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Old 27th Nov 2021, 07:08
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ORAC
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https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/w...amme-th0llthwb

Officers to ‘carry the can’ for Ajax tank fiasco

A former High Court judge could be appointed to find out why the army did not act on warnings that soldiers were becoming deaf after working on the Ajax light tank programme.

Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, said that people should “carry the can for some of their decisions” in a sign that officers could be sacked if they are found to have misled or covered up problems with the vehicle.

It is understood that one option being considered by Wallace is for a judge-led inquiry which would compel soldiers to give evidence about what they knew and when amid concerns that the army was dishonest about problems with Ajax prior to the integrated review of defence, so that the programme was not axed by the defence secretary.

It is extremely rare for senior officers and soldiers to be held to account for poor decision-making, with sources inside the army claiming that many of those who underperform are simply moved to other jobs.

A scathing health and safety report into Ajax is expected to be published in the first week of next month. Sources said that it would name those involved in the decision-making process and the failings that led to more than 300 people being exposed to noise and vibration problems.

A total of 34 troops are receiving specialist outpatient care and five soldiers have either been discharged from the army or medically downgraded, according to recent figures released by Jeremy Quin, the procurement minister.

Individuals criticised in the report are currently being asked for their comments before its publication. Senior government sources have said that it would “not be a whitewash”, paving the way for senior officers involved in the programme to be disciplined or thrown out as a result……
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