Full Report - National Audit Office

part two2.7 The review came up with a number of proposalsfor rationalisation of the delivery of individual training,concluding that there were a number of common singleService specialist training activities which could beconducted jointly in Defence schools. The Departmentselected six areas of specialist trade training which offeredgreatest scope for rationalisation, given the volumes ofstudents and the scope for synergies. The Departmentis currently pursuing this rationalisation programmethrough a Public Private Partnership on the basis of twopackages of work covering the six areas identified. TheDepartment is currently under negotiation with shortlistedbidders. Meanwhile, the Department has centralised themanagement arrangements for Service-wide training on afunctional basis.2.8 In London, the Main Building Refurbishmentprogramme was completed to time, cost andquality, allowing the release of a number of centralLondon buildings. Another project deals with furtherrationalisation of the wider London estate and is coveredin more detail in Part 3.2.9 The provision and consolidation of barracksand other facilities at Colchester and in the Aldershotand Salisbury Plain areas is being delivered through,respectively, Colchester Garrison and Allenby/ConnaughtPrivate Finance Initiative projects. These projects haveprovided for the relocation of some smaller units andreleased surplus land for disposal, and are covered inmore detail in Part 3.2.10 Following a Strategic Review of RAF Brize Norton,Lyneham and St Mawgan, the closure of RAF Lynehamand consolidation of the Air Transport and Air-to-Airrefuelling fleets at RAF Brize Norton were announced4 July 2003.This work has not precluded significantdisposal receipts being generated2.11 Over £1 billion of disposals has been achievedbetween 1999-2000 and 2003-2004. Examples of thedisposals that have taken place since 1999-2000 areshown in Figure 3.3Examples of disposalsThe Department has disposed of many major sites already.Financial Disposal Examples of majoryear receipts sites sold(£ million)1999-2000 301 RAF Stanmore Park;Duke of York’s headquarters,Chelsea; and RAF Quedgeley.2000-01 225 Royal Army Medical College,Millbank; former RAF Kemble;Queen Elizabeth Park Barracks,Guildford.2001-02 185 Burscough Depot; RAF Locking;Aston Down.2002-03 279 RAF Burtonwood; Arras LinesCatterick; Pease Hill DevelopmentSite, Scotland.2003-04 207 Staff College, Bracknell; RAFSt Athan (part).Total 1,197Source: Defence EstatesContinued focus on estaterationalisation is needed if theDepartment is to meet itsdisposal targets2.12 The Royal Navy has made progress in determiningits estate requirements and has concentrated its activitiesaround the three bases at Portsmouth, Plymouth andon the Clyde, which form part of the Defence LogisticsOrganisation. The bases on the Clyde and at Plymouthare generally well developed; within Portsmouth, furtherrationalisation is possible. The Royal Air Force led defenceairfields review is recommending the retention of thethree Royal Naval Air Stations at Culdrose, Prestwick andYeovilton (see below). A separate review is looking at thebasing of the Royal Marines.12MINISTRY OF DEFENCE: MANAGING THE DEFENCE ESTATE