§ Mr. Bill WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 June 1992,Official Report, column 176, if he is now in a position to make a statement about his plans for an integrated army personnel centre outside London.
§ Mr. Archie HamiltonOn 10 June 1992, at column 176 I announced the start of a stuty into the efficiency and cost effectiveness of forming an integrated Army personnel centre outside London.
The study team concluded its work by recommending the formation of an Army personnel centre by 1995 in existing commercial office buildings in Glasgow. The Army personnel centre would encompass the staffs of the Adjutant General and the Military Secretary, including the manning and record offices, regimental pay offices and army pay office (officers' accounts). The existing offices at Chester, Exeter, Leicester, York and Ashton-under-Lyne, and the relevant MOD offices in London and Stanmore would close during 1995–96. Exceptionally, all staff, including those serving in non-mobile grades, would be offered the opportunity to move at public expense. Very substantial efficiency savings, including a reduction of 38 per cent. in overall numbers, would result.
760WI propose to accept this recommendation subject to further consideration of the final location of a very small number of staff whose work requires them to be in the south of England. I am today starting a 30-day consultation period with all concerned, including the trade unions.
I have today placed a copy of the consultative document in the Library of the House.