§ Rachel SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a decision will be made as to where HMS Nottingham will be repaired upon its return to the UK from Australia; what the procurement process will be for the repair work that is needed to HMS Nottingham; and if he will make a statement. [77690]
§ Mr. IngramI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 22 October 2002,Official Report, column 143W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock). Bids from those companies invited to tender for any repair work will be assessed during 62W Nottingham's journey back to the United Kingdom. Should the decision be taken to repair her, the intention would be to award a contract before she makes landfall in the United Kingdom.