Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a risk assessment of outsourcing to the private sector the operation and maintenance of the Solid State Phased Array Radar at RAF Fylingdales.

Private-sector support to the Solid State Phased Array Radar at RAF Fylingdales is longstanding. The recent contract activity represents the continuation and re-let of existing support arrangements, rather than a new decision to outsource the capability.

The contractual re-lets were subject to the Ministry of Defence's established investment, commercial, security, safety and risk-assurance processes.

Operational command of, and accountability for, the radar remain with the Ministry of Defence. Contractor personnel provide defined operational, maintenance and sustainment support within established contractual, security and technical governance arrangements.