Fresh hopes for RAF Boulmer, says Beith

10.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 27th Mar 2006

Following a request from Alan Beith, Britain's Auditor general is to investigate the Ministry of Defence's investment case for relocating RAF Boulmer. Alan Beith, the Liberal Democrat MP for the Berwick-upon-Tweed Constituency, asked Sir John Bourn, who heads the National Audit Office, to carry out an investigation because he is concerned that the arguments for moving the station are based on a deeply flawed investment appraisal.

Alan Beith said:

"When so much money has been spent recently on RAF Boulmer, which would need to be spent all over again at any new site, the case seemed misconceived from the start."

In a letter to Alan Beith, Sir John Bourn says he will be looking at

• the rationale and validity of the original business cases/investment appraisals related to the proposed relocation of the Air Surveillance and Control System

• the timing and coherence of subsequent decisions, and whether business cases have been properly revisited by the Ministry of Defence and are still robust.

Defence Minister Adam Ingram has admitted in a letter to Alan Beith that the planned move to RAF Scampton would be too expensive and that alternative sites are now being considered in a major rethink.

Alan Beith said:

"I am increasingly convinced that the Ministry of Defence will have to accept that the sensible course is to keep these operations at RAF Boulmer, but the Ministry of Defence always seems to take a long time to change its mind. The Auditor General's investigation may force them to face up to the facts."