HC Deb 10 November 1988 vol 140 cc304-5W
Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom-based contractors which were paid £5 million or more by his Department in 1986–87 did not qualify for appearance on page 15 of the "Statement of the Defence Estimates 1988" (Volume 2) for security reasons.

Mr. Sainsbury

[holding answer 9 November 1988]: In accordance with the practice of successive Governments, the information requested cannot be disclosed because of security considerations.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will define the term headquarter contract with respect to awards made to contractors by his Department; and what type of contracts awarded by his Department are not included in this category.

Mr. Sainsbury

[holding answer 9 November 1988]: Headquarter contracts cover the main defence equipment projects and the principal defence contracts which are handled centrally, including, for example, those for maintenance and spares. Excluded from this category are local purchase orders placed under delegated powers by service units and Ministry of Defence establishments.

Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in theOfficial Report the precise amounts paid to each of the following contractors by his Department in the year ended 31 March 1988 (a) The General Electric Co. plc, (b) Rolls-Royce Ltd., (c) British Telecommunications plc, (d) Lucas Industries plc, (e) BTR plc, (f) Austin Rover Group Ltd., (g) United Scientific Holdings plc, (h) Courtaulds plc and (i) Massey Ferguson Holdings Ltd.

Mr. Sainsbury

[holding answer 9 November 1988]: The payments made to each of these companies in the year ended 31 March 1988 in respect of headquarters contracts were as follows:

£ million
a. The General Electric Company plc 1,035.0
b. Rolls-Royce Ltd. 420.0
c. British Telecommunications plc 70.0
d. Lucas Industries plc 55.0
e. BTR plc 26.0
f. Austin Rover Group Ltd. 50.0
g. United Scientific Holdings plc 25.0
h. Courtaulds plc 8.5
i. Varity Holdings Ltd. (formerly Massey Ferguson Holdings Ltd.) 12.0