On 9 September, James Cartlidge MP tabled a series of written questions to the Ministry of Defence on the department’s civil service workforce and cost reduction plans, referencing page 65 of the Strategic Defence Review.
Minister Al Carns confirmed that the ambition is to reduce civil service-related costs by at least 10% by 2030 under the Defence Reform and Efficiency Plan.
He explained that the review will cover the full workforce mix, noting that “we are working across Defence to review the workforce we need to deliver Defence outcomes, making sure we have got the requirement right, whether that is Regular or Reserve personnel, Civil Servants or contractors.”
Carns also stressed that the drive is about efficiency rather than shrinking staff numbers. “Importantly, this is a productivity-driven ambition, not a headcount target,” he said, adding that civil servants remain “integral to success.”
He said the Ministry would invest in performance, skills, and productivity to create “a stronger, more agile organisation to deliver better outcomes through smarter use of technology, less bureaucracy, and higher productivity.”
The baseline review of Head Office and Staff Headquarters roles is being developed as part of this broader effort, which Carns described as both a cost-saving measure and an opportunity to embed automation and AI across the department.
Needs to be 30% at least – start with the Legads
How about a 10% reduction in senior officer positions.
How can the Army possibly need 70 Generals when it doesn’t even have 7 brigades.
My point as well. Way too top heavy like the Navy, would save a good bit of cash. You and i both know it will never happen its jobs for the boys. Been brought up before and it was quickly dropped with no real reason why it could not happen. CDS never like speaks of such things i think we the lower ranks are just meant shut up mind our place.
This might *not* be good news.
Otherwise whom is going to be overseeing the huge amount of money that will have to be spent well?
Please don’t say that 2 year rotation of posts will do that – particularly with the British army that brought you AJAX and several other programs to be cancelled after vast amounts of spending. I Interviewed most of the army side ‘project managers’ / desk officers and I can honestly say they were all useless.
So all the staff will spend their time creating quangoes so they are not civil servants.
Should get some of the ‘star’ ranks gone there far to much top and not enough bottom in the MOD right now.