§ Jean CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Bristol, East constituency, the effects on Bristol of his Department's policies and actions(a) from 5 May 1994 to 2 May 1997, (b) from 2 May 1997 to 7 May 1998, and (c) since 7 May 1998. [35603]
§ Dr. MoonieI refer my hon. Friend to the answer provided by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 4 March 2002,Official Report, column 80W. Detailed information is not held centrally within the Ministry of Defence and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
I can say though that the Bristol, East constituency contains no MOD sites. However, it does form part of the Bristol Travel To Work Area where there is a number of MOD establishments including the headquarters for the Defence Procurement Agency and the Warship Support Agency that are both based at Abbey Wood in Bristol North-West. Abbey Wood opened in 1995 with the relocation of the then Procurement Executive. Over 500 staff were recruited locally in 1995–96. Now over 5,800 people work at the site; this will rise to over 6,800 in late 2002 with the further co-location of Warship Support Agency staff. In April 1994 there were 294 Full Time Equivalent civilian posts in the Bristol Travel To Work Area, which had increased to 4,039 Full Time Equivalent civilian posts by July 2001 largely as a result of the creation of the Abbey Wood headquarters.
Service posts are not counted by Travel To Work Area. But in July 2000 there were 87 Service posts in the Bristol Unitary Authority Area; this does not include Abbey Wood, which is in South Gloucestershire.