§ 1. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister of State for Defence what proposals he has for the future use of the Royal Naval Depôt at Corsham; how many civilian redundancies will be caused by its rundown; and what prospects for re-employment by his Department in the area his present employees have.
§ Mr. KirkThe transfer of stores facilities from Copenacre to Hartlebury will not begin until 1974–75. Part of the present complex will remain and consideration is being given to the transfer to the Copenacre/Bath area of the inventory task from Eaglescliffe. It is too early to say whether another use can be found for the remainder of the depôt.
If the inventory task is in fact transferred, the number of non-industrial posts is expected to remain at about the present level. About 850 fewer industrials will be required in the long term.
We expect to be able to place at Hartlebury any industrials who wish to transfer. We shall do our best, in cooperation with the Department of Employment, to find other jobs in the Copenacre area and elsewhere for the remainder.