§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many invitations to tender were issued, and to whom, in respect of maintenance of water treatment plants on or near Salisbury Plain during 1996, listing the establishments; and which contractors were successful. [97]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Army's water and sewage treatment plants on or near Salisbury Plain are managed from the five military stations at Upavon, Larkhill, Warminster, Netheravon and Tidworth. All are maintained in accordance with our normal practice of appointing a Works Service Manager from the commercial sector whose responsibility it is to maintain the estate and to issue invitations to tender for the work involved. The Works Service Manager contract in respect of the plants managed from Tidworth was reviewed in 1996. The contract was awarded to BP Defence following competition in which the following firms were also invited to tender: Serco, Laings, Trant, Amey and Trafalgar House. Invitations were also issued in 1996 to companies interested in making proposals for the provision of water and sewage treatment at Tidworth under a Private Fiance Initiative exercise.