§ Sir Ian Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what weight was given in 1982 to the combination of ground pressure and power to weight ratio as a factor in deciding vehicle mobility for the demountable rack off-loading pick-up system vehicles; what were the relative (a) ground pressure and (b) power-to-weight ratio of (i) the Boughton demountable rack offloading pick-up system MMLC truck and (ii) the Scammell MMLC DROPS selected for trials in 1983; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will list the key performance requirements for DROPS trucks in 1982; what were the relative performances in respect of turning circles as between the Boughton's MMLC DROPS truck and the Scammell MMLC; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what weight was given in 1982 to stability and tilt angle as a factor in deciding vehicle mobility; what were the relative stability tilt angles of (a) Boughton's MMLC DROPS truck and (b) the Scammell MMLC DROPS; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThe assessments made of the competitive equipment proposals and designs offered by firms in the 1982–83 DROPS competition covered the full desired envelope of technical performance and characteristics as set out in the statement of requirements issued to the industry. I regret I cannot provide comparative details of particular commercial proposals and designs offered to the Ministry in confidence.
§ Sir Ian Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment was made by the DROPS team of experts appraising competing DROPS proposals in 1983 as to the feasibility of the stated requirement to carry an 8 ft high ISO container within the 4 m legal limit in FRG; if the requirement was disregarded or deleted; if Boughton's existing DROPS vehicle met this requirement; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Archie HamiltonA secondary ability to carry an 8 ft high ISO container was seen as a desirable feature in the 1982 DROPS statement of requirement and all competitors' proposals were assessed against it as well as other, more essential features. In the event no proposals at that time (including Boughtons) were able to meet this requirement fully within the height constraints of the German regulations. The requirement still stands as a desirable feature for the medium mobility vehicle and is being addressed as part of the ongoing DROPS procurement programme.
§ Sir Ian Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the equipment in the Army inventory which is between the heights of 7 ft 9 in and 8 ft 6 in and under a weight of 15 tonnes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HamiltonThis information is not readily available.
§ Sir Ian Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the nature of his Department's briefing of the United States Army in 1983 and the first half of 1984 on the flat flatrack; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what assessment was made in Boughton's DROPS proposal in 1982 of the suitability of the flat flatrack for operation in rough terrain; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will list all official briefings on DROPS given by his Department to the United States Army in 1982; which United States branches, officials or individuals were so briefed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonI cannot add to my answers of 16 December 1986 [Official Report, c. 501 and 503]
§ Sir Ian Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) why, at the DROPS presentation given by his Department on 27 October 1986, it was claimed by his Department that the Multilift mk 4 system now selected was always his Department's preferred choice for DROPS and that the Multilift mk 2 system which picked up a flat flatrack was not the preferred choice of his experts in 1983; and if he will make a statement;
(2) why, at the presentation given by his Department on 27 October 1986, it was claimed that the United States Army had rejected Boughton's DROPS system and returned Boughton's equipment to them, and that this was a vindication of his Department's choice of other systems; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonMy noble Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement will write to my right hon. Friend.