§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the considerations which led to the decision to close the workshops at the Admiralty Compass Observatory at Slough.
§ Dr. GilbertThe production workshops at ACO Slough undertake the repair and manufacture of compass 165W equipment. The requirement to undertake first production to prove the design of new items has declined very considerably whilst the repair side is now largely devoted to older compasses and equipments which are being phased out of service. In consequence, it has become uneconomic for the workshops to continue in operation. The normal consultative processes are now taking place with the staff and trade union sides of the Whitley Council.
§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons are likely to become redundant as a result of the closure in 1977 of the Admiralty Compass Observatory workshops at Ditton Park, Slough.
§ Dr. GilbertClosure of the production workshops at ACO Slough will not be completed until 1980. Consultation with the staff and trade union sides of the Whitley Council is now taking place. It is therefore too early to say how many members of the staff will become redundant as a result of the proposed closure, but every effort will be made to offer those involved alternative employment within the Ministry of Defence or other Government Departments.