I am slightly confused by how the taxpayer (me) is going to be assured we are getting value for money from this rather complicated commercial arrangement. How much fee on fee is there going to be?
As I understand it:
"Ascent" (LM and Babcock) have a 25 year contract to "provide the UKMFTS". As part of this, Ascent are managing the FW and RW aircraft service provider competition.
BAES sign this agreement with a group of companies which in itself includes Babcock!
So how does Ascent demonstrate impartiality in a) running a fair competition and b) getting value for money over the next 25 years when one of the bidders for this part of it is actually part of its own group?
Someone please tell me this is all easy to sort with firewalls etc...., else I wonder what the fees are to have the commercial experts sort this out! Of course the BAES group has not yet won the competition to be the FW aircraft service provider.