§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Defence what savings he estimates will be made by the closing down of the Royal Air Force Station at Acklington.
§ Mr. ReynoldsClosure of the station is expected to save about £1 million in capital expenditure over the next three years and about £300,000 a year in running costs.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much has been spent on maintenance and improvement of Acklington Royal Air Force Station in the last five years;
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that the rescue services are not weakened by his decision to close down the Acklington Royal Air Force Station.
§ Mr. ReynoldsI would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 20th and 21st January, 1969.—[Vol. 776, c.36, Vol. 776, c. 88.]
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Defence what alternative uses have been considered for Acklington Royal Air Force Station.
§ Mr. ReynoldsThe decision to close Acklington as an R.A.F. Station was reached only after exhaustive examination of alternative non-flying as well as flying tasks consistent with operational and support deployment needs. The possibility of some other use of the station is under consideration.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Defence what amount of operational costs will be saved by transferring the 18th Helicopter Squadron from Acklington.
§ Mr. ReynoldsTransfer of No. 18 Squadron is an integral part of the operational re-grouping of the United Kingdom helicopter force in support of the Army. Saving of operational costs of this 125W squadron is not the prime consideration, although concentration of similar operational aircraft together with their Operational Conversion Unit on one base will inevitably produce worthwhile logistic and financial advantages.