Despite plans to slash some 2500 Ministry of Defence construction and maintenance jobs, it will be “business as usual” at Leuchars, officials have claimed.
Defence Secretary Liam Fox said the creation of a new body to manage the military estate the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) would save £1.2 billion over the first four years. Some 2500 members of MoD staff are likely to lose their jobs by 2014 as a result.
However, a spokeswoman for the MoD told The Courier staff at Leuchars would not be affected by the announcement, saying, “This will not involve Leuchars where it will be business as usual.”
Even without the latest announcement, everybody involved with the Fife base is on tenterhooks as they wait to see which RAF facilities face the axe as part of the UK government’s strategic defence review. A spirited campaign to ensure a bright future for RAF Leuchars is continuing and a decision on its future is expected in the summer.
Dr Fox announced details of the DIO in a written statement to MPs.
He said, “This measure will make a significant contribution to the civilian staff reductions and efficiency measures set out last October in the Strategic Defence and Security Review. From April 1 the DIO will bring together around 7000 staff, the vast majority of whom are civilian, working on construction, maintenance and disposal of land and buildings across the MoD.”Radical approachDr Fox hailed it as a “radical approach to reorganisation and resourcing” that would “maximise the amount of the defence budget made available for the front line.”
The new organisation is the first change recommended by the Defence Reform Unit headed by crossbencher Lord Levene of Portsoken which was tasked with overhauling the structure of the MoD without reducing the effectiveness of its services.
Dr Fox said, “Our armed forces and their families deserve the best possible facilities in which to live, work, and prepare for operations, within the current financial situation. A single infrastructure organisation will provide effective support to our military personnel and better strategic management of the defence estate.
“It should also deliver significant savings in running costs, increase opportunities for estate rationalisation, and promote private sector growth ultimately delivering better value for money to the taxpayer while giving the armed forces what they need.”
Dr Fox said ministers would launch a consultation process with trade unions.
The DIO will take on the estate management responsibilities of its predecessor, Defence Estates (DE). They will involve overseeing the physical maintenance of buildings and equipment, support services such as cleaning and catering, and managing energy and water.
The organisation will also support military tasks overseas, including in Germany, Cyprus, the Falklands, Gibraltar, Iraq and Afghanistan.
DE spends £2 billion a year managing around 240,000 hectares of land and property on behalf of the MoD. The military estate comprises three main areas the Built Estate, made up of barracks, naval bases, depots and airfields; the Housing Estate, involving more than 48,000 service families’ homes and the Defence Training Estate, which comprises 16 major armed forces training areas and 104 other areas and ranges in the UK.Union’s vowMembers of the GMB union have vowed to fight the cuts.
National officer Rehana Azam said, “As with the soldiers who were told of their redundancies while in action, this government is tripping over itself to get rid of people’s jobs without considering the consequences. Front line workers are facing huge uncertainties and this government as an employer fails to demonstrate a duty of care which is unacceptable.
“The GMB will be making a robust representation on behalf of our members who will be affected by this announcement.”