§ Sir Frederick Burdenasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were employed at Chatham, Portsmouth, Devonport and Rosyth Royal naval dockyards, respectively, on 31 January 1979 and at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. BlakerThe information is as follows:
31 January 1979 1 December 1982 Chatham 6,218 3,805 Portsmouth 7,833 4,986 Devonport 12,838 12,633 Rosyth 6,034 5,887 32,923 27,311
§ Sir Frederick Burdenasked the Secretary of State for Defence what categories and quantities of stores and equipment for the Falkland Islands task force were provided by Chatham dockyard.
§ Mr. BlakerEquipment manufactured or repaired by Chatham dockyard for the Falkland Islands task force included gun mountings, rocket launchers, lockers, buoys, rope and electronic items. So far as the stores organisation was concerned, Chatham has not been a major holding centre for some time and only about 1 per cent. of the total number of stores issues made to the task force came from the base. These included, however, some large issues, particularly of lubricating oil.
Throughout the operation the entire work force at the naval base worked with dedication and efficiency, and responded to all the demands that the situation placed upon them.
§ Sir Frederick Burdenasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications of the loss and damage to Her Majesty's ships taking part in the Falkland Islands task force for the plans to concentrate all future naval support facilities at Devonport and Rosyth.
§ Mr. BlakerThe planned build-up at Devonport and Rosyth dockyards is continuing. The facilities available at these dockyards, together with the additional support capacity in the naval base at Portsmouth, announced on 14 December 1982, will be sufficient to meet the future refitting and repair needs of Royal Navy ships and submarines, including those returning from or deploying to the South Atlantic.
§ Sir Frederick Burdenasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the planned labour force at Devonport and Rosyth Royal naval dockyards after the full reprovision there of the services available at Chatham and Portsmouth.
§ Mr. BlakerThe total dockyard labour force planned for Devonport and Rosyth at 1 April 1984 is as follows:
405W
Devonport 13,621 Rosyth 6,254 By this date the facilities available at Devonport and Rosyth and the additional support capacity in the naval base at Portsmouth, announced on 14 December 1982, will be sufficient to meet the refitting and repair requirements of Royal Navy ships and submarines.
§ Sir Frederick Burdenasked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made to secure adequate repair and refit facilities in Her Majesty's dockyards between the ending of such facilities at Chatham and Portsmouth dockyards in 1984 and the availability of increased capacity at Devonport and Rosyth in 1986.
§ Mr. BlakerThe work which is due to be completed in 1986 at Devonport and Rosyth largely consists of the routine replacement of facilities. Meanwhile the existing facilities will remain available for use.
I am satisfied that by 1 April 1984 Devonport and Rosyth dockyards, whose work forces will by then have been increased to the necessary level, supplemented by the additional support capacity in the naval base at Portsmouth announced on 14 December, will be able to satisfy the refitting and repair needs of Royal Navy ships and submarines.