17 January 2007.

MP EXPRESSES DEEP DISAPPOINTMENT AS MoD TRAINING COLLEGE DECISION GOES AGAINST COSFORD

Stafford’s Labour MP David Kidney has expressed his “deep disappointment” at today’s Ministry of Defence decision to base the future super Defence Training College at St. Athan in South Wales instead of RAF Cosford in the West Midlands. The College will provide training in Aeronautics, Electro-mechanical engineering and Information and Communications systems.
David Kidney says he has supported the West Midlands bid for this training all to be provided at Cosford:
“I felt our case, built on a track-record of proven good quality training in a central location for our country’s Armed Forces, was very strong. It is very disappointing that we have lost out to the bid from South Wales, although I congratulate St. Athan on a very good bid and I wish them every success with this work in the future.
“In the West Midlands, we now have to look for alternative activities that will keep Cosford full of jobs and providing useful services to our Armed Forces and our Community. In his Statement to the House of Commons, Defence Secretary Des Browne said that Cosford was under consideration for at least three future uses:
 A Learning Resource Centre;
 A National Training Research & Development Support Centre; and
 A National Manufacturing Skills Academy.
“I sought out the Defence Minister Derek Twigg later in the day and asked him to assure me that these were serious options and would provide is with ongoing jobs and valuable services at Cosford. He assured me that the Ministry of Defence fully intended to keep Cosford open and used to its full capacity for military and other purposes.
“I am following up my conversation with the Minister with a letter to him to seek further clarification of what the future will hold for Cosford. The existing training provision at Cosford is set to continue until 2011 before it is transferred to St. Atahan”.