Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to make an assessment of the effect of procurement decisions on levels of (a) safety training and (b) equipment standards in the armed forces.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) puts safety at the heart of all its procurement activities, from setting initial requirements, through to procurement and safe operation of equipment and, ultimately, disposal. In Defence Equipment and Support, this is facilitated through the Acquisition Safety and Environmental Management System, which is used to ensure that safety training and equipment standards are considered in all procurement activity. Safety performance is routinely considered at Board level, with the MOD continually looking for opportunities to improve safety standards and reinforce a strong safety culture at every level. Underpinning this, the Defence Safety Authority provides independent assurance that MOD safety policy is being promoted and implemented.