Select Committee on Defence Written Evidence


Letter to the Chairman from the Minister of State for Armed Forces on Air Surveillance and Control System

  Following a comprehensive review of the Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS—formerly UK Air Defence Ground Environment) I am writing to let you know about proposals which, subject to consultation, would affect six of the RAF Stations which make up the system. Three of these act as Reporting Posts (RPs) and three are Control and Reporting Centres (CRCs).

  The ASACS has since 1993 undergone a series of rationalisation measures to drawdown the organisation and equipment to minimum post-cold war levels. Recent technological developments now permit radar and communications equipment at RPs to be modified to allow remote operation from CRCs. Thus significant savings can be achieved, without affecting military output, through the withdrawal of manpower at the RPs and the subsequent drawdown of the stations to minimum care and maintenance. The current proposal would result in remote operation of the radar at RAF Benbecula, in the Western Isles, from October 1999, with a consequent reduction in manning levels. Manning levels would also be reduced at RAF Staxton Wold, in N Yorkshire, from October 1999 and at RAF Saxa Vord, in the Shetland Islands, in two stages from April 2000 and April 2001.

  The second ASACS proposal relates to the CRCs, currently located at RAF Boulmer, in Northumberland, RAF Buchan in NE Scotland and RAF Neatishead in Norfolk. The CRCs collate the data received from the RPs. A new hardware and software system will be introduced in 2003 which will allow these tasks to be carried out with two, rather than three CRCs. We therefore propose to reduce the number of CRCs to two, with RAF Boulmer and one of the other two sites being retained, resulting in a significant reduction in manpower at the remaining site. The financial analysis favours RAF Neatishead as the site to be retained. However, the margin is comparatively small and, operationally, the task could be undertaken at either Buchan or Neatishead. No firm conclusion has therefore been reached on which of these sites is to continue as a CRC, and I will not make a final decision until the results of consultation with all interested parties, including ASACS personnel, are known.

  A summary of estimated post changes at each location is set out in the table below. The figures in brackets relate to the numbers of personnel remaining at each Station.

Reporting Posts


Saxa Vord
Saxa Vord
Staxton Wold
Benbecula

(Apr 00)
(Apr 01)
Service Posts
-56(95)
-119(32)
-58(24)
-68(5)
Civilian Posts
-14(28)
-26(16)
-29(0)
-13(1)
Total
-70(123)
-145(48)
-87(24)
-81(6)


CRCs—Option 1 (Neatishead retained—reduction of manpower at Buchan)

Buchan
Boulmer
Neatishead

Service Posts
-286(71)
+190(612)
+34(394)
Civilian Posts
-53(21)
0(158)
0(42)
Total
-339(92)
+190(770)
+34(436)


CRCs—Option 2 (Buchan retained—reduction of manpower at Neatishead)

Buchan
Boulmer
Neatishead

Service Posts
+82(439)
+190(612)
-316(44)
Civilian Posts
+2(76)
0(158)
-39(3)
Total
+84(515)
+190(770)
-355(47)


  Service personnel would be redeployed to other locations. For civilian reductions, it is likely that redundancy would result in many cases, although every effort would be made to transfer staff to other posts and locations where appropriate. Staffs made redundant would, of course, be compensated under the terms of the current regulations, and the MoD Outplacement Service would be available to assist staff in identifying new opportunities. Personnel at RAF Benbecula and RAF Staxton Wold are largely aware of the proposals and are already making plans to obtain alternative employment where appropriate.

  Whilst it appears that the civilian establishment at RAF Boulmer remains unchanged, it is too early to be precise about the optimum mix of Service and Civilian personnel at this Station.

  I do not underestimate the impact that reductions in personnel numbers will have on the local communities affected. But equally, as I hope you will appreciate, I cannot ignore the opportunity which new technology affords to maintain our essential military capability whilst redirecting available resources to other areas of the defence programme. However, a final decision on the proposal will not be made without taking full account of all relevant factors and a proper period of consultation with the Trade Unions, Regional Offices and local authorities. A copy of the consultation document for your information is on its way to you separately and, should you wish to comment on the proposals, I would welcome your views as soon as possible.

9 August 1999


 
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