§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the location of the permanent headquarters for the Defence Logistics Organisation. [83539]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonWe have undertaken a comprehensive investment appraisal and business case study to inform a decision on the location of the headquarters of the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) following its Foundation Year. I am now able to announce that, subject to full consultation with the Trades Unions, the headquarters will be based from 1 April 2000 at Ensleigh in Bath. The headquarters will comprise only a very small proportion of the DLO's staff, but its new location is the best site to enable it to drive forward the revolution in logistic support, deliver the full scale of early business improvements expected from the newly unified organisation, work closely with the Defence Procurement Agency to develop the Smart Procurement initiative and meet the DLO vision to excel as an integrated and responsive defence logistics team. Once agreement is reached with the Trade Unions, transition planning will begin in earnest with the aim of a progressive move to the new location completed by 1 April 2000.