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
|
