Telford’s MPs have called for urgent clarification from the Government over the future of 800 jobs at RAF Cosford, amid strong suggestions the planned switch in defence training to South Wales - with staff cuts in Cosford - may be in trouble.
A leaked document revealed Ministry of Defence officials believed there were “affordability gaps” and other potential risks in the plans - including whether it would provide the best in terms of “front line” capability - as well as the willingness of expert trainers to move.
Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard said he would be increasing the intensity of his campaign to keep jobs at Cosford while Telford MP David Wright demanded a statement from Ministers.
Union leaders are claiming that the plans to concentrate Britain’s defence training under a consortium called Metrix at a new £11 billion academy at RAF St Athan are far from a “done deal” and are in fact hanging in the balance.
Mr Pritchard said: “These high level secret discussions have confirmed what I have been saying for the last three years: that a move from RAF Cosford would put frontline operations at risk; would be at huge extra cost to UK taxpayers with little tangible return; and that the contract figures do not add up.
“There are lots of problems in delivering this programme on time and on budget in Wales. The best thing for the country, for our armed forces personnel, and for the welfare of my constituents, would be for the Government to come clean and scrap this flawed project altogether.”
The Conservative MP said he had written to Tim Burr, the new head of the National Audit Office, asking for a thorough investigation into whether civilian trainers and uniformed staff at Cosford were being “sold down the river”.
Telford Labour MP David Wright called for a statement from ministers to clarify what was happening.
“There is clearly some concern about progress in South Wales and whether the defence training contract can be delivered. We need to give workers at Cosford some certainty about their future.”
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman admitted discussions with Metrix were “taking longer than anticipated” but were continuing “on a range of high level issues”.
She said identifying potential risks was a “widely accepted tool” used in project management.
