HC Deb 07 November 2000 vol 356 cc117-8W
Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2000,Official Report, column 160W, regarding his Department's headquarters in Whitehall, which companies or consortia other than Modus Services plc were (a) invited to apply for the public-private partnership contract and (b) applied for the public private-partnership contract; what independent assessment was made of his Department's office requirements prior to the contract being signed; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract between his Department and Modus Services plc. [136673]

Dr. Moonie

[holding answer 6 November 2000]: As a result of advertisements requesting Expressions of Interest in December 1996, over 30 companies were issued a Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) in February 1997. Eight consortia responded to the PIM and six consortia were invited in mid 1997 to submit outline proposals for the public-private partnership project for the redevelopment of the Ministry of Defence Main Building in Whitehall. These were:

  • Amey/Kvaerner consortium led by Kvaerner Corporate Development (this consortium became Modus Services plc);
  • British Land, Pell Frischmann and Royal Bank of Scotland led consortium;
  • Horseguards Group led by Ove Amp and Partners, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson Ltd. and Innisfree Management Ltd.;
    • 118W
  • MoDeM consortium led by the Bucknall Group;
  • Mapeley Defence led by Nationsbank;
  • Paladin Property Partnership led by Trevor Osbourne Property Group Ltd.

In late 1997, invitations to negotiate were issued to three consortia as follows:

  • Amey/Kvaerner (Modus);
  • MoDeM;
  • Mapeley Defence.

The project represents a long-overdue modernisation and rationalisation of the MOD's Headquarters in Whitehall. The building dates from the 1950s, its infrastructure is inefficient, the offices fall well short of modern standards and are close to becoming a health hazard. The requirement was subject to the usual extensive scrutiny within Government and a number of alternatives were considered. I am withholding a copy of the contract under Exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

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