HC Deb 30 April 1985 vol 78 cc123-4W
Mr. Gregory

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has plans to disperse the Army regimental pay and manning and record offices on to two sites.

Mr. Butler

Yes; Government proposals to concentrate these offices on to two sites at Glasgow and Leicester have been the subject of consultation with interested parties for some three months.

Mr. Gregory

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the co-located offices in Imphal barracks, York, have been excluded from consideration as one of the sites for the relocated Army regimental pay and manning and record offices.

Mr. Butler

Imphal barracks, York, was not excluded. It was covered by the PSA survey of sites but was considered to be less suitable than other sites available.

Mr. Gregory

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated minimum cost of the required new building at Leicester if the Army regimental pay and manning and record offices are re-located there and at Glasgow.

Mr. Butler

Between £5 million and £6 million.

Mr. Gregory

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the sale value of the Leicester site currently used for Army regimental pay and manning and record purposes.

Mr. Butler

About £700,000.

Mr. Gregory

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many redundancies would occur from the York Army regimental pay and manning and record offices establishment in York if the proposals in his consultation document were implemented without amendment; if he will categorise them; what cost would be involved; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Butler

It is not possible at this stage to say what the position would be in regard to redundancies amongst staff at any particular site that might be vacated, including York. There are a number of pre-redundancy measures that my Department would take in an effort to minimise any need for compulsory redundancies.

Mr. Gregory

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what additional sites were considered in York, and what estimates were made of their respective costs, prior to the issue of the consultation document on the Army regimental pay and manning and record offices' relocation.

Mr. Butler

Only Imphal barracks which is an existing MRO/RPO site was considered in York. There are no alternative Ministry of Defence sites available in York that would be suitable.

Mr. Gregory

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reconsider York as one of the relocated Army regimental pay and manning and record offices; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Butler

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 25 April at column 519.

Mr. Gregory

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received advocating the retention of York as one of the relocated sites of the Army regimental pay and manning and record offices; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Butler

I have received a delegation led by the hon. Member in addition to a number of letters from interested parties. These are being evaluated and I hope to be able to make an announcement about the Government's plans for the pay, manning and record offices by the end of May or early June.