JFZ90
...does I think correctly imply that toys can get thrown (i.e. a negative behaviour) and sometimes the actual risks and safety context get lost in a rather unfortunate communication breakdown / willy waving contest.
Couldn't agree more. A project manager's job, be it in MoD or Boscombe, is to make decisions within his remit, and seek them outside his remit. Boscombe are contracted to give advice, which is based on internal decision making within their remit. The advice (typically the MAR recommendations report) is the decision seeking part. If there is no complementary decision from MoD, then I suggest that is the point at which Boscombe MUST take a purist view.
The difficulty comes when MoD makes a decision so bizarre, so obviously politically motivated, that Boscombe feels it cannot support it. The decision to ignore Boscombe's advice on Mk2 just prior to Mull is a classic case, but it by no means unique.