§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what live firing exercises involving MLRS and(a) the Territorial Army and (b) the regular army have taken place this year; and if he will make a statement. [129133]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 6 July 2000]: The following live firing exercises using Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) have already taken place or are planned for this year:
System (Service Requirement 903) is; and if he will make a statement. [129463]
§ Dr. MoonieThis is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
569WLetter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Paul Keetch, dated 12 July 2000:
I am replying to your question (No 129463) to the Secretary of State for Defence about the procurement strategy for the Active Search Sonobuoy System (ASSS) to meet SR(SA)903. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency.Under BAE SYSTEMS, as prime contractor for the Nimrod MRA4 programme, two consortia are currently conducting a risk reduction programme for ASSS and are in competition for the next phase of the programme, to develop and integrate the system into the Nimrod MRA4. Thomson Marconi Sonar Ltd (TMSL) lead one of the consortia and Ultra Electronics Limited (UEL) lead the other. Once the competition has been decided the main Nimrod MRA4 contract will be amended to incorporate this development and integration activity to enable ASSS to be introduced by March 2005 concurrent with the introduction into service of Nimrod MRA4. We have already secured a commitment to, and maximum price for this work from BAE SYSTEMS.