The MOD was asked through a FOI request to provide information about loss of specialist capabilities needed to support the nuclear propulsion programme and to explore what the Union Prospect was doing to resolve the issue.
FOI Request 28 August 2012
"Request for Information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000
Thank you for your email of 28 August 2012 requesting the following information:
Letters and emails between MOD Officials and the Union Prospect concerning the loss of specialist capabilities needed to support the nuclear propulsion programme and the Frame work Agreement Technical Services for the period January 2012 to June 2012.
I am writing to advise you that we are still working to identify the information that falls within the scope of your request. I estimate that it will take a further 20 working days to identify this information, so I will write to you again no later than 23 October 2012. Please accept my apologies for the delay, and for not providing a response within the 20 working days set out in the FOI Act."
- The delay in providing the information requested again points out the failure of the MOD to meet its legal duty to provide the information requested within 20 working days.
- It may also indicate that the MOD's document and record keeping systems, even for recent correspondence are seriously flawed.
- It may be the case that the MOD does not want to release the information and wishes to hide the information for fear that it will inevitably show that the MOD is still failing to provide the required level of specialist resource to safely deliver its nuclear programmes.
- The MOD may now have become reliant on contractors and granting concessions so that less skilled and experienced personnel can be placed in SQEP posts within the MOD's nuclear progarmmes.
National Audit Office report Managing change in the Defence workforce published today points out the Minsitry of Defence is under pressure to make rapid financial savings, is significantly reducing the size of its workforce, by over 54,000 personnel. A report today by the National Audit Office has found that these reductions are happening in advance of the Department’s fully understanding how it will operate with significantly fewer staff.
With regard to skills the report says
“The significant reduction in headcount creates a risk that current skills gaps will worsen. There is a significant risk that current skills shortages will worsen particularly as at least 16,000 personnel, 30 per cent of the reduction required, is predicted to occur through natural wastage, a process over which the Department has less control than redundancy.”
The recent statement by SEPA on the plans submitted by MOD for the remediation of the beach at Dalgety Bay may indicate that MOD has inadequate specialist skills to manage issues such as radioactive contamination.
"We consider that the plan, as it stands, lacks sufficient detail and have requested more information on a number of areas which include:
- timescales for implementation of each stage of the plan;
- more detail relating to the proposed investigation work;
- investigation plans for Crowhill and Ross Plantation;
- investigation of remediation options."
It has been previously pointed out that there are significant nuclear safety skills shortages. It will be interesting to see in this year’s report by the Defence Nuclear Environment Safety Board if the situation has changed
