Written question asked by Gerald Howarth (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 March 2010. It was answered by Lord Davies of Stamford (Labour) on Monday, 22 March 2010 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Future Rapid Effect System

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects to announce his decision on the preferred bidder for the Future Rapid Effects System armoured reconnaissance vehicle contract;

Answer: The Future Rapid Effect System programme has been recast from a single programme into a set of constituent projects, namely: the Specialist Vehicles; the Utility Vehicles; and the Manoeuvre Support Vehicles. An announcement on the competition for the Specialist Vehicle project has been made today in a written ministerial statement by the Secretary of State for Defence.HM Treasury has provided no advice to the Department regarding the choice of design for the Specialist Vehicle capability. The MOD reached its own decision on the choice of design based on the advice of expert assessment panels.

Secondary information