§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the latest state of consultations with Portsmouth City Council concerning the release of defence land in Portsmouth to improve the facilities of the civilian docks in the Flathouse area.
§ Mr. KirkThis proposal involving an exchange of land has now been considered by the Ministry of Defence and it is hoped to resume negotiations with the Portsmouth City Council later this month.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the lowest rates of civilian pay in Portsmouth Dockyard, Fleet Establishments in the Portsmouth area, Royal Marine establishments 152W in the Portsmouth area, and Army establishments in the Portsmouth area, respectively.
§ Lord BalnielIn the Portsmouth area the lowest rates of pay in issue are: for the Royal Dockyard, £7 per week to a 15-year-old apprentice; for Fleet Establishments, £8.89 to a 16-year-old clerical assistant; for Royal Marine Establishments, £16.32 to a 20-year-old typist; and for Army Establishments, a basic rate of £8.65 to a juvenile labourer aged 16.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the degree to which the industrial dispute in Royal Naval dockyards is distorting ship maintenance and repair programmes, and to which it is interfering with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation commitments.
§ Lord BalnielThe repair and refit of a number of ships in the Royal Dockyards has been delayed, but this has not prevented the Royal Navy from meeting its NATO commitments.