HC Deb 06 January 2003 vol 397 c45W
Jim Dobbin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department directed UBS Warburg to hire Financial Dynamics; whether(a) he and (b) officials from his Department met employees of Financial Dynamics in the past two weeks; whether his Department is paying fees to UBS Warburg; and what discussions Sir Robert Walmsley has had during the past two months with senior officials from General Dynamics. [88354]

Mr. Hoon

The Government retained the services of UBS Warburg in early December to provide specialist financial advice. Financial Dynamics was retained for a short period as part of this arrangement. Ministry of Defence officials attended two meetings with officials of other Government Departments in December at which Financial Dynamics representatives were present.

Sir Robert Walmsley's only meetings with senior officials from General Dynamics in the past two months took place on 6 and 7 November during the ceremonies to mark the opening of the company's new facility at Oakdale and the related Bowman radio programme review.