ARMY PERSONNEL CENTRE (Hansard, 18 January 1993)

Viscount Cranborne

On 10th June 1992 my right honourable friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces announced in another place (HC Deb., col. WA 176) the start of a study 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.

We 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, and a 30-day consultation period with all concerned, including the trade unions, commenced on 13th January 1993.

Copies of the consultative document have been placed in the Library of the House.