§ Lord Clinton-Davisasked Her Majesty's Government:
To what extent the building of a new Royal Yacht would be affected by European Community public procurement rules.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)There is an exclusion from the European Community Public Procurement Rules in this instance as, on security grounds, the future Royal Yacht can only be designed and built in a British shipyard. An invitation to tender for construction of the vessel will be advertised in the MoD Contracts Bulletin in the usual way.