Clearly the top management of these departments have little integrity and no consciences to allow this kind of spending whilst our armed forces have to make do and mend. I do wonder how they explain authorising these extravagancies to their political masters? Of course they don’t because they are also milking the system, and don’t have a problem wasting our money anyway.

Michael, Sheffield,

Is it not strange that corruption in Britain is cloaked in the language of legitimate expenditure. Public service and politics in general is now as corrupt as anywhere else including India and Italy.
Nobody in government is going to do anything about it as they are all enjoying the benefits of living off the taxpayer.

hand-jeavons, delhi, india

The MoD officials comprise civilians and servicemen of all ranks from the basic grade to the very highest.
Whiteall is awash with servicemen , many of which hold major leading posts who have responsibility to ensure the front line is properly supported.
It is misleading the public to imply that any problems are the cause of civilian staff -many of which are ex servicemen.
Pretending it is wholly civilians that are at fault is deceitful and does nothing to remedy problems.
If the cap fits, etc!

John, plymouth, uk

They could have a cheaper, and more educational, team building day by spending it at an Army training centre. They could then have hot showers and can of beer. Cheaper and much more appropriate.

P. Cardwell, Saintes, France

Whenever this government announces and reannounces huge sums of spending on any public service you now know instinctively that only a fraction of this money will be delivered at the sharp end. Vast sums seem to be expended on personnel, administration, management and budgetary costs(as well as away days for the boys and personal expences).
Some of this money never seems to achieve it's objectives - look at the nhs computerisation, dentist contracts, child support agency, family tax credits etc etc. No one seems to be willing to actualy take responsibility, be it the loss of data discs bank and pension regulation or the simple maintainence of sea defences. We are doomed as a nation to being labeled internationaly as second class if this continues. In the decades ahead Britain's fate could be aligned with the fall of the Roman empire. It is time for a strong leader to sack some of these incompetants (without compensation or peerage).

Diddly Do, Liverpool,

I'm from a military family for the last 140 years at least but what's the point in fighting for your country when traitor politicians hand it over to the foreigner for free. Isn't Britain projected to be Islamic by 2050 anyway, so whats the point in fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. A person who defends this insane society is a fool.

Keith R. Bentham, Wigan, Lancashire