HC Deb 11 January 2000 vol 342 cc128-9W
Mr. Ivan Henderson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specification was set out in the invitation to tender for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force Roll-On-Roll-Off vessel PFI contract regarding the(a) use by bidders of UK seafarers, (b) commitment to recruitment by bidders of seafarers from traditional UK maritime communities, (c) use by bidders of non-UK seafarers, (d) commitment of bidders to the training initiatives recently announced by the Government, (e) training opportunities for officers and ratings to be provided on the vessels and (f) management of the health, safety and employment welfare of crews. [104088]

Mr. Kilfoyle

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

Letter from Sir Robert Walmsley to Mr. Ivan Henderson, dated 11 January 2000: I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the specification set out in the invitation to tender for the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces Roll-on-Roll-Off vessel PFI contract. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. Under PFI arrangements, it will be for bidders to provide and manage the service, including the provision of appropriately-trained crews. The invitation to tender did not cite a specification for the issues listed in the question, although bidders have been asked to price the provision of British seamen who would be eligible for call-out as Sponsored Reserves. Bidders would be free to crew the vessels as they wished when trading commercially. A decision on whether or not the MoD requires the use of Sponsored Reserves for Joint Rapid Reaction Forces operations or exercises will be taken in the light of the evaluation of the bids.

Mr. Ivan Henderson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce the award of the PFI contract for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force Roll-On Roll-Off vessels. [104090]

Mr. Kilfoyle

Our current intention is to place a contract in summer 2000 for Roll-on Roll-off vessels to support the Joint Rapid Reaction Force.

Mr. Ivan Henderson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans have been made to meet the needs of the armed forces in the event of any delay in(a) the awarding of the PFI contract for the Joint Rapid Reaction Force Roll-On Roll-Off vessels and (b) the delivery of the vessels. [104091]

Mr. Kilfoyle

The project is on track to achieve the placing of the contract in summer 2000. We have always planned to provide an interim service from October 2000, through charter arrangements, until the new service was available. In the event of a delay to the delivery of the vessels, these arrangements could be extended to cover the gap.