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08/05/2008
MoD 'Snub' Over RAF Aldergrove Jobs
A leading Northern Ireland politician has tackled the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) decision to pull all RAF personnel from the Province's only such base.
South Antrim MP William McCrea said at Westminster that the decision had been taken in a "cavalier fashion".
The DUP representative said the move would leave many people out of work.
However, the Ministry of Defence Minister said the decision to relocate personnel from RAF Aldergrove will 'only' cost 100 jobs as a result of the move - a clear snub to the MP's concerns.
Armed Forces Minister, Bob Ainsworth, made the comment during a Westminster debate on the decision to move staff to RAF Benson in Oxfordshire and away from RAF Aldergrove where there have been such personnel for 90 years, since the RAF was first set up in 1918.
Mr Ainsworth denied there had been any abuse of procedure in making the announcement.
He also said that the MoD had considered consolidating RAF forces at Aldegrove - but that the cost of moving existing training facilities at Benson was prohibitive.
Last month, the Government announced that 230 Squadron would be moved out of Northern Ireland.
About 600 of the 700 RAF personnel on the Aldergrove base will be moved to England, along with their families.
The MoD then intends to relocate 38 Engineer Regiment from Massereene Barracks in Antrim to RAF Aldergrove. It will then be closed.
The relocations are expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
(BMcC)
South Antrim MP William McCrea said at Westminster that the decision had been taken in a "cavalier fashion".
The DUP representative said the move would leave many people out of work.
However, the Ministry of Defence Minister said the decision to relocate personnel from RAF Aldergrove will 'only' cost 100 jobs as a result of the move - a clear snub to the MP's concerns.
Armed Forces Minister, Bob Ainsworth, made the comment during a Westminster debate on the decision to move staff to RAF Benson in Oxfordshire and away from RAF Aldergrove where there have been such personnel for 90 years, since the RAF was first set up in 1918.
Mr Ainsworth denied there had been any abuse of procedure in making the announcement.
He also said that the MoD had considered consolidating RAF forces at Aldegrove - but that the cost of moving existing training facilities at Benson was prohibitive.
Last month, the Government announced that 230 Squadron would be moved out of Northern Ireland.
About 600 of the 700 RAF personnel on the Aldergrove base will be moved to England, along with their families.
The MoD then intends to relocate 38 Engineer Regiment from Massereene Barracks in Antrim to RAF Aldergrove. It will then be closed.
The relocations are expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
(BMcC)
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