My right honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Quentin Davies) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I announce changes to the internal arrangements for formulating and delivering Science and Technology (S&T) to the UK Armed Forces. From 1 April 2010, the Science Innovation and Technology (SIT) Top Level Budget (TLB) within the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will stand down. The task of setting MoD’s S&T policy and strategy will move to the Centre TLB under the direct control of the MoD chief scientific adviser. This will ensure that this key aspect of defence is at the heart of future policy and decision making.

The MoD will continue to look to the broadest possible supplier base for the delivery of the majority of its S&T requirements. Delivery will be supported by an enhanced defence science technology laboratory (Dstl) which will continue to be the MoD’s in-house focus for S&T knowledge, skills and advice. Under the new structure, Dstl will also be responsible for the planning and delivery of the defence research programme. However, Dstl, as now, will only undertake research activity which by its sensitive, operationally critical or international nature, should only be performed in Government.

These changes will enable a clearer organisational structure for Defence S&T and will reduce overheads within Defence S&T management, to reinvest in research. As a consequence of these changes, around 100 posts will be removed from the current S&T organisational structure.

Implementation of these changes will be undertaken by a project team, reporting to the chief scientific adviser, which will work with the MoD trade unions to ensure delivery of defence S&T, particularly for operations, is unaffected.