Written question asked by Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative) on Tuesday, 4 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 July 2000. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 July 2000 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reasons have been given by Heckler & Koch for the SA80 refit to be carried out in Germany. - (Holding answer 7 July 2000).

Answer: Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reasons have been given by Heckler and Koch for the SA80 refit to be carried out in Germany. [129665] Mr. Hoon: [holding answer 7 July 2000]: Royal Ordnance submitted a bid to the Ministry of Defence on the basis that the bulk of the modification programme should be carried out at Heckler and Koch's Obendorf facility where the original modifications were designed and implemented. The company has indicated that to carry out the modification work elsewhere would require it to invest in the acquisition of new specialist tooling equipment and the transfer of technical expertise from Obendorf, and maintains that conducting the modification work there represents the lowest risk to the timescale and cost of the programme. Equally, early indications are that work on stripping and refurbishment of weapons, prior to modification could most sensibly be done in the UK.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 353 c455W;353 c453W; 129665
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Contracts Germany Procurement Standards Repairs and maintenance Rifles Machine tools Heckler and Koch
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk