Biggus - I'm sure you know this but you've just perfectly paraphrased the Nimrod Review. Another of its recommendations that MoD ignored.
Mainjafad - Correct about Boards, and replacing 'Board Submissions' (seeking approval FROM THE USER'S VIEWPOINT to acquire capability) was replaced with 'Business Cases', at a stroke utterly confusing staff because the wrong people then took it upon themselves to sign them. A bloody industry was born, which contributes absolutely nothing.