To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current value and type of contracts that his Department have with Airwork Ltd.; and what conditions relating to operations in the event of a conflict have been included in these contracts.

Figures for the end of the 1992–93 financial year are still being finalised, but at the end of February my Department had 49 contracts with Airwork Ltd. The original value of these was some £91 million, but the value of the work still to be carried out is some £28·5 million.Airwork Ltd. provides my Department with a wide range of aircraft-related maintenance, repair and other support activities, as well as providing services such as catering and cleaning.Terms and conditions of individual contracts are regarded as commercially confidential, but I can confirm that our policy for contracting out support services takes account of the need for continued support in time of conflict.