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09/11/2005
Defence support jobs to go on 'rationalisation'
Around 1,800 jobs are to be shed in a major cutback programme in the armed forces engineering and support services divisions.
The MoD's Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) and the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) are to be "streamlined" in a major overhaul of their centres.
Announcing the cuts Mr Ingram said: "It is with great regret that I have had to announce job losses at DARA and ABRO. Employees at both organisations have provided the MoD with an excellent service over the years.
"We will help to find those involved alternative employment and we will make every effort to use natural turnover and voluntary redundancy. However, a significant number of compulsory redundancies can be expected.
"We are very mindful of the impact of this announcement on south Wales. We are already working closely with the Welsh government to minimise the consequences of these necessary decisions.
"We are committed to modernising our Armed Forces. ABRO and DARA are not immune to the difficult changes we have had to make across Defence so that we can make the best use of our resources to support an Armed Forces that is fit for the 21st century."
Axed are DARA's fast jet centre in St Athan, Wales, which will close by April 2007 with the loss of 500 jobs - although it is anticipated that around 350 jobs will be retained at the site. The engine repair centre at Fleetlands in Hampshire will close with the loss of 225 jobs.
ABRO will be "modernised" with 1,226 redundancies. Sites in Warminster, Wiltshire, and Colchester, Essex, are to close by March 2007, as will facilities in Donnington. "Significant rationalisation" is promised for ABRO Head Office in Andover.
The cutbacks will save around £2 billion by 2010, and would, said Mr Ingram deliver "enhanced frontline readiness".
However, with compulsory redundancies inevitable, unions have branded the proposed cutbacks as "disgraceful" and have hit out at the lack of consultation.
(SP/KMcA)
The MoD's Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) and the Army Base Repair Organisation (ABRO) are to be "streamlined" in a major overhaul of their centres.
Announcing the cuts Mr Ingram said: "It is with great regret that I have had to announce job losses at DARA and ABRO. Employees at both organisations have provided the MoD with an excellent service over the years.
"We will help to find those involved alternative employment and we will make every effort to use natural turnover and voluntary redundancy. However, a significant number of compulsory redundancies can be expected.
"We are very mindful of the impact of this announcement on south Wales. We are already working closely with the Welsh government to minimise the consequences of these necessary decisions.
"We are committed to modernising our Armed Forces. ABRO and DARA are not immune to the difficult changes we have had to make across Defence so that we can make the best use of our resources to support an Armed Forces that is fit for the 21st century."
Axed are DARA's fast jet centre in St Athan, Wales, which will close by April 2007 with the loss of 500 jobs - although it is anticipated that around 350 jobs will be retained at the site. The engine repair centre at Fleetlands in Hampshire will close with the loss of 225 jobs.
ABRO will be "modernised" with 1,226 redundancies. Sites in Warminster, Wiltshire, and Colchester, Essex, are to close by March 2007, as will facilities in Donnington. "Significant rationalisation" is promised for ABRO Head Office in Andover.
The cutbacks will save around £2 billion by 2010, and would, said Mr Ingram deliver "enhanced frontline readiness".
However, with compulsory redundancies inevitable, unions have branded the proposed cutbacks as "disgraceful" and have hit out at the lack of consultation.
(SP/KMcA)
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