§ Mr. Soleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish in the Official Report those projects which, as a direct result of inefficiency by Devonport or Rosyth dockyards, have not been completed to time, cost and quality during the last 10 years or any suitable period.
§ Mr. LeeInefficiency cart arise from a number of factors — for example material shortages, inadequate 501W work specifications, restrictive work practices, weaknesses in planning and control, late changes to the refit requirements or to the overall dockyard programme — some of which are within and some outside the dockyard's direct control. Ships are only accepted back into service when quality standards have been met, but timekeeping and costs suffer as a result of such inefficiencies. During the past five years (the period for which information is readily available) some two thirds of refits have exceeded time and cost estimates, although for the latter inflation would also have been a contributory factor.