HC Deb 21 January 2004 vol 416 cc1245-6W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) civilian and (b) service posts in his Department in Gibraltar will be (i) transferred to the private sector and (ii) removed. [148458]

Mr. Ingram

Headquarters British Forces Gibraltar is currently evaluating the most cost-effective method of delivering janitorial, catering and transportation services. Although under review, at this stage no decisions have been made to transfer posts to the private sector.

Routine local resource management plans are to make a reduction of 23 civilian and one service posts, over the next four years. We envisage that this will be achieved by a combination of natural wastage and voluntary early retirement.