Mr. John M. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will report progress with regard to the letting of design and construction civil engineering contracts for hardened shelters, airstrips, roadways and workshops ancillary to the supply of Tornado fighters to Saudi Arabia.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe memorandum of understanding signed with the Government of Saudi Arabia on 17 February 1986 covers a number of tasks including construction work. Some of this work is already under-way, and discussions continue between the Ministry of Defence and the royal Saudi air force to agree the scope of future work. The Ministry of Defence's prime contractor for the whole project covered by the memorandum of understanding is British Aerospace, which is responsible for letting sub-contracts for design and construction.