HC Deb 26 June 1995 vol 262 cc501-3W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those parts of his Department or departmental agencies which were privatised without an in-house bid; if he will indicate the expertise which was absent in his Department or departmental agencies which prevented an in-house bid taking place; which future parts of his Department or departmental agencies he intends to privatise; and which of them do not have the necessary in-house expertise to mount an in-house bid. [29419]

Mr. Freeman

Ministry of Defence activities, including those of Defence agencies, which have been privatised or contracted out without an in-house bid during the last three years under my Department's "Competing for Quality" programme are listed. Information concerning the lack of expertise in individual business areas which might have prevented in-house bids is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The decision on whether to mount a market test with an in-house bid depends on the circumstances of the business in question. For example, the Department may consider that the private sector is better equipped to delivery a specific service, has better understanding of market needs or specialist expertise, or has a capacity to invest in new technology. Similarly, a strategic decision to contract out without an in-house bid could be taken where an activity is relatively small and peripheral to the Department's functions, leading to the conclusion that in-house provision of the service would detract from our ability to concentrate on our core functions. There is also a general presumption in favour of strategic contracting out of new services where there is no existing in-house operation, subject to management and value for money considerations.

It is not yet known what defence support business activities will in future be contracted out to the private sector. This will depend on the outcome of feasibility studies which determine how activities can best be exposed to competition from the private sector, and the results of the subsequent competitions.

Activities exposed to the "Competing for Quality" process between 1 April 1992 and 31 March 1995 which were contracted out with no in-house bid being made.

  • Gardening, Royal Marine School of Music, Deal
  • Harrier Aircraft Service Support, HMS Heron
  • Helicopter Maintenance and Engineering Support, HMS Osprey, HMS Heron and HMS Seahawk
  • Simulator Helicopter Control Operations, HMS Osprey
  • Wireless Stations (Operation and Maintenance), Inskip and Crimond
  • Works Services, HMS Seahawk
  • Work Services, HMS Dolphin
  • Bielefield bakery
  • Catering strategy study, UK Land Forces
  • Central Engineer Resources, Plant Hire, Long Marston
  • Food distribution in BAOR
  • Food distribution in rear combat zone (BAOR)
  • Freight Service, Germany
  • Line of Communications—Freight Service, (Low Countries)
  • Mobile Civilian Artisan Groups, Germany
  • NAAFI food study
  • Verbatim Court Records, Salisbury
  • Air Weapons Range, Rosehearty
  • Electronic Warfare training tasks, 360 Sqn, RAF Wyton
  • Engineering and Supply (multi-activity contract), RAF Scampton
  • Government Pipeline and Storage System, (Operation and Maintenance)
  • Parachute Transport Flight, RAF Hullavington
  • RAF/RN Elementary Flying Training, RAFTopcliffe
  • Repair of Defence Accommodation Stores, RAF Quedgeley
  • Station Engineering Management Aid, (Maintenance Analysis and Computing Division), RAF Swanton Morley
  • Support for Parachute Training
  • The Queen's Flight, (engineering support) RAF Northolt
  • Curtain manufacture, British Forces Hong Kong
  • Domestic Services, MOD Police, Wethersfield
  • 503
  • Food supply, British Forces, Hong Kong
  • Furniture repair, British Forces, Hong Kong
  • School bus service, British Forces Hong Kong
  • Support Services, Akrotiri, Cyprus
  • Support Services, British Forces Hong Kong
  • Work services Maintenance, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, Belize
  • Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston
  • Combat Systems Information Management Team
  • Data entry, Met Office, Bracknell
  • Guarding, Abbey Wood
  • Relocation Reconnaissance Visits, Bristol

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