§ Lord Trefgarneasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied that the Challenger 2 development programme has passed the milestones referred to in the House of Commons by the then Secretary of State for Defence on 20th December 1988 (HC Deb, col. 283); and if so whether they will now announce the outcome of this competition for a new main battle tank for the British Army.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (The Earl of Arran)I am pleased to confirm that Vickers Defence Systems has successfully passed the third milestone in the Demonstration Phase contract. As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence stated in another place on 1st November, he expects to be able to announce a decision on equipment for our future main battle tank fleet in the early spring of 1991.