In 2023, we examined the organisation responsible for the majority of MOD procurement (Defence Equipment & Support).248 Pointing to the conclusion by the Public Accounts Committee that defence equipment “arrives into service many years late and significantly over-budget, with depressing regularity”, something which means that “neither taxpayers nor our Armed Forces are being served well”,249 we welcomed the acknowledgement by the CEO of Defence Equipment & Support that “we have some really horrible, broken programmes that aren’t good enough”.250 240 Oral evidence taken on 4 July 2023, HC (2022–23) 1689, Q46; Ministry of Defence (CDS0001) 241 Oral evidence taken on 12 December 2023, HC (2023–24) 54, Q97 242 Q318 243 Q34–5; 48–9 244 Ministry of Defence (CDS0001) 245 Q99 246 Q115 247 Oral evidence taken on 5 September 2023, HC (2022–23) 1804, Q37–8 248 Defence Committee, Ninth Report of Session 2022–23, It is broke — and it’s time to fix it The UK’s defence procurement system, HC 1099 249 Public Accounts Committee, Forty-Eighth Report of Session 2022–23, MoD Equipment Plan 2022–2023, HC 731 250 Oral evidence taken on 21 February 2023, HC 1119, Q110 Ready for War? 47