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DARA closure shocking waste of taxpayers' money

3 February 2006

PCS today reacted with anger to Defence Minister Adam Ingram's confirmation that the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) fast jet repair business at RAF St Athan will be closed, wasting over £155 million of tax payers' money. £80 million of taxpayers money was invested just four years ago on a new building in St Athan to house DARA and the MoD remains tied into a lease costing £5 million a year in rent. The earliest the lease can be broken is in 15 years time.

PCS is concerned as the privatisation of DARA will lead to the creation of a private sector monopoly for aircraft repair and maintenance. There are only a very small number of private firms with the capability of providing the same service as DARA.

Once they have the contract they will have a monopoly which has enormous implications for national defence. If the private sector fail to deliver it will be British soldiers and the nations defence under threat.

PCS general Secretary, Mark Serwotka said;

"The MoD have ignored their own research that demonstrates the damaging impact on both cost and quality from handing this work over to the private sector. MoD managers advised MoD that the DARA workforce have unique skills and commitment.

They have met every target put before them and have generated a profit every year. MoD have also ignored the last month's House of Commons Defence Select Committee Report which called this decision "perverse and wasteful.

"This is an appalling decision that flies in the face of reason and compelling evidence and highlights the ongoing farce that is MoD consultation. PCS will be meeting with our members and other unions to discuss our response to this decision and industrial action in response to this decision cannot be ruled out."

 

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