The National Audit Office has recommended that the Ministry of Defence tighten up its systems for spending money when modifying equipment already in service.In one of its regular reports on public spending, it reports lack of control over the scope of spending, lack of clear responsibility for management of such projects, and lack of information systems capable of creating an overview of such costs. 

Government departments are creating an unnecessary impression of secrecy by refusing too often to respond to requests for information.Too often, according to the Parliamentary Ombudsman Michael Buckley, departments say the information is exempt under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. In one case he has examined, the information had simply been lost.