Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on the future of the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency at Ashchurch near Tewkesbury; and if he will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Procurement (Philip Dunne), stated in the House on 8 June 2015 (Official Report, column 892), the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has signed a land sale development partnership contract for the redevelopment of the Ashchurch site. We anticipate commencing the transfer of the site to our development partner, Vinci St Modwen, in phases beginning in 2018.

Transfer of the site is dependent on the MOD re-providing certain capabilities, which are currently located at Ashchurch, to other locations. This includes capabilities managed on behalf of the Department by Babcock following their acquisition of the Defence Support Group. Assessment studies are under way and recommendations are expected in summer 2016. We continue to regularly engage with Trades Union representatives to inform them of progress.