§ Mr. Juddasked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will now make a statement on the future of Copenacre supply depot, near Bath, with special reference to the evidence given by his Department to the Bishop of Bristol's public inquiry and to the adequacy of consultations with the workers there concerning the impact of present plans on employment.
§ Mr. BuckI have examined the report published by the Bishop of Bristol following his recent inquiry but I do not consider that there is anything in this report which would lead the Government to alter the decision to move the Royal Naval Stores Depot from Copenacre to Hartlebury. This move is planned to begin in 1977 and to be spread over two years.
It has not been possible to follow the normal Civil Service procedures for consultation with the staff at Copenacre for some time because of problems about representation. I have recently had discussions with the national staff and trade union sides on this subject, however, and we have agreed a basis on which I hope it will be possible to resume consultations with the staff at an early date.