The Department is required to report to annually to Parliament details on its performance in delivering Major Defence Equipment Projects in the previous year, the Departmental Major Projects Report (MPR). The report details the 20 largest post Main Gate projects in terms of value within the Equipment Plan and reports on delivery to performance, cost and time. The information comprises detailed Project Summary Sheets, validated by the National Audit Office (NAO), and an overarching commentary by the Department. The Departmental Report is published prior to the summer recess.
The NAO subsequently publishes its Major Projects Report, usually in November, this provides an analysis of the results, reasons underpinning any reported change and recommendations about how this might be addressed. The Major Projects Report is usually the subject of a Public Accounts Committee ("PAC") hearing.
The Departmental Project Summary Sheets have formed the basis of project data prior to 2004 that cannot be extracted from CMIS. In addition they have been used to fill gaps, especially where fields are not mandatory in CMIS, e.g., UPC/Quantities.