§ Mr. BerryTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer of 5 March,Official Report, 451W column 141, what additional payments have been claimed by the construction contractors for the new MOD building at Abbey Wood. [20087]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotWe respect the commercial in confidence nature of contractual and claims issues which are between the Department and the contractors concerned. As is our normal practice, claims against the Department are reviewed and processed in accordance with the contract terms—action which has and is being taken in respect of claims submitted by the shell and core contractor. As I have said, there is a constructive dialogue going on between the Department and the contractor. Both the contractor and the Department are working positively to realise the project's programme objectives.