HC Deb 02 February 2000 vol 343 cc584-5W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of the Hagglunds BV206 vehicles being delivered to the Royal Marines. [106151]

Dr. Moonie

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 2 February 2000: I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost of the Hagglunds BV206 vehicles being delivered to the Royal Marines. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. The Hagglunds BV206 vehicle has been in service with the Royal Marines for over ten years and no new vehicles of this type are being procured. However, the Defence Procurement Agency is currently in contract negotiations with Hagglunds for the procurement of an All Terrain Vehicle (Protected), known as (ATV(P)), for the Royal Marines. Once accepted into service, this vehicle will provide a protected manoeuvre capability additional to that of the BV206 vehicles. Since the price is still under negotiation, I am withholding information on the cost of this project in accordance with Exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to effective management and operations of the public service.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of installing the UKIVSC 501 satellite system on the Hagglunds BV206 vehicles being delivered to the Royal Marines. [106153]

Dr. Moonie

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 2 February 2000: I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the cost to the Ministry of Defence of installing the UK/VSC 501 satellite system on the Hagglunds BV206 vehicles being delivered to the Royal Marines. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. The total procurement cost for the two UK/VSC 501 satellite communications terminals, each of which were installed in a MOD owned Hagglunds BV206, was just under £3.2m. This cost includes the procurement of spares, training, documentation and supporting infrastructure. The vehicles were delivered to the Royal Marines last April.