§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he made of the advantages of leasing the agricultural tractors required by his Department as set out in future purchase number LV2/DBG/03 in his Department's contracts bulletin, volume 11, No. 4. [2832]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe potential benefits of leasing agricultural tractors are being assessed as part of a wider study of the scope for using private finance to meet the requirement for some 4,000 mechanical handling vehicles.
In the meantime, the continuing requirement for agricultural tractors will be met by purchase of vehicles through an enabling contract. This approach offers the 396W most cost-effective way of meeting the continuing requirement by ensuring that my Department is not committed to procuring specific quantities but purchase on an as needed basis.