Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to let the contracts for the managed service providers (MSP) before the end of September 2014; and if he will place relationship with the services and Defence Equipment and Support.

We continue to make excellent progress on the competition for the Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and expect to place the first contracts in the next few weeks.

The MSPs will have an important role in supporting the transformation of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) into a world class programme management organisation, capable of delivering the best possible equipment and support to our Armed Forces. Strengthening the relationship between the Service Commands and DE&S is a key aspect of the transformation programme.