§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Marconi or associate company defence contracts are the subject of inquiries by Ministry of Defence police or the special fraud office where charges have not yet been brought;
(2) what inquiries are being undertaken into supply of sonar equipment, radar, J-Tids and the management of Marconi by his Department, including Ministry of Defence police.
§ Mr. SainsburyInquiries are being made into a number of allegations and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage; the work of the serious fraud office is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which contracts between his Department and Marconi or its associate companies moneys have been repaid following upon past costing or inquiries by civil servants.
§ Mr. SainsburyInformation relating to the Ministry's dealings with individual companies on post-costing activity or related inquiries is subject to commercial confidentiality.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the United Kingdom annual defence procurement budget was spent with Marconi and its associate companies in each year since 1986.
§ Mr. SainsburyPayments made to the Marconi Co. Ltd. in respect of headquarters contracts in each of the three years since 1986 represent the following proportions of the United Kingdom annual defence procurement budget:
Year Per cent. 1986–87 7.0 1987–88 7.1 1988–89 5.5