HL Deb 27 July 1999 vol 604 cc180-1WA
Lord Evans of Watford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements they will make for the winter accommodation of British forces in Kosovo in respect of (a) corimec cabins, (b) new hard-walled buildings and (c) requisitioned buildings; and what is the latest date by which (i) these decisions must be taken and (ii) the purchase and construction cycle must start and finish. [HL3965]

Lord Gilbert

On Friday 23 July, the Defence Procurement Agency placed a contract with Hunting Engineering Ltd to supply, build, maintain and operate temporary field accommodation for our forces in Kosovo at an estimated cost of about £110 million. This will comprise hard walled living accommodation, appropriate to the range of weather conditions encountered in the area, together with administrative and other facilities. We are planning for the accommodation to be fully deployed by December, and will thus, we hope, obviate the need for British forces to occupy requisitioned buildings.