HC Deb 28 May 2004 vol 422 cc52-3W
Mr. Kilfoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department has offered BAE Systems in their bid for the upgrading of helicopters in Bulgaria. [175803]

Mr. MacShane

The British embassy in Sofia has provided consistent support to BAE Systems in their bid, for example, by raising the matter in discussion with senior Bulgarian Ministry of Defence and military representatives and by meeting with company representatives.

Mr. Kilfoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions took place between his Department and representatives of the Government of Bulgaria with regard to BAE Systems' bid for the upgrading of helicopters in Bulgaria; which Ministers attended those discussions; on what dates they were held; and what the substance of those discussions was. [175804]

Mr. MacShane

There have been regular discussions over the last year between staff from the British embassy in Sofia and representatives of the Bulgarian Government and military. The dates of all such discussions have not been recorded but the substance covered the merits of the BAE Systems bid and of competing bids, and the procedures to be followed. Our ambassador raised this during his introductory call on senior military staff on 5 March, as well as at receptions and in the margins of other meetings. Our Defence Attaché, in addition to inquiring regularly about progress, attended a meeting on 27 April, between BAE Systems and Bulgarian Deputy Defence Ministers. This covered the bid process that the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence intended to follow.

Mr. Kilfoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received from foreign Governments about the tender process for the upgrading of helicopters in Bulgaria. [175805]

Mr. MacShane

No formal representations from any foreign Governments have been made to the FCO regarding the tender process for the upgrading of helicopters in Bulgaria.

Mr. Kilfoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Bulgarian officials have raised concerns with his Department about the bid by BAE Systems for the upgrading of helicopters in Bulgaria. [175806]

Mr. MacShane

Bulgarian officials have regularly discussed the bid with the staff of the British embassy in Sofia. Such discussions have covered, for example, the merits of the BAE bid and of competing bids, and the bid procedures.

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