HL Deb 13 March 2003 vol 645 cc196-7WA
Lord Tomlinson

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether a preferred bidder has been selected for the Armada private finance initiative project at HM Naval Base Devonport. [HL2143]

Lord Bach

The Government gave a commitment under SDR to improve single living accommodation for service personnel. We are therefore pleased to announce that, following competition, Falcon, a consortium led by Interserve fm and Compass, has been selected as the preferred bidder for the Armada private finance initiative (PFI) project. Subject to the successful completion of negotiations, it is planned to award the contract in late July of this year.

The Armada project encompasses the provision of services in the fleet accommodation centre at HM Naval Base Devonport over a 25-year period. This includes property maintenance, infrastructure maintenance, catering, cleaning and responsibility for environmental aspects and ground maintenance, as well as the design, build, finance and operation of the fleet accommodation centre single living accommodation.

En-suite accommodation is planned for 55 senior officers, 195 junior officers, 600 warrant officers and senior ratings and 700 junior ratings, with 100 beds (non-en suite) retained for transient personnel.