To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department and the armed forces have taken to contract out training and consultancy services to small companies; what contracts on what subjects have been let in the last two years; what value these contracts were for; and if he will make a statement.

We continue to review and market test support activities including training and consultancy services and to award contracts where it is demonstrated that they will provide the best value for money. The choice of contractor will depend entirely upon the proposals received following normal competitive tender action. Small firms are encouraged to participate in this process whenever possible through the Ministry of Defence's successful small firms initiative, and by the new suppliers service of MOD.Complete figures on training and consultancy services are not held centrally but it has been possible to identify a number of contracts let over the past two years in the following areas:

Year	Number of contracts	Total value (£)
Driver training
1988–89	16	305,680
1989–90	19	168,000
Technical support services
1988–89	2	593,486
1989–90	6	524,020
Academic services
1988–89	Nil	Nil
1989–90	2	2,048,870

In addition, details of management and computer consultancy contracts for the last two years were given to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) by my hon. Friends the Minister of State and the then

Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement on 28 March 1990 at column