Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the current contract to run the facilities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston was awarded as a result of open competition or an invitation for alternative bids.

The current contract for the management and operation of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, including the Aldermaston site, was awarded in 2000 following an open competition and will expire in 2025. No decision has been made on how any succeeding contract might be awarded.