HC Deb 19 May 2004 vol 421 c1074W
Mr. Nicholas Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are used by the Warship Support Agency's Maritime Support Strategy element to assess support through life for major future naval equipment. [173701]

Mr. Ingram

The Maritime Support Strategy (MSS) is an integral part of the broader Defence Logistics Organisation's Support Solution Envelope. This stipulates the following principles, tailored for each project, against which through life support is assessedcoherence with wider defence strategies, structures, policies, plans and initiatives; coherence with related support programmes, existing and planned; demonstration of achievable, flexible and adaptable operational and through-life sustainability; and a cost-effective means of delivering optimised military capability or business benefits that offers value for money through life.

The MSS provides further detailed information for the application of these principles within the maritime environment. In addition, the support proposal must be comprehensive, with a demonstrably acceptable level of risk.