Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department is making with the sale of the Defence Support Group; and if he will make a statement. [185104]

Mr Dunne, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology (including Defence Exports): We launched the formal sale process before Christmas 2013 and initial expressions of interest are positive. My intent is to complete the sale of the Defence Support Group (DSG) Land Business in financial year 2014-15.

DSG provides maintenance and engineering support to vehicles used by the Army. The sale of DSG is not a new concept—it is entirely analogous to the support arrangements that have successfully been in place for the air and maritime domains for a number of years.

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