HC Deb 18 January 1996 vol 269 cc738-40W
Sir Anthony Grant

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are his plans for the procurement of new utility vehicles and ambulances for the British Army; and if he will make a statement. [10825]

Mr. Arbuthnot

There is a pressing need to replace about half the current fleet of Land Rover utility vehicles, many of which have reached the end of their operational lives. Subject to the satisfactory completion of contractual negotiations, we propose to place an order with Land Rover for about 8,000 new vehicles, known commercially as "Defender XD", to meet the Army's light and medium utility truck requirement. We also intend to place an order for 65 additional Pinzgauer vehicles, supplied by Steyr Daimler Puch, to enhance the fleet of these vehicles which is already successfully in service to meet the Army's heavy duty medium truck requirement.

The Army and Royal Marines also need to replace their aging battlefield ambulances with vehicles providing better conditions for casualties, improved medical facilities and greater reliability. The competition for this programme has been particularly close, with vehicles offered by Land Rover and Steyr Daimler Puch both meeting the operational requirement. Both vehicles demonstrated excellent technical qualities. The Land Rover however, provides, in particular, excellent working conditions for the medical crew and commonality both with the new utility vehicles and the in-service Land Rover fleet. Also its acquisition cost is lower than the Steyr. We have, therefore, decided to award the contract for the supply of about 800 ambulances to Land Rover, subject to the satisfactory conclusion of contract negotiations.

These decisions are good news for the armed forces. Both of the new Land Rover vehicles will enter service this summer and will be available for operational deployment in support of IFOR.

Mrs. Anne Campbell

To ask the Secretary of state for Defence if he will make a statement about the procurement of military ambulances. [10484]

Mr. Arbuthnot

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave this afternoon to my hon. Friend the Member for South-West Cambridgeshire (Sir A. Grant)

Mr. Atkins

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a decision will be taken on the winner of the contract for the provision of non-operational B vehicles to the British forces in Germany. [10735]

Mr. Arbuthnot

We have decided to award the contract for the provision of non-operational B-vehicles to the British Forces in Germany to Ryder plc with its sub-contractor PHH plc, subject to a successful conclusion of contractual negotiations.

The award of this contract follows a rigorous competition involving a number of German companies as well as Ryder plc. The competition was run under European Union restricted procedures for public contracts. We decided that the Ryder plc bid offered a high standard of technical and commercial confidence and the best value for money to the British forces in Germany and to the taxpayer.