§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all orders for fuses, ammunition and other equipment placed by or on behalf of his Department with Gebruder Junshans of Germany, A. S. Raufoss of Norway, Fratelli Borletti of Italy and the royal ordnance factory, Blackburn, from 1975 to date, giving in each case the value of the order, the type of fuse, ammunition, or other equipment concerned whether the order had been subject to competitive tendering, allocation or negotiation without competitive tendering, the dates on which the orders were placed, when they were completed and if any part of the order has still to be delivered.
§ Mr. AitkenI will write to the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken by his Department to cancel contracts and otherwise to discipline suppliers and manufacturers of equipment where there is evidence that such contracts have been gained by bribery, corruption or other breaches of procurement rules.
§ Mr. AitkenIf it is proven that the award of any MOD contract has resulted directly from bribery, corruption or other irregular practices, my Department has the legal right to cancel it if it is still in existence, and would normally do so. My Department would also take any other action against the contractor concerned which was appropriate to the circumstances of the case, including seeking full financial restitution and considering the basis of any future dealings with them.
§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the posts held by Mr. Gordon Foxley, with dates and the responsibilities which each post entailed.
§ Mr. AitkenI will write to the hon. Gentleman.