§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which establishment the dynamic test track work currently undertaken at the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, will be transferred.
§ Mr. AitkenThis is the subject of further detailed study. On present assumptions it is planned to transfer the dynamic test track work to PEE Shoeburyness.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the establishments to which he expects the work currently undertaken at the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, to be transferred.
§ Mr. AitkenThis is the subject of further study but, on present assumptions, it is planned to transfer this work to PEE Shoeburyness, but some work may also be transferred to PEE Eskmeals and the test and evaluation establishment, Larkhill.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department will complete further studies of the technical aspects and the assessment of the likely future work load in a trading environment of the long and short test tracks at the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine.
§ Mr. AitkenThe technical studies and the initial assessment of future work load should both be completed by the end of the current financial year. Under another recommendation of the defence costs study, it is planned that the Directorate General of Test and Evaluation will become part of the proposed science and technology agency and be managed within its trading fund. The effects of trading will not be clear until some time after trading starts, currently planned for 1 April 1995.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his evaluation of the possible reprovision of facilities currently at the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, for work formerly undertaken at Cold Meece will be completed.
§ Mr. AitkenWe hope to conclude this evaluation by the end of this calendar year.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which establishment the work currently at the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, and formerly carried out at Cold Meece will be transferred.
§ Mr. AitkenThis is the subject of further study. On present assumptions it is planned to transfer this work to PEE Shoeburyness, but some work may also go to PEE Eskmeals and TEE Larkhill.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his best estimate of the decontamination costs of the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, following its proposed closure.
§ Mr. AitkenIf the closure of this establishment is confirmed following consultation, it is planned to place a commercial contract for this work. The estimates of cost are, therefore, commercially confidential. I can confirm, however, that these costs are included in the summary investment appraisal attached to the Director General Test and Evaluations consultative document.
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§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the rundown of the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, to(a) begin and ( b) be completed, if the decision to close the establishment is confirmed after consultation.
§ Mr. AitkenPrecise timings are still under consideration but, if closure is confirmed, a phased rundown is expected to begin in 1995. The duration of the rundown will depend on further studies of the technical aspects and the impact on demand for DGTE's facilities of full cost trading in the light of the organisation's move to the proposed science and technology agency.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence staff and contractors currently employed at the proof and experimental establishment, Pendine, he expects will be offered work at other establishments if and when work is transferred from Pendine.
§ Mr. AitkenIt is too early to give an accurate assessment of how many Ministry of Defence staff at PEE Pendine would be offered work elsewhere in the Department. Recruitment of ex-contractor's staff by contractors at other establishments would be a matter for them.