§ 6. Mr. Steve Webb (Northavon)What plans he has for employment levels at the Ministry's offices at Abbey Wood in South Gloucestershire. [45226]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. John Spellar)Under plans already announced, it is intended that the transfer of staff from the Ships Support Agency to the Ministry's offices at Abbey Wood be completed by around the end of 2001–02. The impact of the strategic defence review may change the size and numbers of the units occupying the offices, but those offices should remain fully occupied by my Department.
§ Mr. WebbIs the Minister aware that more than 2,000 people at Abbey Wood, many of whom are my constituents, have shown their loyalty to the Ministry of Defence by uprooting their homes and families to relocate there? Does he accept that those people deserve to be shown loyalty in return?
Mr. SpeliarAbsolutely; I understand that, and we are grateful for the work that those people undertake. They understand that there is evolution and change in the acquisition process. In many cases, that change has been based on suggestions that they have made, which are strongly supported and welcomed by many who work at Abbey Wood. Announcements have been made about a steady reduction of staff over the next four years as part of the drive for increased efficiency. However, we understand the human problems that may arise, especially for those who have relocated; those problems will be sympathetically considered in the broader context of the reorganisation of work at Abbey Wood.
§ Mr. James Gray (North Wiltshire)The Minister announced last week that he would remove the final 370 jobs from RN Copenacre in my constituency to Abbey Wood by 2001. When will he announce whether the Defence Vetting Agency will be based at RN Copenacre as a replacement and, if the replacement is not to be the DVA, what it will be?
§ Mr. SpellarThat announcement will be made, with a number of others, after the completion of the strategic defence review. We will consider all the options; as the hon. Gentleman rightly says, there are a number of possibilities, of which he has mentioned only one.