HC Deb 26 October 1993 vol 230 c529W
Mr. Couchman

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make-a statement about the production order for the "Bridging for the 90s" equipment.

Mr. Aitken

I am pleased to announce that the "Bridging for the 90s" (BR90) production contract negotiations have concluded very satisfactorily. The production order was issued and accepted on 22 October 1993. The value of the order is approximately £140 million.

The BR90 family of bridges is planned to enter service between January 1996 and June 1997 as follows:

January 1996

  • General Support Bridge

November 1996

  • Close Support Bridge

May 1997

  • Two Span Bridge

June 1997

  • Long Span Bridge

BR90 will be deployed with Royal Engineer units in both Germany and the United Kingdom.

This order will secure up to 250 jobs at the prime contractor, Thompson Defence Projects in Wolverhampton, as well as 50 jobs at Unipower in Watford and Tipton and many more at the other sub-contractors.