§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the decision to purchase ambulances to meet the Army's requirements; [1333]
(2) if he will make a statement concerning the Army's future requirement for ambulances; how many ambulances are required; which companies are tendering for the contract; and what is the value of the contract; [1331]
(3) what assessment he has made of (a) ambulances made by Land-Rover and (b) ambulances made by Steyr-Daimler Puch. [1332]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe Army's requirement for a medium mobility ambulance to ensure casualty evacuation from forward areas was announced in 1992. It will replace the ageing fleet of battlefield ambulances.
Iveco-Ford, Land-Rover and Steyr-Daimler Puch have submitted competitive tenders to meet the requirement. These are currently being assessed. It would not be appropriate to make any further comments while the assessment is in progress.
§ Dr. ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department purchased Pinzgauer Steyr-Daimler Puch vehicles to meet the Army's light vehicle truck requirement; how many vehicles were purchased; what was the cost of these vehicles; how the Army's requirement for these vehicles differed from that provided by the RB-44 light vehicle; and if he will make a statement. [1334]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe contract to supply 394 vehicles to meet the Army's requirement for the heavy duty version of the medium-sized utility truck—with a 1.4 tonne payload—was placed with Steyr-Daimler Puch in June 1994, at a cost of some £20 million, inclusive of support costs.
This category of vehicle was a new requirement as a result of the changing role of the armed forces and the increased emphasis on flexibility and mobility, and provides a different capability from the 2-tonne payload RB-44 heavy utility truck.