HC Deb 07 December 1993 vol 234 c175W
Mr. Bates

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for the future structure of the RAF support command flying training organisation.

Mr. Hanley

As a result of the reduced training requirement for pilots and aircrew in the RAF a study has been conducted into the RAF's flying training organisation to ensure that the training is being provided in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible. The study embraced all seven flying training stations and has examined the scope for rationalisation of tasks. While work remains to be done on the scope for rationalising other types of flying training, the review has concluded that fast jet advanced flying training currently based at RAF Valley and RAF Chivenor, can be rationalised and it is proposed that the task should be centred at RAF Valley. This would mean that flying training would cease at RAF Chivenor on 1 October 1994 and that Chivenor would be placed on a care and maintenance basis from 1 October 1995.

This proposal is expected to save some £127.86 million in net present value terms over 10 years. Some 119 civilian and 779 service posts would be affected. Civilian employees would be offered the range of outplacement services available and redundancies would be kept to a minimum. Any people made redundant would be eligible for compensation under the relevant pension scheme.

This proposal will be the subject of consultation with the trade unions and other interested parties and I have placed a copy of the consultation document in the Library of the House.

Separately I have looked again at the provision of RAF search and rescue facilities in the region and have

Pilot area Agreements Area (HA) Management payment Capital payment total payment
Meirionnydd 84 18,500 702,048 206,867 908,915
Dinefwr 89 5,575 224,525 277,233 501,758
Swansea 28 822 35,244 51,816 87,060
TOTAL 201 24,897 961,817 535,916 1,497,733

The response from farmers in these pilot areas has been most positive, with more than 800 inquiries being registered in the first year. A full report on the first year of operation will be published by the Countryside Council for Wales in the new year.