30 September 2010 | Natalia Da Silva

Dispatches: How the MoD Wastes Our Billions
Channel 4
20 September (available for 30 days after broadcast at bit.ly/SG8ki)

3 stars out of 5

This documentary on “wasted billions” at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) asked important questions in its aim to “lift the lid on waste and extravagances at the MoD”. It also claimed to expose the “top-heavy command structures” and what it saw as “incestuous relationships with defence contractors” affecting value for money for British taxpayers and soldiers.

With the first defence review in 12 years under way, the programme focused on front-line personnel and their lack of basic equipment. It called for reform of “chronic waste, with inefficiency no longer an option”, but the programme itself offered few answers. But it was entertaining to watch senior officials squirm as they rejected figures, refused to answer and tried to accentuate the positives.

Dispatches emphasised that on 
an annual budget of £42 billion, 
40 per cent of projects are over budget and 80 per cent are late. But it went further, alleging “cosy relationships” and policies that favoured UK firms winning contracts “provide poor value for money and contribute to the 
black hole in the MoD budget”.

The ministry admitted major procurement reform is necessary, but the programme questioned if this was possible with a staggering 20,000 paid officials working in procurement yet lacking structured training. “No one can come up with an answer to improve the strength and get the MoD fit for purpose,” was the alarming conclusion.

Natalia Da Silva