§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what(a) was his original estimate and (b) is his current estimate of the total cost of locating the new joint service command and staff college at Camberley; [14421]
(2) when his Department concluded that the works programme for the new joint service command and staff college would be delayed; and what reasons were given; [14422]
(3) what studies his Department has commissioned to investigate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of locating the new joint service command and staff college at Camberley; from whom; and at what cost; [14423]
(4) if he has commissioned studies investigating the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of locating the new joint service command and staff college elsewhere than Camberley; from whom; and at what cost; [14424]
443W(5) what is his estimate of the financial involvement expected from the private sector in the provision of accommodation and services for the new joint service command and staff college; [14425]
(6) what sites in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales he has examined as possible locations for the joint service command and staff college; [14426]
(7) how many proposals he has received for alternative locations for the joint service command and staff college; [14427]
(8) what is his estimate of the financial cost of the delay to the works programme for the new joint service command and staff college. [14428]
§ Mr. Soames[holding answer 9 February 1996]: My Department has examined in detail the Royal Naval college Greenwich, the Army staff college at Camberley and RAF Bracknell as potential locations for the joint service command and staff college.
The estimated cost of establishing a JSCSC at Camberley, which I placed in the Library of the House on 31 March 1995 following the consultation period, was £208 million over 25 years at net present value. Our current estimate of the costs, on a comparable basis, is some £239 million.
The increase in estimated cost is principally me result of an increase in student numbers—from 312 to 367 on the main course—IT and academic support. These changes would be applicable to the JSCSC irrespective of its location, so the conclusion that Camberley is the most cost-effective and appropriate of the sites examined remains robust.
By bringing to the project private sector skills and disciplines, we expect to make significant savings over the current estimate. No proposals exploring the feasibility of alternative locations for the JSCSC have yet been received, nor will we be able to estimate the financial involvement from the private sector until we have received expressions of interest, for which we will advertise shortly.
In September 1995, we received the initial report from the works project manager and subsequently concluded that the works programme for the JSCSC buildings could not realistically be completed by September 1997.
We have since commissioned work to examine how staff training would best be delivered until the main works programme is complete. We have examined Queen Elizabeth Park barracks at Guildford and the royal military academy Sandhurst as possible options for an interim site for the JSCSC as well as split site options, but work to date indicates that RAF Bracknell is likely to be the most appropriate and cost-effective temporary site.
There will be some additional costs in establishing the JSCSC at an interim site and I will publish these once the formal appraisal of the options is complete. It will, however, enable us to avoid delay in introducing this key change to officer training, and, on current evidence, is also likely to be significantly cheaper than running on the existing staff colleges.
444WDetails of the studies into the JSCSC are as follows:
£ thousand Subject Consultant Cost JSCSC options study locations for JSCSC Building design partnership 43 Further investigations of Camberley site Building design partnership 10 Detailed work to develop JSCSC proposals at Camberley White Young (works project manager) 328 Site options within Camberley for junior college Cecil Denny Heighton 12 Options for interim sites (not yet complete) Campbell Reith Hill 115 1 Estimate.