§ Mr. Keyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what financial savings he hopes to achieve as a result of his proposals on contracting out and privatisation at Boscombe Down in each of the next five years.
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§ Mr. LeeIt is not proposed to undertake any privatisation studies at the aeroplane and armament experimental establishment. As regards contractorisation, it will not be possible to identify savings until proposals have been further developed but a number of studies are under way.
§ Mr. Keyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received in respect of his plans for contracting out and privatisation at Boscombe Down.
§ Mr. LeeMy Department has received representations from the trade unions at national level about a decision to contract out support activities for overseas trials undertaken by the A&AEE, and a meeting was recently held to discuss the subject with them. Following recent local management action to inform the trade unions of the general position in regard to manpower economies, the normal consultation processes will be set in hand as appropriate.
§ Mr. Keyasked the Secretary of State for Defence by what formula he compares the costing of work at Boscombe Down between own resources, contracting out and privatisation; and whether the formula is approved with the agreement of the trade unions involved.
§ Mr. LeeIn considering putting out work to contractors, we shall continue to have ragard to value for money. As before, the intention will be to compare like with like, and to take account of only those costs which will change as a result of contractorisation. As previously, the trade unions will be consulted at all appropriate stages.
§ Mr. Keyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of civilian employees at the Government's Boscombe Down establishment near Salisbury in each of the last 10 years; and if he will break the numbers down between industrial and non-industrial.
§ Mr. LeeThe information is as follows:
Year Non-Industrial Industrial Total 1975 662 1,277 1,939 1976 627 1,251 1,878 1977 607 1,209 1,816 1978 584 1,172 1,756 1979 605 1,116 1,721 1980 608 1,048 1,656 1981 568 1,028 1,596 1982 509 964 1,473 1983 509 831 1,340 1984 526 792 1,318 Note: Figures as at 1 April each year.
§ Mr. Keyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has announced for reductions in the number of (a) industrial and (b) non-industrial civilian employees at Boscombe Down as a result of his contracting out and privatisation policies.
§ Mr. LeeAt a recent meeting held at the aeroplane and armament experimental establishment the local trade union representatives were told of the manpower targets for 1 April 1985 for the establishment, and were given an indication of the support activities which were being considered for study for possible contractorisation to assist the establishment to meet the targets. It is not proposed to undertake any privatisation studies at the establishment.