Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 2.7 of the report by the National Audit Office, The Ajax programme, published on 11 March 2022, whether his Department took steps after the Infrastructure and Projects Authority raised concerns about the size of the programme team in 2017.

From Quarter three of financial year 2016-17, there was a gradual increase to the Ajax Programme Team structure which saw seven posts added over the next year. As with any programme, the resource requirement will of course change over time to meet the complexity and demands of the programme. In 2019, following the recast of the contract, the team was reduced. The programme team structure has continued to evolve and, when necessary, increase. It now sits at its largest ever size.