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Quality Assurance Directorate

Volume 983: debated on Friday 25 April 1980

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asked the Secretary of State for Defence what effect he expects the recommendations of the steering group on quality assurance manpower to have on the work load and staffing levels of the Quality Assurance Directorate establishment at Woolwich Arsenal.

Bearing in mind that further studies into this area are required it is not possible for me to quantify the staff savings and changes in work load that may arise when all the recommendations of the report have been implemented. However, I do not expect the numbers and work load at Woolwich to be greatly affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to complete consultation on the report of the steering group on quality assurance manpower; and what bodies are being invited to comment on the report's recommendations.

I am not able to say when consultations on the report of the steering group on quality assurance manpower will be completed. As indicated in the report itself, some aspects of the recommendations need to be studied further. Moreover, I think I should allow industry and the staff and trade union sides, which I am consulting, adequate time to formulate their views.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out (a) the approved establishment and (b) the numbers currently employed at each Quality Assurance Directorate establish ment at Woolwich Arsenal.

The currently approved establishment—complement—of quality assurance posts at Woolwich is 1,742. Strength in post on 22 April 1980 was 1,590 and was divided between the three quality assurance directorates as follows:

Approved complementStrength(22 April 1980)
QAD (Ordnance)1,2521,117½
Materials QAD418½407½
Directorate of Naval Ordnance Services7265
Total1,742½1,590