HC Deb 20 December 1988 vol 144 c252W
Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the last 12 months discussions have been held with Royal Ordnance in which the subject of the wartime needs of his Department have been mentioned.

Mr. Sainsbury

Procurement to meet peacetime and wartime needs is kept under continuing review and, where appropriate, includes discussions with Royal Ordnance. The needs are one of the aspects which is considered in many discussions.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the number and (b) the different types of manufacturing capabilities whose retention has been considered with Royal Ordnance since its sale to British Aerospace.

Mr. Sainsbury

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to him on 30 November 1988, at column296.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any consideration was given to applying for outline planning permission for any of the Royal Ordnance sites prior to their sale to British Aerospace.

Mr. Sainsbury

Before the sale of Royal Ordnance plc, the company had submitted outline planning applications in respect of land which it had identified as surplus to requirements at its Waltham Abbey and Enfield, North sites. Bidders for the company were aware of this.