Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) military survey activities, (b) defence accounts activities and (c) Royal Air Force training activities are due to become defence support agencies; and what is the nature of any other activities that are currently being considered for possible re-organisation into defence support agencies.
§ Mr. NeubertWe plan to start operating the Hydrographic Office at Taunton as a defence support agency from April 1990. In addition, we are currently preparing framework documents to cover the operations of the following activities:
- (a) Directorate of Military Survey at Feltham (excluding overseas elements)
- (b) Director General Defence Accounts, including its central bill-paying office at Liverpool and pay-roll offices at Cheadle Hulme and elsewhere
- (c) The RAF's training organisation within RAF Support command, based at various locations within the United Kingdom
- (d) Service Children's Schools in North West Europe.
We are also looking at a wide range of other possibilities for operation as defence support agencies, including activities in the areas of aircraft maintenance and repair, stores and transport, naval bases, computer services, education and chemical defence research.
Mr. O'NeillTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what service schools in Germany are due to become defence support agencies.
§ Mr. NeubertAs announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 18 October at column 155, we are considering operating service children's schools in north-west Europe as a defence support agency, run on Next Steps lines, but remaining within the defence chain of command. The exact scope of the proposed new organisation is under study. There are 87 service children's schools in north-west Europe, located in the Federal Republic of Germany (and Berlin), Belgium and Sardinia.