§ Lord Buxton of Alsa asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether the construction of the new ship for the British Antarctic Survey will be undertaken by a British shipyard.
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, the tenders to construct the new British Antarctic Survey vessel are being assessed and the choice will be made on the grounds of technical capability and value for money.
§ Lord Buxton of AlsaMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Will he ensure also that the Government take into account the prestige value of having a British ship supplied to the British Antarctic Survey, which is pre-eminent internationally in Antarctic affairs? Does he accept that it could be slightly embarrassing for the British Antarctic Survey not to be supplied with a British vessel?
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I can tell my noble friend that representatives of one of the British tenderers have had a meeting with my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and that he is considering their representations. I shall certainly ensure that my noble friend's remarks are relayed to my right honourable friend.
§ Lord ShackletonMy Lords, I appreciate the increased support which the Government are giving to British Antarctic territories, which is very considerable. The report of the ABRC anticipates the NERC having to visualise higher costs. Does the noble Viscount agree that the first requirement of British Antarctic surveys, especially in the light of the iceberg accident concerning HMS "Endurance", should be a ship of the highest quality? Is he able to say whether the Government will look not only at quality but also that they would bend the rules a little with regard to the right price if the British competitor's bid were not equal to that of, say, the Finnsh? Can he also say when the results are expected?
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I shall certainly convey the noble Lord's remarks to my right honourable friend. It is hoped that an order can be placed within the next two months.
Lord MorrisMy Lords, in view of the fact that the hull and the engines of HMS "Endurance" are over 30 years old, can the noble Viscount say what bearing the decision on this matter will have with regard to 1656 the future of a Royal Navy presence in the same waters?
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I am afraid that I must tell my noble friend that that is another question.
§ Viscount CraigavonMy Lords, given the fact that the Government have rightly emphasised the international nature of the work in which this ship will be involved, does the noble Viscount agree that it would not be particularly embarrassing not to have a British ship, especially given Finnish experience in building international and specialist ice ships?
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I am afraid that I am in a difficult position here; I really cannot go into such detail today.
§ Lord ShackletonMy Lords, while I am not suggesting that the noble Viscount represents the Finnish lobby—undoubtedly, Finland builds the very best polar ships—I am hoping that the Government will make it financially possible for an equally good ship to be supplied from a British shipyard.
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, again, I can only say that I shall draw the noble Lord's remarks to the attention of my right honourable friend.
§ Lord PestonMy Lords, the name is the British Antarctic Survey, not the "International Antarctic Survey". Will the noble Viscount—although I think he is saying this anyway—convey to his right honourable friend that what is required is that the British Antarctic Survey should have the ship which it wants and which it judges as being correct for the scientific purposes it has in mind? Secondly, will he recognise the fact that many of us include in the calculation of "value for money" the idea that it would be a British ship built in a British shipyard.
§ Viscount DavidsonMy Lords, I can tell the House that 10 UK yards were sent an outline specification. Of those eight expressed an interest and were invited to tender. Five valid tenders have been received, two of them from UK yards.