MoD pay and bonuses soar - Cable

8.15.41pm GMT Mon 11th Dec 2006

Following Gen. Sir Michael Jackson's attack on the MoD, the Liberal Democrats have released research showing the large sums of money the MoD spends on consultancy fees and staff bonuses. At the same time billions are being wasted in badly managed procurement projects.

The research found:

• Consultancy fees topped £71m in the year 2005-6

• Civil Servant bonuses at the Ministry topped £40m in 2006-7, an increase of 60% from 2003-4

• MoD procurement projects are running £2.6bn over budget

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable MP said "It is disgraceful that so much money is being wasted because of bad management, when many of our troops on the front line are struggling without proper equipment.

"They must wonder why it is that people in the army are risking their lives on very poor pay while the bureaucracy back in London is squandering money and being paid bonus rewards for poor performance.

"General Jackson is right to highlight the grave problems at the MoD. It must cut back on waste urgently, so that the soldiers in the field can get the support they need."