§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the costs incurred if the proposed relocation of the Royal Marines school of music to Portsmouth takes place in respect of(a) hiring new music professors and other civilian staff at Portsmouth, (b) expenditure on contract staff and casuals while permanent posts are being filled and (c) training new staff.
§ Mr. Soames[holding answer 25 November I994]: Salary costs for 15 professors of music are estimated at £481,000. This figure is the same regardless of the location chosen for the Royal Marines school of music. The salary costs for other directly-employed civilian staff should the Royal Marines school of music move to Portsmouth are estimated at £165,000. This figure compares with that estimated for continued occupation at Deal of £932,000. The cost of recruitment action to take on new staff is expected to be negligible.
Pre-planning and timely recruiting would aim to avoid the use of contract staff and casuals while permanent posts are being filled.
Any training necessary for new staff would be conducted under current internal arrangements at negligible cost.