§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to leasing rather than purchasing the airportable dozer (future purchase number ELWS1A/20, the aircraft potable water/toilet servicing vehicles (future purchase number SMC41C/3457), self-propelled access platforms (future purchase number SMC31ARAF335), helicopter for empire tests pilots school (future purchase number TEBD333307), the crawler dozer (future purchase number EMD1A/151) as listed in MOD contracts bulletin volume 11 number 6. [5169]
§ Mr. Arbuthnot[holding answer 2 December 19961In each of the five cases in question, the entry in the contracts bulletin is in the "Future Purchases" section, which is intended to inform companies of MOD's forthcoming requirements at the earliest opportunity. The actual invitations to tender have not yet been finalised and when they are, or even before, there will be an opportunity for companies to submit innovative proposals such as leasing. Any such proposals which are received will be given full consideration. However, in specific cases, it may not be practical or cost-effective to lease instead of buy, as it may be necessary to modify the equipment to accommodate military service needs. For example, in the case of the helicopter requirement, the civil air register calls for different operating requirements from those which apply with the military register.