§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many transport units are in service with the Army at the present time at home and abroad; what is the approximate cost of maintaining such a unit including all overhead and indirect costs, including vehicle maintenance and pension provision: and whether he is satisfied that a similar service could not be supplied at lower cost by private contractors using the same vehicles and back-up equipment.
§ Mr. StanleyThere are 13 independent major units of regimental size—two in the United Kingdom and 11 overseas—and 28 minor independent units of squadron size or less — 24 in the United Kingdom and four overseas—in support of the Regular Army worldwide. A further 11 major units of regimental size are to be found in the Territorial Army, all based in the United Kingdom. In addition, most Army units have a limited number of their own vehicles which are integral to their particular function.
The annual costs, at 1983 prices, of operating units of this kind, taking into account all overhead and indirect costs, differ from unit to unit depending upon the role and location; but typical examples are as follows:
£ million A Field Force Transport Regiment in United Kingdom 9.61 A Field Force Transport Regiment in BAOR 9.53 A Transport Squadron in the United Kingdom 1.39 A Transport Squadron in BAOR 2.76 A TA Transport Regiment 3.64 Some use is already made of the private sector, and studies are being made into greater use of the private sector for moving service freight in the United Kingdom.