§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish an itemised list of the estimated costs for the removal of the Admiralty Materials Laboratory to Haslar from Holton Heath at current prices.
§ Mr. DuffyThe detailed implications of the move of work from the Admiralty Materials Laboratory at Holton Heath to the proposed new establishment at Haslar are currently under study by my officials and are the subject of continuing consultations with representatives of staff associations and trade unions. I expect that it will be some months before this
554Westablishments located in the Birmingham, Selly Oak, parliamentary constituency; and what is the total number of people, both military and civilian, employed therein.
§ Mr. DuffyThere are no defence establishments located in the Birmingham, Selly Oak, parliamentary constituency.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in theOfficial Report the defence establishments located in the Greenwich constituency; and what is the total number of people, both military and civilian, employed therein.
§ Mr. DuffyThe defence establishments located in the Greenwich parliamentary constituency and service and civilian personnel employed are:
of people, both military and civilian, employed therein.
§ Mr. DuffyThe defence establishments located in the Harlow parliamentary constituency and military and civilian personnel employed are:
phase is concluded, and until final decisions have been reached on detailed plans it would be premature for me to consider publication of any estimates.
§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Defence if the trials tanks at Haslar are now obsolescent; and if there is sufficient space at the Holton Heath site to build new larger tanks.
§ Mr. DuffyThe existing trials tank facilities at Haslar are expected, with modifications currently planned, to have a useful life sufficient to meet the Royal Navy's needs until at least the 1990s. To reprovide these facilitiesde novo, whether at Holton Heath or at any other 555W site, would be an extremely costly undertaking. This was one of the salient factors taken into account in reaching the decision to concentrate marine technology research and development at Haslar.
§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has satisfied himself that sufficient housing will be available in the Haslar area for incoming families if the Admiralty Materials Laboratory is removed there; and what information he has as to the views of the Gosport, Fareham and Portsmouth local authorities.
§ Mr. DuffyI do not expect that an addition of about 70 staff and their families from the Admiralty Materials Laboratory to the very large population in the Portsmouth area will present any housing problems. My officials will naturally be consulting the appropriate local authorities and regional offices as soon as more specific information is available.
§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of any plans in hand for the improvement of the existing access roads in the Haslar area.
§ Mr. DuffyThat is a matter for local and regional authorities and the Department of the Environment.
§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the total ground area which would need to be made available at Haslar for the rehousing of proposed incoming establishments.
§ Mr. DuffyIt is expected that accommodation of the work and staff coming into Haslar from other establishments involved in stage 2 rationalisation will be achieved within existing Ministry of Defence land holdings.