HC Deb 08 May 1963 vol 677 cc404-5
10. Mr. Mulley

asked the Secretary of State for Air why he has decided to close Royal Air Force, Tangmere, as an operational station; what expenditure has been incurred in building works for the station, the Joint Services Language School, and married quarters in the last three years; how many civil servants and employees of civilian contractors are now employed at the station; and how many will be required in its new rôle.

Mr. H. Fraser

The decision was taken on grounds of economy. Over the last three years capital works expenditure has amounted to £125,000 for the station, £585 for the Joint Services Language School and £3,000 for the married quarters. At present there are 218 civil servants at Tangmere and I understand that the contractor has about 190 employees. A few civilians will probably still be required when the station assumes its new rôle, but the precise details have yet to be worked out.

Mr. Mulley

Was not this station designed to be a permanent station? At any rate, the employees there were so told. Is not the Minister a little concerned at the fact that over the last three years a considerable capital development for a small station of this sort has been carried out, but now on the grounds of economy it is decided to close it? Does not the Minister pay some regard to the expenditure of capital and the loss this decision will obviously entail?

Mr. Fraser

As the hon. Gentleman knows, there has been the rundown of the Thor squadrons, and other movements inside the Air Force at other places have come up. If we had kept Tangmere, it would have entailed a capital expenditure of nearly £600,000.