§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 May 2000,Official Report, columns 509–10W, what changes there have been to the location and structures of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association since that answer. [134501]
§ Mr. SpellarFollowing the laying of the Defence Council's Reserve Forces Act 1996 (Reserve Associations) Order 2000, the Reserve Forces and Cadets Associations (RFCA) for the South East and Eastern Wessex administrative areas, minus Dorset, have been amalgamated to reflect the South East Government Office and Channel Islands administrative jurisdictions. It will be known as the South East RFCA, with a headquarters at Seely House, Shoe Lane, Aldershot GU11 2HJ. The responsibility for carrying out the Eastern Wessex Association's functions for Dorset moves to the Wessex RFCA, whose administrative area will now reflect that of the South West Government Office region. The Wessex RFCA headquarters remains at 2 Beaufort Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2JS.
These arrangements took effect from 1 October 2000. They are reflected in minor amendments to the RFCA Regulations, details of which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. We have also agreed with the RFCAs revised or amended Schemes of Association. Following consultation with their Trade Union representatives, arrangements for those Association employees opting for redundancy have been agreed. These are broadly in line with civil service arrangements. This completes the implementation of the organisational improvements and efficiencies sought in the Strategic Defence Review.