§ Mr. CarringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for the organisation of the Army's technical branches and authorities.
§ Mr. HanleyA review has been completed into the organisation and grouping of the Army's technical branches and authorities. The review reported its initial findings in August 1992.
One of the recommendations of the review was that the spares divisions located at Chilwell and Donnington should be amalgamated into one division operating from a single site, with ensuing economies of scale. This recommendation has now been subjected to operational and financial appraisals. The most cost-effective solution which has emerged is that the two provisioning and procurement divisions, the vehicle spares division Chilwell and technical equipments division Donnington, should be collocated within a rented building in Telford, near Donnington, achieving savings of some £6,000,000 per annum. I have decided to accept this recommendation as the basis for consultation with the trades unions and other interested parties. Final decisions will only be taken in the light of representations made.
I am placing a copy of the consultation document in the Library of the House.