Oral Answers to Questions

Alun Michael Excerpts

Monday 31st January 2011 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op)]

1. What plans he has for the future of RAF St Athan.

[The Minister for the Armed Forces (Nick Harvey)]

The defence technical training change programme is currently considering options for the future location—or locations—of defence technical training. St Athan is one of the options being considered.

[Alun Michael]

I really do not understand the Government’s approach to this one. Does the Minister not realise that not going ahead with the St Athan defence training establishment as proposed snatches the advantages of integrated training away from all three services, and will be a body blow to south Wales, which is a region that has always been massively supportive of the services? Can we please have a decision from the Government on something positive about the future of St Athan?

[Nick Harvey]

The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that the private finance initiative project to deliver an integrated solution at St Athan failed—it simply was not possible to find a cost-effective solution and raise the funds necessary to build it. However, it does not follow that we have abandoned the proposition of an integrated solution. That is precisely what is being pored over at the moment by the change programme team. We hope to be in a position to draw that work to a conclusion as soon as possible.