Written question asked by Gerald Howarth (Conservative) on Wednesday, 19 November 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 November 2008. It was answered by Lord Beamish (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 November 2008 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Defence Evaluation and Research Agency: Property

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what price was realised from the sale of the Pystock site in Hampshire following the privatisation of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; and what covenants were placed on the sale.

Answer: The price received by QinetiQ, the successor to the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), from the sale of the Pystock site is a matter for the company. Some details can be found in QinetiQ's published accounts for 2006.In addition to covenants relating to clawback there were also covenants in the title documentation relating to the protection of certain strategic assets.The Ministry of Defence did not publish a break down of the individual site values contained in the bulk transfer of property to QinetiQ plc as part of the privatisation of DERA. As made clear at the time the valuations are considered commercially confidential.

Secondary information