Urgent Decision Needed on RFA Argus

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Jul 2006

Local MP, Julia Goldsworthy, has today called on the Secretary of State for Defence to make a decision on the future of RFA Argus.

In a letter to Mr Des Browne, Julia has requested an urgent update and has also highlighted her concerns about the decision being considered at such a late stage before the refit is due to commence.

Commenting, Julia Goldsworthy MP said:

"The MoD have left their decision unacceptably late, with the result that the uncertainty will impact on one of the area's largest private employers.

"Gone are the days when the Government could be seen as a more reliable contractor than the private sector. It is fortunate that it appears that A&P will be able to fill the vacancy that the MoD withdrawal could create, but I hope for the sake of the MoD's future procurement process that such action from A&P will not be necessary.

"This delay is putting the MoD's wider procurement initiatives, which aim to save money through base porting and long-term contracting into doubt. I have therefore written to Des Browne, as a matter of urgency, and pressed upon him the importance of the decision and I also hope to raise the issue in Parliament on Monday."