(2) in relation to the sale of which sites he expects to receive monies from QinetiQ as a result of the clawback agreement during 2008; how much he expects to receive in relation to each such site; and for which sites he does not expect to receive monies;
(3) what acreage of land has been transferred from his Department to QinetiQ; how much of that land has subsequently been disposed of and at what price; and if he will make a statement.
The requested information is not held centrally or in a consistent form. However, it should be possible to compile the requested information without incurring disproportionate cost. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the work has been completed and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Substantive answer from Des Browne to Mike Hancock:
I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 21 January 2008 (Official Report, column 1604W) about monies received from QinetiQ following the sale of land as a result of the clawback agreement and what acreage of land has been transferred to QinetiQ and has subsequently been disposed of.
The table at Annex A shows the acreage of land transferred to QinetiQ together with an indication as to whether it has been substantially sold and if clawback has been received by the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
In respect to the value of the land transferred, I refer you to the answer by the then Under Secretary of State gave on 13 January 2003 (Official Report, column 404W) to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin). In terms of the actual receipts, the attached table cross references the relevant passages of QinetiQ's Annual Accounts. However, additional details are withheld on grounds of commercial confidentiality.
In 2003, when a stake in QinetiQ was being sold to the Carlyle Group, the Aquilla and Chertsey sites had already been identified as surplus to QinetiQ's business requirements. QinetiQ's obligation to pay the proceeds to the Department were set out in the Aquilla and Chertsey loan note. As a result, £60m of the proceeds from the sale of these sites came directly to the MOD.
I am unable to comment on the likely future receipts from clawback as this very much depends on the future use of sites by QinetiQ, along with the company's schedule for disposal, the timing and terms and conditions of any sale. MOD officials are aware of two prospective sales at Bincleaves in Weymouth and Eastney in your constituency. This information is in the public domain as a result of planning applications or consultations made by the company.
I am placing a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Site title Hectares Site sold by QinetiQ Clawback triggered Aberporth 48 Yes. 2003 and 2004 No Alverstoke 9.21 No — Angle 19.41 Yes. 2006 Yes. Awaiting final negotiations over payment. Aquila 9.62 Yes. 2003 No. Aquilla and Chertsey sales tied o repayment of MOD loan to QinetiQ Bedford Sharmbrook <0.3 Yes. 2004 No Bedford Sports and Social 0.42 Yes. 2003 No Bedford Enclave 5.52 Yes. 2007 — Bedford Tunnels 35.2 — — Bedford Twinwood 31 — — Bincleaves 2.72 No. Possible sale 2008-09 — Chertsey - Northern Site 40.9 Yes. Part sales in 2003 and 2006 — Chertsey -Southern Site 80.2 — — Christchurch 2.69 No — Cobbett Hill 76.08 Yes. 2004 Yes. Payment received Farnborough Cody 148.8 No — Fort Halstead 135.17 Yes. 2005 Yes. Awaiting final negotiations over payment. Fraser 4.83 No. Possible sale 2008-09 — Funtington North 16.3 No — Haslar 15.84 No — Hurn Main 98 No — Hurn 142.5 No — Barnsfield — — — Hum Sandleheath 20.2 No — Hutton Moor 6.07 Yes. 2005 Yes. Awaiting payment Malvern Main Site 28.49 No — Malvern Science Park 4.66 Yes. 2006 No Nutley Farm 1.14 No — Pershore 110.4 No — Portsdown LBTS 10.52 No — Pyestock North 53 Yes. 2004 No Pyestock South 33.85 Yes. Part sale 2006. Part sale 2007 No West Drayton 1.76 Yes. 2004 No Winfrith 2.684 No — Notes: Annual report 2004 - page 1 Note 3c—Includes disclosable details of Chertsey Transaction. Annual report 2005 - page 55 Note 3—Includes disclosable details of Pyestock North transaction. Annual report 2006 - page 32 section on fixed asset disposals includes details on disclosable Fort Halstead transaction. Annual report 2006 - page 68 Note 6—Adds to disclosable information details of Pyestock South transaction. Annual report 2007 - page 74 Note 5b—refers to Bedford transaction.