this having started in 2015.

A multi-disciplinary team has been stood up to oversee the entire portfolio of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capabilities. This team is tasked with the management of an overarching Portfolio Plan, for the further disaggregation of the large ICT Outsource contracts in Defence. In line with the guidance in the GCF paper, the Portfolio Plan covers multiple years and takes a methodical risk based approach.

There is a renewed emphasis on early market engagement and ISS has a six-weekly programme of interactions with Industry via its relationship with techUK. The MOD has launched a new Supplier Portal on Defence Contracts Online which will make it easier for suppliers to access a wide range of defence opportunities.

ISS has a Strategic Workforce Plan that outlines future ISS skills requirements.