HC Deb 14 November 1977 vol 939 cc85-6W
Mr. Watkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of running RAF Innsworth.

Mr. Wellbeloved

In 1976–77, the latest year for which figures are available, the annual running cost of RAF Innsworth, including the RAF Personnel Management Centre there, but excluding personnel costs, was approximately £1,450,000.

Mr. Watkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the main tasks carried out at RAF Innsworth.

Mr. Wellbeloved

The main task of RAF Innsworth is to provide administrative support for the RAF Personnel Management Centre which is located at both Innsworth and Barnwood and is responsible for the career management and records of all RAF personnel and for processing the pay of airmen.

Mr. Watkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been spent on capital investment at RAF Innsworth in the last five years.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Capital investment in the last five years at RAF Innsworth, including the RAF Personnel Management Centre there, has amounted to approximately £4,500,000.

Mr. Watkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel, Service and civilian, are currently employed at RAF Innsworth.

Mr. Wellbeloved

There are currently 223 Service men and 120 Ministry of Defence civilians at RAF Innsworth itself, and 374 Service men and 638 MOD civilians at the RAF Personnel Management Centre there. In addition, there are 60 Service men and 180 MOD civilians at the RAF Personnel Management Centre at nearby Barnwood. These figures exclude staff employed by the Property Services Agency.

Mr. Watkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what future plans he has for RAF Innsworth.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Consideration is being given to the possibility of transferring the RAF Personnel Management Centre from Innsworth and Barnwood to Glasgow in the mid-1980s to help meet the MOD's dispersal commitment. The PMC would form part of a proposed computer-based package made up of elements of the pay, records and management information systems of all three Services, including the Royal Army Pay Corps computer centre at Worthy Down and the Commodore, Naval Drafting, HMS "Centurion", Gosport, together with the civilian industrial and non-industrial pay functions at Cheadle Hulme and Bath. However, no final decisions have been taken on the composition of the packages of work to be dispersed.

Mr. Watkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service ranks there are attached to RAF Innsworth.

Mr. Wellbeloved

Apart from those established at RAF Innsworth and at the Personnel Management Centre at Inns-worth and Barnwood, 168 Service men serving at nearby locations are attached to RAF Innsworth.