Armed Forces Minister, Adam Ingram MP, has written to Michael Fabricant
with another update concerning the future of the Whittington Barracks
near Lichfield. Michael Fabricant says: "As we always suspected, the
Ministry of Defence want to move the Army Training Regiment away from
Lichfield. But the good news is the assurance from the Armed Forces
Minister that this will happen only if another military user is found
for Whittington Barracks. This would seem to quash the fears – for the
time being at least -that the site would be used as an asylum centre or
for more housing. It looks as if it won’t be until April or May,
probably later, before we know precisely what the future holds for the
barracks. I will continue to monitor the situation and keep questioning
ministers of defence on this. This uncertainty is bound to affect
property prices in the area and has a knock on effect on local schools
who educate the children of soldiers based at the barracks."

The full text of the letter written by Adam Ingram to Michael Fabricant
now follows:-

As you know, the Army Training and Recruiting Agency (ATRA) has
been conducting a study to evaluate the capacity requirements for Phase
1 soldier training, and that among the options considered was the
closure of one of the four existing Army Training Regiments (ATR) and
the transfer of its functions to one of the remaining three.

You will wish to be aware that I have recently authorised the
start of Trades Union consultation on proposals that would lead to the
construction of additional accommodation at Alexander Barracks
Pirbright, and the transfer of Army training currently undertaken at
Whittington Barracks Lichfield to Pirbright. This would enable
significant savings in costs, improved value for money for the ATRA, and
reductions in military manpower numbers in accordance with Departmental
funding priorities.

The transfer is, however, entirely dependent on the move into
Whittington Barracks of an alternative Defence user. The Defence
Medical Education and Training Agency (DMETA) is interested in acquiring
a site in the Midlands on which to base medical training. One of the
sites currently being considered is Whittington Barracks and, if
selected, the area would remain a Service training establishment and
most, if not all, affected staff could be redeployed to the new training
organisation at Lichfield. In addition, a number of Defence units at
Lichfield that currently rely on the ATR for administrative assistance
would be supported through the Headquarters of the new training
organisation. DMETA is, however, continuing to examine the feasibility
of moving to other sites within the Midlands area and will not be in a
position to draw any conclusions about the potential use of the
Lichfield site before April 2006 at the earliest, when they expect to
have a decision on their Initial Gate Business Case.

I must therefore emphasise to you that, if DMETA conclude that
they should not transfer to Whittington Barracks, Army training
functions would continue at Lichfield and the existing staff, including
those in "lodger" units should be unaffected. The proposal is being
considered in advance of the DMETA decision only because its funding,
through the Defence Modernisation Fund (DMF), is linked to a separate
proposal arising from Reports by the Director of Capability, the HCDC,
and the Adult Learning Institute (known collectively as DHALI) that
requires earlier financial authority to proceed.

This second proposal is to merge current military and civilian
instructor training regimes, including a very small number of staff at
Lichfield, into one ATRA Staff Leadership School (ASLS), which again
would be located at Pirbright. If the MOD is to meet the timescales for
the introduction of instructor training improvements in line with DHALI
recommendations, I need to confirm the availability of funds for a new
build necessary to establish the ASLS by the end of January 2006.
Treasury approval to the drawdown of DMF funding for both projects is
being sought concurrently in order to place the proposals within the
wider strategic context of the Department’s initiatives to restructure
elements of its organisation and estate. This is particularly salient
in this instance since both projects, for valid business reasons, go
against the Government’s current policy of moving civil service and
military jobs out of South-East England as part of the Lyons review.
Nevertheless, the move from ATR Lichfield to Pirbright, and the
opportunity this affords for DMETA to assume occupancy of the vacated
site will, in itself, potentially enable a much larger exodus from the
Lyons area. Hence these proposals should be viewed in the overall
context of the Department’s wider strategy for meeting its Lyons
commitments by 2010.

Clearly the proposed transfers of tasking will be of concern to
staff. There are currently 75 civilian and 172 military staff working
in the ATR at Lichfield, of whom four civilians contribute variously,
though not full-time, to the training of instructors and whose jobs
would transfer to the ASLS. If the transfer of these tasks takes place,
112 of the military staff would move to Pirbright and the remaining 60
would be posted elsewhere. There would be 47 civilian jobs created at
the new organisations in Pirbright but, until the outcome of the DMETA
proposal is known, we cannot identify the precise effect on civilian
staff. As I have previously stated, however, if DMETA does transfer to
Lichfield then the expectation is that most, if not all, civilians
currently employed there will be offered positions in the new
organisations at Lichfield and Pirbright. If, on the other hand, the
transfer does not take place, Army training will continue on the
Lichfield site. The Trades Unions are, of course, being fully consulted
on the potential outcomes of all these options and staff are being kept
informed accordingly.

Obviously, at present no final decision on the future use of the
Lichfield site can be made. Hence, on completion of full Trades Union
consultation, and once DMETA is able to announce its intentions, I will
write to you again.