§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) of 10 March,Official Report, column 401, if he will set out the reasons for the issuing of formal directions on each of the occasions listed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyThe directions listed in my answer of 10 March were made because the Secretary of State for Defence at the time, or another Defence Minister, had decided, after considering all the factors involved including the advice of the accounting officer, that a particular course of action should be followed. The decisions were
175WD Day 40th Anniversary celebrations: To provide transport on Defence Votes for a representative group of veterans to attend the celebrations.Type 22 Frigate: To place an order for one Type 22 frigate with Cammell Laird and an order for a second with Swan Hunter.Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment: To place the order for the second Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment on a single tender basis.HMS Endurance replacement: To acquire Polar Circle (already on charter in this role) as the replacement ice patrol ship without a further survey of the market.Chieftain replacement: To place an order for Challenger 2 as the replacement for the remaining two regiments of Chieftain tanks.RNSD Copenacre: To close the depot in part rather than fully.Image Intensifiers: To place an order for image intensifiers with English Electric Valves.