HL Deb 06 February 1995 vol 561 cc5-6WA
Viscount Allenby of Megiddo

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which Royal Naval, Army and Air Force careers information offices have been closed in the present financial year and which are planned for closure in the next financial year; what are the anticipated manpower and financial savings resulting; and what will be the effect on the travel budgets as a result of the changes.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Henley)

As a result of the on-going rationalisation of Armed Forces careers information offices, the following offices have closed or are due to close in 1994/95.

Royal Navy Army Royal Air Force
Blackburn Barnsley Ayr
Guildford Cheltenham Guildford
Hartlepool Chichester Ipswich
Portsmouth Crewe Newport
Hartlepool Portsmouth
King's Lynn St. Helens
Maryhill Sunderland
Norbury
Paisley
Pembroke Dock
St. Helens
Slough

Further closures in 1995–96 are still under consideration. It is not possible at present to estimate the savings to be achieved from current and future closures of careers information offices or the impact on travel budgets brought about by these closures. A careers information office will, however, still be within one day's return travel for the vast majority of potential recruits.