HC Deb 17 February 2000 vol 344 cc649-50W
Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average time spent in maintenance for(a) Warrior variants, (b) Challenger One, (c) Challenger Two, (d) Saxon variants, (f) AVF 430 variants, (g) Sabre, (h) Striker, (i) Scimitar, (j) Spartan, (k) Sultan, (l) Samaritan and (m) Samson in each of the last five years; what proportion was planned maintenance; what proportions was reactive repair maintenance; and if he will make a statement. [109498]

Mr. Spellar

Maintenance of Army tanks and vehicles is carried out at four levels ranging from low level upkeep (eg tyres, batteries, lights) (Level 1) to major work conducted by the Army Base Repair Organisation or Industry (Level 4). This work, covering some 5,500 vehicles, is undertaken at over 150 locations both in the UK and overseas. Maintenance records are held by the Unit where the work is conducted and a networked information system is being developed to give greater overall visibility of the work undertaken. At present, however, the information is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.