Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to their response to the conclusion in paragraph 64 of the report by the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 (1st Special Report, HL Paper 56), how the work outlined will constitute a review of the impact of the proposed 30 per cent reduction in civilian headcount by 2020.
Answer
The 30 per cent reduction in Ministry of Defence (MOD) civilian headcount will be achieved by making Defence significantly more efficient overall. A Future Defence Civilian Programme (FDCP) has been set up to identify and deliver the reductions; its first priority is to ensure that military capability and other key Defence outputs are not adversely impacted by these changes.
We do not anticipate an increased requirement for consultants to advise the MOD following the reduction in civilian headcount.
The Department is developing a Civilian Workforce Strategy for 2020 and beyond. This will set the vision for creating the future shape of the civilian workforce and for civil servants working at the MOD, and will be published before the end of the year. This Strategy is informing our initial study to scope a range of Departmental functions and activities that present opportunities for greater efficiency and productivity, smarter working within and across organisational boundaries, improved exploitation of technology, and better delivery models. The initial scoping study is due to conclude in early 2017.