§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the staffing implications of the closure of Chatham dockyard and the rundown of the dockyard at Portsmouth in so far as those decisions affect Rosyth.
§ Mr. BlakerThe Defence Review plans include provision for a build up in Rosyth dockyard. Most of this will be in the industrial work force and the direct effect on Rosyth of the closure of Chatham dockyard and the rundown of Portsmouth in this area is expected to be limited. There will be some opportunities for employees in certain trades to volunteer for vacancies at Rosyth, but there will no compulsory transfers.
Non-industrial civil servants in the technical, supervisory, administrative and managerial grades have a 72W liability to serve anywhere. Some staff in these categories will be transferred from Chatham or Portsmouth to fill vacancies at Rosyth which may arise as a result of the increased work load and retirement, including voluntary retirement and retirement of some officers who have reached the pensionable age of 60. There may also be transfers of staff elsewhere as part of a pattern of career development.