§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make it his policy that all suitable firms will be allowed to tender for the contract for the repair of aeroengines by plasma spray techniques, to be carried out at St. Athans, South Glamorgan.
§ Mr. FreemanThe vast majority of engine repair work directed to Royal Air Force St. Athan is undertaken within the station by Royal Air Force personnel and MOD civilians. Only where St. Athan is unable to provide a particular process is the work passed out to industry. St. Athan already possesses plant for areo-engine component repair using plasma spray techniques. Should it be necessary, however, for plasma spray work to be contracted out to industry in the future, our policy of seeking competition wherever it is practical and sensible to do so will continue to apply.