Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the turnover at the Ministry of Defence proof and experimental establishment at Pendine is work carried out for the Ministry of Defence; and what percentage is for work carried out for private companies.
§ Mr. AitkenThe proof and experimental establishments (P and EEs) are maintained primarily for the conduct of proof and trials work for the Ministry of Defence; work for private companies at Pendine, and at the other P and EEs, accounts for less than 10 per cent. of their turnover.
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the estimated cost of relocation of the work now being carried out at the Ministry of Defence proof and experimental establishment at Pendine.
§ Mr. AitkenThe estimates of relocation costs for the work now being carried out at each of the proof and experimental establishments are not yet complete. They will be an important factor in our review of test and evaluation activities.
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which proof and experimental establishments (land systems) are being considered for closures.
§ Mr. AitkenThe Director General of Test and Evaluation (DGT&E) is conducting a wide-ranging review of the Department's test and evaluation activities and facilities. This will look at each of his 40 test and evaluation establishments, including all the proof and experimental establishments. DGT and E is due to report his findings in May. Decisions on his recommendations will be taken by Ministers after full consultation with the trade unions, hon. Members and others.
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the turnover for 1991–92 and forecast turnover for 1992–93 for each of the five Ministry of Defence proof and experimental establishments (land systems); and what comparisons he has made of their cost effectiveness.
§ Mr. AitkenIt is not possible to produce figures on an exactly comparable basis for the two years in question because of changes in the Department's accounting practice and some rationalisation of facilities.
Subject to these provisos, the running cost details are as follows:
750W
£ million 1991–92 11992–93 Cold Meece 1.8 2.4 Eskmeals 8.0 8.0 Environmental Test Centre Foulness 3.6 4.5 Pendine 7.6 7.0 Shoeburyness 11.7 17.2 1 Projected. The figures for Shoeburyness include P and EE Lavington which is a satellite of the former.
Cold Meece is scheduled to close on 31 March 1993.
Each establishment has different specialist capabilities and whilst the Department seeks to ensure that all are cost effective, comparisons on a purely financial basis would be misleading.
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the construction cost in today's prices of building a facility to the same specifications as the 1500-metre test track at the Ministry of Defence proof and experimental establishment at Pendine.
§ Mr. AitkenWe are assessing our exact requirements for test-track facilities, and the cost of re-providing them should that prove necessary, as part of the review of test and evaluation facilities. Accurate cost figures are not yet available.
Mr. Alan W. WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give individual cash estimates as to the amount of work carried out for customers in the private sector at the Ministry of Defence proof and experimental establishment in Pendine in the last financial year.
§ Mr. AitkenEstimates of the cost of work undertaken for private customers are confidential to the Department and the companies concerned.