§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) service and (b) civilian jobs are affected by the proposed closure of RAF Chilmark; what are the principal tasks carried out there; where they will be carried out in future; what net savings are anticipated over the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonThis is a matter for the RAF Maintenance Group Defence Support Agency under its chief executive, Air Vice-Marshal French. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from N. Carter to Mr. John Home Robertson, dated 5 November 1992: 535W
1. In the absence on duty of the Maintenance Group Defence Support Agency Chief Executive, Air Vice-Marshal French, I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question, Number 7307F.2. The principal tasks of RAF Chilmark are the storage and maintenance of RAF non-guided aircraft weapons and ammunition, together with the bulk storage of RAF packed petroleum products. Following the closure of RAF Chilmark, the weapons and ammunition storage and maintenance task will be transferred to Army Department Ammunition Storage Depots in the UK, whilst the petroleum stores task will be transferred to an RAF Equipment Supply Depot—either at RAF Quedgeley, RAF Carlisle or RAF Stafford. The outcome of current studies will determine which depot this will be.3. Fourteen Service and 250 civilian jobs will be affected by the closure of RAF Chilmark. The Conventional Armament Study Team's report estimated the net savings accruing from the closure of RAF Chilmark as £44 million over 10 years.