§ Mr. IngramTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to issue the invitation to tender for the royal observatories; and if he will make a statement. [6119]
§ Mr. Ian Taylor[holding answer 26 November 1996]I have been informed that the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council is unable to proceed at present with tendering of the programme of the royal observatories.
A series of difficulties which have significant financial and legal implications remain to be resolved before PPARC can issue invitations to tender, some of which only emerged during the detailed analysis required to prepare the tender documents. PPARC is determined to resolve these difficulties as soon as possible, but their resolution will realistically take several months.
Given the length of this delay, it will not be possible to adhere to the advertised time scale for the award and commencement of contracts. Consequently, the current tendering exercise has been formally terminated. Organisations which were shortlisted to bid against the invitations to tender have been informed. Tendering will proceed once the difficulties have been resolved and the cost and benefits re-assessed. Meanwhile, the work of the royal observatories will continue on the present basis.