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Defence Estate Steering Group

Volume 115: debated on Thursday 30 April 1987

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asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the names and qualifications of the current membership of the Defence Estate Steering Group; what recommendations it has made as to the maximum utilisation of the defence estate since it was established in 1985; and what are its recommendations currently as to the disposal of surplus assets.

The current membership of the Defence Estate Steering Group is as follows:

Ministry of Defence

Chairman:

Mr. Roger Freeman, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces.

Members:

  • Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Armitage, Chairman of the Principal Administrative Officer Committee.
  • Mr. J. M. Stewart, Deputy Under Secretary (Personnel and Logistics).
  • Rear Admiral A. J. Richmond, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Logistics).
  • Captain R. J. Wright RN, Director of Quartering (Navy).
  • Brigadier M. A. Gardner, Director of Army Quartering.
  • Air Commander B. L. Robinson, Director of Organisation and Quartering (RAF).
  • Mr. R. P. Hatfield, Head of PL (Defence Lands).
  • Mr. P. A. Crowther, Head of Establishments and Research Administration 1.

Property Services Agency

  • Mr. H. P. Johnston, C Eng, MIEE, FCIBSE, Deputy Chief Executive 2, PSA.
  • Mr. M. D. Clarke, LLB, ARICs, Head of Defence Estate Services Division, PSA.
  • Mr. C. D. D. Duncan, Head of PL (Logistics).

The composition of the group recognises the need for a tri-service approach to the management of the defence estate whilst taking account of the executive responsibilities of each of the services and the Procurement Executive. Professional advice is provided by the Property Services Agency though the DESG is also empowered to seek advice from the private sector as it sees fit.

The first major project of the DESG was a study of the scope for rationalisation of defence facilities in north and west London. As a result of this study, it has been decided to concentrate a number of Army and Air Force facilities on RAF Northolt and RAF Uxbridge, enabling the disposal of sites at Mill Hill, Stanmore Park, Hounslow, West Drayton and of service housing at Hendon and Mill Hill. As a second major project, the DESG commissioned a survey of 75 smaller but potentially valuable sites throughout the United Kingdom. The survey, which incorporated advice from outside consultants, was completed in 1986 and its recommendations are now being followed up in detail site by site. A number of sites are already in the process of disposal and it is expected that further disposals will result from this study during the next few years. In addition, the DESG has considered a number of individual cases, and sites at Camberley, Portsmouth, Brighton, Winchester and Arborfield have been disposed of or are in the process of disposal.