HC Deb 09 February 1999 vol 325 cc131-2W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost of relocating and retasking existing brigades in establishing the proposed northern division. [70123]

Mr. Doug Henderson

No existing brigades are to be relocated as a result of the establishment of the northern division. Rather, there will be a transfer of responsibility for some existing tasks between Divisional and Brigade Headquarters; small numbers of staff will transfer accordingly, but the costs will not be significant.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost of providing new and refurbished buildings in Edinburgh when 2 Divisional HQ moves from York to Edinburgh. [70127]

Mr. Doug Henderson

We estimate that the initial cost of refurbishing office accommodation at the Headquarters Scottish District in Craigiehall will be some £250,000; there is a project to rebuild the headquarters in due course and it was assumed in the review of the Army's divisional/district structure that this project would proceed at a cost of £7 million during the second half of the next decade.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what criteria he based his decision to move the Army's 2 Divisional HQ from York to Edinburgh. [70124]

Mr. Doug Henderson

The criteria were that the headquarters of the Northern Division should be able to carry out its role effectively and at reduced cost when compared with existing arrangements.