HC Deb 28 January 1993 vol 217 cc851-2W
Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Devonport Management Ltd. was first invited to file its original tender for nuclear refit work.

Mr. Aitken

In July 1991, both contractors at the royal dockyards were invited to make proposals to the Ministry of Defence for concentrating all nuclear refitting, refuelling and decommissioning work at the dockyard each manages. No tenders have yet been sought for this work.

Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he made before 6 January of Babcock Thorn's second bid, entitled "Scheme IV", for nuclear refit work at Rosyth.

Mr. Aitken

Babcock Thorn Ltd.'s proposals to upgrade docks at Rosyth were given appropriate consideration.

Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement about the future of Rosyth and Devonport dockyards.

Mr. Aitken

As soon as possible.

Mr. McLeih

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assurances were given to Babock Thorn Ltd. on the evaluation of "Scheme IV" for the nuclear refit work at Rosyth dockyard, submitted on 10 December 1992.

Mr. Aitken

BTL asked my Department if it would consider a proposal to upgrade docks at Rosyth as an alternative to its previous proposals. In acceding to this request, my Department gave no assurances on the evaluation of the response.

Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that officials working on the future of Rosyth and Devonport dockyards have no conflicts of interest.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I am confident that officials working on the future of the royal dockyards have no conflict of interest.

Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure he will adopt for the assessment of Rosyth's second nuclear docks proposal entitled "Scheme IV."

Mr. Aitken

The proposal will be given fair and equal assessment against the same criteria used to assess other proposals submitted for nuclear refitting. All relevant factors will he taken into account.

Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what experience each of the officials concerned with the evaluation of tenders submitted by Rosyth and Devonport dockyards has of working in the private sector.

Mr. Aitken

It is Government policy to encourage the interchange of civil servants with the private sector in order to broaden their experience. Given the number of officials concerned with providing advice on the future of the royal dockyards, it would take disproportionate time and effort to provide the information sought.