Wales ‘should be given chance to bid for new MoD contract’

WALES must not be denied the multibillion pound opportunity to bid to make the Army’s new generation of armoured vehicles, politicians across the political divide have warned.

They want General Dynamics, which has major operations in Merthyr Tydfil and Oakdale, to be able to bid for the contract to build the new Mechanised Infantry Vehicles (MIV).

It is understood that up to 800 MIVs could be ordered, but there is widespread alarm at claims the contract could be awarded to a German manufacturer without a competitive bidding process.

Welsh Government Economy and Transport Secretary Ken Skates said: “It would be outrageous if the UK Government created a situation where businesses based in Wales were excluded from even pitching for what would be a very lucrative and prestigious deal.”

The MIVs would replace the Scimitar armoured cars, and it will be at the heart of new strike brigades the Ministry of Defence wants to have up and running by 2025.

According to the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the new brigades would be able to “deploy rapidly over long distances” and form part of a “war-fighting division optimised for high-intensity combat operations”.

It has been reported that if the “Boxer” is bought from Germany, each one would cost at least £4m.

Assembly Members from different parties have written to the Prime Minister, warning that the lack of a competitive bidding process would put jobs at risk and erode “the case for future inward investment by companies in the UK”.

Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffith said: “It will be extremely disappointing if the government does not allow UKbased companies to bid on the contracts for the Mechanised Infantry Vehicles. It would be complete hypocrisy from the government who have said repeatedly they favour competition in defence procurement.”

She added: “A contract of this scale could provide a significant boost to local employment opportunities and the economy. It would be a betrayal of UK defence workers for the government to gift this contract without a bidding process.”

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Labour AM Dawn Bowden said: “Let’s hope there is no truth in the suggestion that the MoD could buy the Boxer vehicle from Germany without the chance of competition from UK firms. We know there are firms in Wales that could build these vehicles, including General Dynamics.

“It would be a disgrace if this work went to other countries without any process of competition . . . more young people could be trained in places like Merthyr College to help provide the expanded workforce such a contract would require.”

Steffan Lewis, Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales East, said: “Given the increased manufacturing capacity in Wales and the jobs this would secure, I want to see Welsh industry given a proper chance to compete.”

A Welsh Conservative spokesman said Montgomeryshire AM Russell George had lobbied the MoD on the issue.

The MoD stated: “No decision has been taken at this stage, and our approach remains to encourage open competition wherever possible.”