Capita Defence Services
Capita Defence Services is contracted by the British Ministry of Defence to deliver a range of business services. These include:
- recruitment to the British Army, as well as e-learning and support services to the UK Defence Centre for Languages & Culture, and technical support to the Astute class Submarine build programme. We're the prime contractor acting as the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) strategic business partner, responsible for the leadership and direction of the DIO and the management of its delivery partners and contractors. [1]
Controversy over revolving door appointment
In 2014 it emerged that Lieutenant General Sir Mark Mans, a former high-ranking British Army officer and member of the MOD's Defence Infrastructure Board, had landed a lucrative non-executive director appointment with Capita Defence just three months after retiring from the military. According to the Independent newspaper:
- The company is leading one of three consortia shortlisted for the £400m contract to run the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), which manages a budget of billions, and thousands of Ministry of Defence properties.[2]
In September 2016 Spinwatch and Unlock Democracy flagged Mans' case in written evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into ACOBA and the ongoing problem of the revolving door in British politics and the public sector. They noted that:
- A number of public officials have also taken up roles which require contact with their former departments. Lieutenant-General Sir Mark Mans, Adjutant-General to the Forces from 2009-2012 applied to ACoBA for approval to take up posts with Allocate Software and Capita Defence Services. Both have contracts with the MoD and would require contact with his former department. This represents a serious conflict of interest. Although ACoBA may prevent former public officials from lobbying, the Business Appointment Rules state that ‘the lobbying ban need not prevent communications with government’. The line between communication and lobbying can be fine and the presence of contacts and the ‘friendly faces’ of former colleagues could prevent neutrality in dealings regarding contracts. As well as improving ACoBA’s definition of lobbying, we recommend extending the maximum lobbying ban period to five years, to be used in the most high-risk cases.' [3]
Access passes to MOD
In October 2017 a freedom of information request by the Campaign Against the Arms Trade revealed that Capita held 84 passes allowing its staff access to the Ministry of Defence buildings in Whitehall. Other companies included Fujitsu (50), BAE (19), PA Consulting (15) and Leonardo (13). [4]
Notes
- ↑ Sectors - Defence, Capita, accessed 21 March 2018
- ↑ Jonathan Owen, Fury as Army chiefs land jobs with UK defence companies, The Independent, Tuesday 11 February 2014
- ↑ House of Commons, Written evidence from Unlock Democracy and Spinwatch to the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee: The role and effectiveness of ACoBA and the Independent Adviser on Minister’s interests, Data.parliament.uk. (2017), Submitted September 2016, accessed 12 September 2017
- ↑ Ministry of Defence reply 17 October 2017 to CAAT Freedom of Information request dated 18 September 2018], accessed 29 January 2018.
