§ Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to consult hon. Members with a constituency interest over Commander in Chief's Land Command's proposal to relocate HQ 2nd Division at York to Edinburgh in April 2000; if he will list the units currently located at Imphal Barracks in York and the number of(a) service and (b) civilian personnel employed by these units; which of these units will be affected by the Land Command restructuring proposals; and if he will make a statement about the future of Imphal Barracks in York and the Land Command restructuring proposals. [23356]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Commander in Chief Land Command has set in hand a study of the options for restructuring his Command. These options include a proposal to reduce the number of district headquarters from six to three. The study will include recommendations on the location of a headquarters to administer a proposed region covering Scotland and the North of England, parts of which are at present administered by headquarters of the Fifth Division at Shrewsbury, of the Second Division at York, and of the Scottish District at Edinburgh. This work is still at an early stage and no recommendations have yet been put to Ministers nor decisions been taken. Until the study is complete, it will not be possible to say whether and how any changes may affect Imphal Barracks in York, which at present houses both the headquarters of the Second Division and a number of other units.
The units currently located at Imphal Barracks, York are listed with the number of Service and civilian personnel employed there:
Unit Number of Service personnel employed Number of Civilian personnel employed Headquarters 2 Division 79 143 Headquarters York Garrison 5 73 Headquarters 15 (North East) Brigade 29 20 2 Signal Regiment 437 0 Recruiting and Liaison Staff (East) 4 7 120/123 Army Youth Team 7 0 RA Gunnery Training Team (North) 9 0 240 Signal Squadron 14 20 46 Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps 5 33 Periodic Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Examination Team 8 12 Kings Division Officer Recruiting 0 1 2 Military Intelligence Company 13 0 23 Military Intelligence Section 3 2 33 Section Special Investigation Branch Royal Military Police 9 3 150 Provost Company Royal Military Police (York Detachment) 2 0 Defence Estate Organisation (Works) York 0 4 Army Welfare Service York Branch 0 9 1. Figures for Service personnel employment are as at September 1997.
2. Figures for Civilian personnel employment are as at 1 January 1998.
We will initiate consultation, including with relevant hon. Members, in the normal way once any recommendations have been made.