Just duplicating efforts
GrahamO,
You may have hit upon something here fella. I reckon we can save loads of money:
We don't really need to pay for representation in the EU as they're probably extremely competent - in fact, let them run the Euro and we'll just adopt it.
We actually don't need armed forces as we're pretty well protected on all sides by someone who knows what they're doing.
Hey, you can read it across other levels - we don't need local governmental representation, I'm sure London is doing fine. Local education authorities, local ... well, anything really.
If someone else states that it is good enough, why ever ask the question?
Ah, unfortunately, Mr Haddon-Cave has made a bit of an issue about the UK not taking this sort of stuff seriously. The MoD has, therefore, decided to establish an MAA to take this seriously and that MAA is rather insistent that all equipment procured for UK forces is certified to UK acceptable standards. It also seems that the US have slightly different criteria within their standards and aren't likely to adopt ours.
In simple terms, have you ever been at an electronic retailer outlet with a teenage child. They want to buy the kit, their mates (their closest advisors) want them to buy the kit and the retailer certainly wants them to buy the kit. Unfortunately, you know that they'll be disappointed in the long run!
In this world, no-one is doing the 'right thing' out of a sense of moral duty; they are doing it only because there is an independent process overseeing them. While that demonstrably flawed process is being addressed, there are, worryingly, many who have already forgotten the lessons.