§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his officials have discussed details of Devonport's offer to refit HMS Gloucester with(a) Babcock Thorn Ltd. or (b) other persons or bodies connected with Rosyth naval dockyard.
§ Mr. AitkenI can confirm that no officials from my Department have discussed details of Devonport's offer with either Babcock Thorn Limited or other non-MOD bodies connected with Rosyth royal dockyard.
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§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the 1990 decision to allocate HMS Gloucester to be refitted at Devonport was changed to a tender process; and for what reason the refit was allocated to Rosyth in 1992.
§ Mr. AitkenHMS Gloucester was provisionally planned, in 1990, to be refitted at Devonport, but not formally allocated. For overall policy and value for money reasons, at that time it was decided to compete the refit. In 1992 the refit of HMS Gloucester was allocated to Rosyth in order to balance the naval workload there following the decision not to proceed with the planned refit of HMS Revenge.