Armed Forces: Health Services
Defence

Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the original (a) budget and (b) timescale was for the Army Recovery Capability project; and what project performance evaluation his Department has undertaken of the project.

Andrew Robathan (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans), Defence; South Leicestershire, Conservative)

At the launch of the Army Recovery Capability (ARC) in February 2010, the Ministry of Defence committed to investing approximately £30 million over four years to the delivery of the capability.

The original estimated time scale for full operating capability was 1 April 2012. However, as a result of delivering much broader improvements to our care of all wounded, injured and sick across the Army, it is now estimated that full operating capability will be achieved by 1 April 2013. In line with this enhanced capability, the MOD contribution to the ARC has increased to approximately £162 million over the next 10 years.

Project performance of the ARC is monitored through a number of governance structures reporting up to the Defence Recovery Steering Group, which includes key stakeholders from across Defence and Charitable Partner Organisations. The steering group considers all aspects of the project development as well as current operations within the recovery pathway. A formal post-project evaluation will be completed in summer 2013, three months after achievement of full operating capability.