§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the reasons for dispersal from London of the headquarters of his Department's procurement executive; and how his Department's policy has altered on this matter since 1979.
§ Mr. NeubertThe reasons for the relocation of procurement executive staff were set out in my reply of 27 March, col.101, to the hon. Member for Wansdyke (Mr. Thompson).
As in 1979, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and affordability are key factors in our decisions on such projects. A wide range of other considerations, including regional issues, are also given due weight.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the decision to disperse the procurement executive headquarters of his Department to Keynsham, near Bristol.
§ Mr. NeubertNo. The conclusion of the studies into the relocation of procurement executive staff were subject of comprehensive review before the decision I announced on 27 March, column101.
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§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the dispersal of his Department's procurement executive headquarters from London to Keynsham, near Bristol, refers to the same block of employees as were to be dispersed to St. Mellou's, near Cardiff, in 1978, pursuant to the Hardman report of 1975; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeubertThe 1978 proposal included moving the procurement executive's land and air systems controllerates to Cardiff. These controllerates form the bulk of the staff that it has now been decided to relocate to Keynsham; however, the ordnance board and London-based defence contracts staff are now also included.