§ Mr. RapsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the armed forces road freight distribution systems. [89291]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonIn March of this year, I agreed, subject to consultation with the Trades Unions and other interested parties, a proposal to rationalise the current128W single-Service road Freight Distribution Systems. The consultation process has now been completed and has raised no concerns that would change the decision to rationalise. I have, therefore, given my final approval to proceed with the rationalisation process.
This change will result in the formation of a new Defence Freight Distribution Group, whose headquarters will be located in Portsmouth, and which will operate under the new Defence Transport and Movements Agency. Rationalisation and integration of the current single-Service systems should bring savings of nearly one million pounds a year.
Overall, the rationalisation process will result in a net reduction of some 15 civilian and 2 military posts. Every effort will be made to identify new opportunities for those staff concerned.
The new organisation will form on 1 July, with full rationalisation by the end of August, once associated work to harmonise current single-Service consignment IT tracking systems has been completed.