§ Mr. WillsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the specialistvehicle storage site at Ludgershall, Wiltshire; and what forecasts he has made of future employment levels at the site. [37250]
§ Dr. ReidThe future of the site which formerly contained the Army's Base Vehicle Depot at Ludgershall is under consideration as part of the Strategic Defence Review, and it would not be appropriate to make predictions on future employment levels at the site while the Review is still ongoing.
§ Mr. WillsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the upgrade of technical facilities required at the Ashchurch site as a result of the transfer of responsibilities for armoured vehicles has been completed; [37248]
(2) if he will make a statement on the performance against targets of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency at its Ashchurch site in respect of armoured vehicle work previously carried out at Ludgershall. [37262]
§ Dr. ReidThese are matters for the Chief Executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from P. D. Foxton to Mr. Michael Wills, dated 1 April 1998:
552WI am replying to your recent questions you tabled to the Secretary of State for Defence for those matters that fall within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency (ABSDA). You asked; had the technical facilities at Base Vehicle Depot (BVD) Ashchurch had been upgraded as a result of the transfer of responsibilities for armoured vehicles and the performance against targets at Ashchurch in respect of armoured vehicle work.The upgrade of the technical facilities has not yet been completed. However, a Project Manager has already been appointed and a submission for final approval has been made to Quartermaster General, the Top Level Budget holder, to make funds available that will allow construction to begin. I am confident approval will be granted in the near future. I wish to point out that the armoured vehicle maintenance is being carried to the same exacting standards demanded by the Army's Equipment Managers, as was the case when armoured vehicles were stored at BVD Ludgershall.BVD Ashchurch is meeting all but one of it's Performance Targets in respect of the routine issue of Armoured vehicles. This target is being missed due to awaiting spares (Ashchurch is given a low priority on spares issue compared to operational units) and the current restricted workshop space, but this is not affecting operations as BVD Ashchurch has met all operational Armoured vehicle demands placed upon it within or higher than the set times. This is a record of which the depot staff and myself are justifiably proud.I trust I have answered your questions fully.