HC Deb 02 December 1996 vol 286 c528W
Mr. Jamieson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the period of time it took to announce the successful bidder for the catering support services at Royal Citadel, Plymouth. [7110]

Mr. Soames

The market testing exercise began with the issue of an invitation to tender on 10 September 1993 and ended with the announcement of the contract award to Gardner Merchant plc on 24 July 1996.

Mr. Jamieson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to his Department of the market test for catering support services at the Royal Citadel, Plymouth. [7113]

Mr. Soames

The identifiable cost for the Citadel market testing exercise was for independent consultancy support to the in-house bid team, which cost some £30,400.