§ Mr. CaplinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the closure of HMS Cambridge. [132232]
§ Mr. SpellarI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 8 June 2000,Official Report, column 338W, to the hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith). The investment appraisal concluded that the establishment's residual training activities could be delivered more cost-effectively elsewhere and the matter was subject to a period of formal consultation with the MOD trade unions. No representations have been received and consultation on this matter is now complete.
I have, therefore, endorsed the proposal that HMS Cambridge should close and that plans for decommissioning and site vacation should proceed accordingly.
Consultation will continue on matters affecting staff.