§ Mrs. Rosie BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department and the armed forces have taken to contract out training and consultancy services to small companies; what contracts on what subjects have been let in the last two years; what value these contracts were for; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeubertWe continue to review and market test support activities including training and consultancy services and to award contracts where it is demonstrated that they will provide the best value for money. The choice of contractor will depend entirely upon the proposals received following normal competitive tender action. Small firms are encouraged to participate in this process whenever possible through the Ministry of Defence's successful small firms initiative, and by the new suppliers service of MOD.
Complete figures on training and consultancy services are not held centrally but it has been possible to identify a number of contracts let over the past two years in the following areas:
Year Number of contracts Total value (£) Driver training 1988–89 16 305,680 1989–90 19 168,000 Technical support services 1988–89 2 593,486 1989–90 6 524,020 Academic services 1988–89 Nil Nil 1989–90 2 2,048,870 In addition, details of management and computer consultancy contracts for the last two years were given to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) by my hon. Friends the Minister of State and the then 463W Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement on 28 March 1990 at column 236 and 4 April 1989 at column 130.