HC Deb 18 March 1985 vol 75 cc406-7W
Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his proposals for the future of the civilian pay records office in Portsmouth; if he will give an indication of the future job prospects for the 120 employees who work there; what are the Government's intended actions with regard to the recommendations contained in Coopers and Lybrand's internal audit of the Department of Directors General accounts; and if the Government have any long term proposals for the privatisation of activities and work carried out at the civilian pay records office in Portsmouth.

Mr. Butler

The plans announced in 1982 to centralise at CPRO Portsmouth the calculation of pay for MOD industrials employed in southern England continue. The transfer of work to Portsmouth should be completed by 1987. During this period the number of staff employed in the CPRO will increase.

The Secretary of State for Defence has recently approved a number of further studies following the efficiency audit of the defence accounts organisation carried out last year by Coopers and Lybrand Associates. One of these will be to examine the MOD pay systems to determine the feasibility of introducing more efficient procedures.

The Government have no proposals for the privatisation of activities and work carried out at the CPRO in Portsmouth.