HC Deb 25 October 1985 vol 84 cc273-4W
Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis private contractors are visiting the royal dockyards.

Mr. Norman Lamont

In his statement on 23 July, at columns 867–68, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said that he intended to seek competitive tenders from competent British companies to manage the royal dockyards. Representatives of most of the companies which have expressed interest in tendering have now visited one or both of the royal dockyards and have received detailed briefings on their operations; further such visits will be arranged.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Defence under what authority, prior to the passage of any legislation, he is incurring expenditure in the valuation of dockyard assets, the preparation of prospectuses for private companies, and visits by private companies to the dockyards.

Mr. Norman Lamont

Provision to cover necessary expenditure involved in consideration of changes to the future operation of the royal dockyards was included in the defence Supply Estimates.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will deposit in the Library part two of the prospectus for private contractors interested in winning a possible franchise for the management of Rosyth and Plymouth dockyards.

Mr. Norman Lamont

Touche Ross, a firm of management consultants, was commissioned by the Ministry of Defence to produce descriptive reports on each of the royal dockyards to assist companies in forming a commercial judgment on whether to bid for the future management of the dockyards, Phase I of the Touche Ross report, which gives a preliminary view of the facilities and operations in the dockyards, has recently been completed; copies have been made available to all companies concerned and to the trades unions, and I am placing a copy in the Library of the House. Phase II of the report has not yet been completed. It is, however, the intention that it should provide a more comprehensive description of the facilities and it will, therefore, be classified. Copies will, of course, be made available to the Select Committee on Defence.