§ Mr. Burdenasked the Secretary of State for Defence what capital expenditure was required at Chatham when the Royal School of Supply moved there from Wetherby in 1959; and what additional capital expenditure has been necessary since that date.
§ Dr. David OwenThe total cost of moving the Royal Naval Supply and Secretariat School to Chatham was £25,000, as stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 8th April. Since then £100,000 has been spent on modernising the fabric on the Cookery School and £50,000 on its equipment. £241,000 has also been spent on improvements to some of the living accommodation at H.M.S. "Pembroke" which is occupied by the Fleet Accommodation Centre as well as the Supply and Secretariat School.—[Vol. 799, c. 533.]
§ Mr. Burdenasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of moving the Royal Supply School to Portsmouth comparing like with like with the figure of £25,000 given as the cost of transferring the establishment from Wetherby to Chatham in 1959.
§ Dr. David OwenIt is not meaningful to attempt to compare the cost of moving from huts at Wetherby to huts at Chatham with the cost of moving from296W sub-standard accommodation at Chatham to modern purpose built accommodation at Portsmouth and no like for like comparison can be made.
§ Mr. Burdenasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the value of the capital equipment now in use at Chatham that can be used at Portsmouth when the Royal Supply School is transferred there; what is the value of the residue; and what use is intended for it.
§ Dr. David OwenAt this point in time it would not be realistic to forecast how much of the equipment now in use at Chatham will be suitable for transfer to Portsmouth in seven or eight years time. During the interval some of the equipment will wear out and some will need replacement to keep pace with technological development. It is possible, for example, that there will be advances in infrared cookery techniques which will involve the use of new equipment.
As the time of the move draws near we shall limit the replacement programme so that new equipment is provided at Portsmouth whilst Chatham generally speaking continues to make do with the old. When the time of transfer comes, all equipment that is suitable for transfer will be transferred. We envisage that the residue will by that time be either so old or so outmoded to be fit only for disposal.
§ Mr. Burdenasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current establishment of the Royal Supply School, Chatham; what is the proposed establishment; when it will operate at Portsmouth; and what is the anticipated saving in personnel.
§ Dr. David OwenThe current establishment of the Supply and Secretariat School at Chatham is about 400 excluding common administrative staff serving H.M.S. "Pembroke", the Fleet Accommodation Centre. Initial estimates are that about 30 administrative posts will be saved at Chatham by the move of the School to Portsmouth in the late 1970's.
§ Mr. Burdenasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the 297W present staff of the Royal Supply School, Chatham, are of such an age, or whose terms of employment is such, that they will no longer be available through natural wastage in 1979.
§ Dr, David OwenThe staff are mainly naval personnel. The three civilian employees currently employed in the School are all under 50 years of age, and their terms of employment are such that they could still be employed at the School in 1979.