§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the size, number and names of foreign manufacturers who have supplied 5.56 mm ammunition to the United Kingdom in the years (a) 1981–82, (b) 1982–83, (c) 1983–84 and (d) 1984–85, respectively; and what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that these tenders held no element of state subsidy.
§ Mr. LeeThe information is as follows:
Size Number purchased by MOD (000) Manufacturer 1981–82 Nil 1982–83 5.56 Blank 100 Dynamit Nobel 1983–84 5.56 Ball (M193) 2,900 Hirtenberger Patronen 5.56 Blank 600 Dynamit Nobel 1984–85 5.56 Ball (M193) 2,000 Hirtenberger Patronen 5.56 Tracer 1,000 Fabrique Nationale When purchasing the ammunition, we had no reason to establish whether the tenders contained an element of state subsidy. Ammunition of this type was not available from a United Kingdom manufacturer at the material times and therefore foreign procurement was a necessity.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the tender procedure for the purchase of 5.56 mm ammunition by the Government will be opened to overseas manufacturers during 1985–86.
§ Mr. LeeTenders for 5.56 mm ammunition in 1985–86 were opened to overseas manufacturers only to the extent dictated by the non-availability of suitable United Kingdom rounds.