HC Deb 04 June 1965 vol 713 cc274-6W
Mr. Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a list of maintenance units in the United Kingdom with locations, size of staffs and area of land occupied in each case, together with the date when each was opened, and particulars of any proposed closures.

Mr. Millan

I understand that the maintenance units in which my hon. Friend is interested are the R.A.F.

Number of staff Area of land occupied Date opened
R.A.F. Civilian
Carlisle … … 15 2,399 420 acres April, 1939
Hartlebury … … 16 1,934 351 acres Sept., 1938
Heywood … … 14 1,712 291 acres May, 1939
Quedgeley … … 15 1,713 551 acres April, 1939
Stafford … … 920 1,199 518 acres Dec., 1939

As my hon. Friend knows, we have recently announced our intention to close Heywood.

Mr. Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in which neighbouring towns he anticipates being able to offer suitable jobs to the established civil servants on the staff of the maintenance unit at Heywood.

Mr. Millan

Alternative Government employment will be available for all the established civilians who are under 60, but I regret that I am unable to say at present where these posts will be. However, I am afraid that it is unlikely that

Non Industrial Staff Male Industrial Employees Skilled Industrial Employees Non-Skilled Non Industrial Staff Female Industrial Employees Skilled Industrial Employees Non-Skilled
21 and under … 14 — 8 46 — 1
22–29 … 11 18 50 37 — 9
30–39 … 22 23 84 41 — 27
40–49 … 76 34 148 34 — 69
50–59 … 162 61 366 63 — 83
60 and over … 15 27 253 2 — 4
TOTAL … 300 163 909 223 Nil 193

Mr. Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many acres of land are occupied by the maintenance unit at Heywood.

Mr. Millan

Two hundred and ninety-one acres.

Mr. Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that the rundown of the maintenance unit at Heywood is not completed until all employees are offered suitable alternative employment and full compensation.

Equipment Storage Depots. There are five of these in the United Kingdom at

  • Carlisle.
  • Hartlebury.
  • Heywood.
  • Quedgeley.
  • Stafford.

The details requested are as follows:

many of them will be within travelling distances of their homes.

Mr. Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an analysis by age, sex, category of work, and length of service, of all employees at the maintenance unit at Heywood.

Mr. Millan

The latest available figures which provided an analysis by age, sex and category were drawn up last year and they are given in the table below. An analysis by length of service is not immediately available but I will forward this information to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Mr. Millan

Terminal benefits will be paid to all employees at No. 35 MU Heywood who are eligible under the Superannuation Acts. All established employees under the age of 60 will be offered other Government employment. The proportion of staff who do not fall into either of these categories is small, and the Ministry of Defence is in close touch with the Ministry of Labour to ensure so far as is possible that opportunities for alternative employment are brought to the notice of all employees who will become redundant.