Royal Navy Armaments Depot, Trecwm (Hansard, 29 January 1992)

§ Mr. Michael
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his best estimate of the civilian job losses that will arise in the local community as a consequence of the closure of the Royal Navy armaments depot, Trecwn; and when these will take place;
(2) what is his estimate of the civilian job losses that will arise in the local community as a consequence of the closure of RAF Brawdy; and when the jobs will go.

§ Mr. David Hunt
Around 80 direct jobs will be lost at RAF Brawdy and 415 direct jobs are affected at RNAD, Trecwn which is to close in 1996. The wider effects of these decisions will be considered by the task force which I announced on 24 January.

§ Mr. Michael
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cash contribution currently made to the local economy as a result of the employment provided at the Royal Navy armaments depot, Trecwn.

§ Mr. David Hunt
No official estimate is available of the cash contribution of RNAD, Trecwn to the local economy.
580W

§ Mr. Michael
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cash contribution currently made to the local economy as a result of the employment provided at RAF Brawdy.

§ Mr. David Hunt
No official estimate is available of the cash contribution made to the local economy by RAF Brawdy. I am, however, aware that the local authorities and the Transport and General Workers Union published figures in their social and economic study of RAF Brawdy in March last year. This report will be taken into consideration by the task force which I announced on 24 January. Mr. Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he will take steps to launch an initiative to provide new jobs in the local economy to replace those being lost as a result of the proposed closure of the Royal Navy armaments depot, Trecwn;
(2) whether he will take steps to launch an initiative to provide new jobs in the local economy to replace those being lost as a result of the proposed closure of RAF Brawdy.

§ Mr. David Hunt
In the light of the Secretary of State for Defence's announcement on 24 January that RNAD, Trecwn is to be progressively run down and closed in March 1996 and that flying training at RAF Brawdy is to end on 31 August 1992, I have announced that a special task force for the area is to be established with immediate effect. It will be the responsibility of the task force to: consider and make recommendations on short-term measures to alleviate the impact of these decisions; study the economic potential of the area affected, identify its strengths and weaknesses and make recommendations on measures to secure the economic regeneration of the area; seek alternative uses, including possible defence uses, for the site at RAF Brawdy; and to consider alternative uses for the site at RNAD, Trecwn following its closure; and review the co-ordination of the activities and plans of central and local government and of the principal agencies in the area.
In addition, I also propose to chair a strategy group, comprising the chairmen of all the relevant organisations, to launch the task force programme and monitor its progress.