HC Deb 20 July 2001 vol 372 cc706-8W
Mr. John Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of DARA at RAF St. Athan; and if he will make a statement. [4638]

Mr. Ingram

The business case to possibly re-site DARA has recently concluded that due to high infrastructure costs, along with environmental and ecological considerations, it was not feasible to move DARA to Cardiff international airport.

The Welsh Development Agency has now re-focused its attention back to the St. Athan option and is working closely with the Defence Estates Agency, which is now taking the lead of this project, together with DARA, to provide a solution. DARA will be the hub of any development on the site.

Mr. John Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of the abandonment of the move from RAF St. Athan to Cardiff international airport on the restructuring of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency. [5317]

Mr. Ingram

Red Dragon has not been abandoned. In conjunction with the Defence Estates Agency, the Welsh Development Agency and DARA are now focusing on an option to develop the St. Athan site as an aviation business park and for other industrial and defence uses. Much of the work carried out to define DARA's requirements for its fixed-wing aircraft business unit for possible relocation to Cardiff airport will facilitate the St. Athan study. There has therefore been very little impact on the overall project, which has not been abandoned.

Mr. John Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who decided that the proposed move of DARA at RAF St. Athan was not feasible. [5324]

Mr. Ingram

The recommendation was made jointly by the Chief Executives of the Welsh Development Agency and the Defence Aviation Repair Agency following a review meeting and was endorsed by the DARA ministerial board on 11 July 2001.

Mr. John Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the environmental costs were of the proposed relocation of DARA at RAF St. Athan to Cardiff international airport. [5322]

Mr. Ingram

Two options were studied at Cardiff airport—a West side and an East side. The study revealed there would be extremely high infrastructure and land preparation costs of at least £30 million at both locations. Additionally, the studies concluded that there was an unacceptably high impact on protected species and listed buildings within the area, and that noise pollution may have been a problem.

The study also revealed that the available space that could be created was not sufficient to provide for potential future expansion.

Mr. John Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the infrastructure costs were of the proposed relocation of DARA at RAF St. Athan to Cardiff international airport. [5323]

Mr. Ingram

Following completion of the studies for the possible move of DARA to Cardiff international airport, projected costs were estimated to be in the order of £65 million including provision for up to 46 fast jets and all supporting facilities. DARA's intention was to negotiate a leased facility option to avoid up-front capital costs.

Mr. John Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the Red Dragon project has been abandoned by the Defence Aviation Repair Agency. [5318]

Mr. Ingram

Red Dragon has not been abandoned, but its focus is now on developing first-class modern facilities at St. Athan that will help to reduce DARA's overhead so that it can compete favourably for long-term business. Only the Cardiff airport options have been eliminated from the study.

Mr. John Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the consultants' report on the relocation of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency from RAF St. Athan to Cardiff International airport. [5319]

Mr. Ingram

No. The consultants' report is owned by the Welsh Development Agency and any decision to publish it would be a matter for them.

Mr. John Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he intends to review the contract of the Chief Executive of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency; and if he will make a statement. [5320]

Mr. Ingram

The Chief Executive of the Defence Aviation Repair Agency is employed on a fixed term contract which has been extended to August 2003.

Mr. John Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of the feasibility study into the proposed move from RAF St. Athan to Cardiff International Airport. [5321]

Mr. Ingram

The estimated feasibility study costs were £330,000, which were equally shared between the Welsh Development Agency and the Defence Aviation Repair Agency.