§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for(a) staff consultation, (b) assistance to staff from the employment service and (c) consultation with the local planning authority in respect of the closure of West Dean munitions depot. [65713]
§ Mr. IngramDefence Munitions (DM) entered into formal consultation procedures with the national trade unions on 24 June. Consultation is due to complete on 2 August. Each member of staff at the depot has been given a copy of a consultative document. As part of the Staff consultation process the local trade unions have been invited to an open day on 10 July, to be briefed on the background. conduct and findings of the work which led to the recommendation to close the DM site at Dean Hill.
942WAlthough their involvement in no way precluded the formal consultation process, TU representatives also provided valuable advice throughout the process.
The Ministry of Defence outplacement scheme will be involved should the depot close as proposed, and would help staff find alternative opportunities. This would include help in CV preparation, coaching in interviewing techniques, and retraining skills if appropriate.
The local planning authority (Test Valley) are aware of plans to close DM Dean Hill. They, Defence Estates and Defence Munitions have already met to discuss the potential impact of depot closure and options for developing the site.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the consultation period will end on his proposal to close Dean Hill munitions depot; and if he will list the consultees. [67833]
§ Mr. IngramThe formal consultation period began with the issue of a Consultative Document on 24 June 2002 and was originally due to complete on 2 August. However, following recent representations from the trade unions the consultation period has been extended by two weeks and will now conclude on 16 August 2002. Formal consultation with the trade unions is being carried out at departmental level, i.e. with the MOD Council of Civil Service Unions (MOD CCSU) and the MOD Industrial Whitley Council (MOD DIWC). For completeness the Defence Police Federation and the Chief Police Officers' Association are also involved in this consultation exercise.
The formal consultation process is being supplemented by informal contact with the trade unions and staff within Defence Munitions. Officials of the DM Whitley committees have received personal copies of the consultation document, as has every member of staff in the Dean Hill depot. A copy has also been posted on an internal MOD website. The formal study report has also been sent to key members of the national trade unions and is available to DM staff and other TU representatives upon request. A DM trade union open day has been arranged for 10 July at which DM trade union representatives will hear about the background to the proposal to close the depot.