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Defence: Procurement

Asked by James MacClearyLiberal DemocratMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 16 December 2025UIN 98148

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average tenure has been for Senior Responsible Owners of major procurement programmes since 2015.

Answered by Luke Pollard

The average time served in post as a Senior Responsible Owner for defence major programmes listed on the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) for each Financial Year from 1 April 2015 is:

Financial Year

Average Time in Post (Years)

2015/2016

0.5

2016/2017

1.3

2017/2018

1.7

2018/2019

1.8

2019/2020

1.3

2020/2021

1.9

2021/2022

1.4

2022/2023

1.7

2023/2024

1.6

2024/2025

2.1

The average tenure is impacted by churn in the GMPP as new programmes join and those in the final stages of delivery leave.

The department recognises the importance of continuity in programme leadership and is working to improve this.

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